University of Wales, Aberystwyth

University of Birmingham

University of Bristol

University of Cambridge

University of Edinburgh

University of Hertfordshire

Kingston University

Loughborough University

University of Oxford

University of Wolverhampton

 

University of Wales, Aberystwyth

 

Name of University

Aberystwyth

Website address

http://users.aber.ac.uk/club15/

Contact email address

club15@aber.ac.uk

Size of fencing club

180 members (approx 60 regulars)

Cost to Join (AU and Fencing Club fees where appropriate)

£15 pa club

£35 pa AU fees

Venue Details (where/size/quality/storage for personal kit)

Sports hall, 50 fencers, 3 pistes, no storage for personal kit

Coach(es)

3 qualified 2 in training

Additional Coaching Costs

Nil

Details of beginners courses (cost/coaches)

Freshers course, inc. in membership

Club night information (number of pistes/footwork/free fencing etc)

Tuesday and Friday All

Weds, Sat and Sun for teams

Composition of club (experienced fencers/any weapon speciality etc)

Good mix across the board

Does the club run in the vacation time?

Sessions available

Club equipment to use for training and competitions?

Yes

Teams entered into BUSA, which leagues and finishing positions for last few years

Team

League

Final Position

Mens’s

Western

2nd

Men II

Western

6th

Womens

Western

1st (now premiership)

Do you send fencers to the BUSA individuals, does the AU pay for transport and entry fees?

Not this year, AU will subsidise

Do club members attend opens?

Yes

Do you have other regular matches? Friendlies, local leagues etc.

Yes

What about social events? After training, dinners parties etc.

Lots!!!

Can elite fencers get sports grants, scholarships or other help from the University? Give details of where from and how much.

Not that I am aware of. No harm in asking though.

Hall of Fame – list some fencers who are currently at your university or who are recent alumni.

Look at the national rankings!

What is the best thing about your university fencing club?

The fencing

What is the worst thing about your university fencing club?

Being stuck on the Welsh coast for BUSA’s/Opens

Anything else we should know?

Club of the year 2 years ago. Premier League last year(men) and the women next year!

Any advice for prospective applicants

 

If there are local clubs that university fencers sometimes attend then please list the following information for each:

Town Club

Cost to Join

£3 per session

Venue Details (where/size/quality/storage for personal kit)

Leisure Centre

Coach(es)

3

Additional Coaching Costs

0

Details of beginners courses (cost/coaches)

?

Club night information (number of pistes/footwork/free fencing etc)

Thursdays

Composition of club (experienced fencers/any weapon speciality etc)

Good mix

Club equipment to use for training and competitions?

Good kit

Does the club have any teams and if so what leagues/events do they compete in?

Just finished womens team epee (welsh)

Do club members attend opens?

Yes

Any other information?

Very good club

 

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University of Birmingham

 

Name of University

University of Birmingham

Website address

 

Contact email address

bu_fencingclub@btinternet.com

Size of fencing club

Approx. 15 team members; 25-40 beginners

Cost to Join (AU and Fencing Club fees where appropriate)

AU: £35

Club: £20

Included: membership of Birmingham City Fencing Club

Alternatively, include fencing with other sports in an Active Lifestyle Program for those who want a “taster” session

Venue Details (where/size/quality/storage for personal kit)

The Old Gym, University of Birmingham. One full basketball court-sized gym, good quality, exercise equipment available, storage for fencing bags in locked cupboards

Coach(es)

Mike Whitehouse, Tom Olphin, one extra to be decided

Additional Coaching Costs

None – all coaching included

Details of beginners courses (cost/coaches)

Continuous beginners’ courses, included in cost of joining club.

Club night information (number of pistes/footwork/free fencing etc)

Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays (all 8-10pm) – warm-ups, footwork, free-fencing with at least three sets of electrics. Four full-sized pistes, or up to ten pistes at approx. 10m length. Beginners

Composition of club (experienced fencers/any weapon speciality etc)

All are welcome, presently four current internationals across all weapons and both sexes; large number having had between 1 and 5 years’ experience; even larger number of beginners (coached separately)

Does the club run in the vacation time?

Birmingham City Fencing Club runs on Thursdays during vacation time, and University fencers are welcome to attend. University club suspended over vacation time.

Club equipment to use for training and competitions?

Large quantities of protective jackets, plastrons, gloves, masks etc. available for all. All weapons available. At least three full sets of electrics for training and used for competitions.

Teams entered into BUSA, which leagues and finishing positions for last few years

Team

League

Final Position

Men’s

Midland (next year Northern Premiership)

2005: 1st

2004: 2nd

Men’s

National University Team Championship

2nd in the country

Women’s

Midland

2005: 2nd

 

Do you send fencers to the BUSA individuals; does the AU pay for transport and entry fees?

All fencers encouraged to attend BUSA individuals, and team members do very well. AU pays for entry fees.

Do club members attend opens?

Yes

Do you have other regular matches? Friendlies, local leagues etc.

Training competitions on an occasional basis between the men’s and women’s teams; this year the Army agreed to fence us in a friendly.

What about social events? After training, dinners parties etc.

The club’s Social Secretary will organise dinners, club and pub nights; the team often organises events and nights out together. The university ‘Sports night’ is run for all the sports clubs in the university and provides another opportunity to socialise, usually in fancy dress!

Can elite fencers get sports grants, scholarships or other help from the University? Give details of where from and how much.

Sports scholarships are available from the university for athletes who have performed at international level. Scholarships include financial help with sport-specific expenditure (extra coaching/travel/competition fees), medical services including physiotherapy, free use of Munroe Sports centre facilities. Contact Richard Gwyn (R.H.Gwyn@bham.ac.uk or 0121 414 7678) or Tina Hobday (club captain bu_fencingclub@btinternet.com) for more information.

Hall of Fame – list some fencers who are currently at your university or who are recent alumni.

Philip West

Simon Marks

Hannah Chenneour

Louise Bond-Williams (GB’s entrant in last 2 Olympics

What is the best thing about your university fencing club?

The fabulous team and club spirit

What is the worst thing about your university fencing club?

We currently lack in the coaching department as we have one professional coach for the whole club, however we are in the process of sourcing an additional coach who will start in September 2005.

Anything else we should know?

Next year we hope to organise a separate men’s 2nd team in order to involve some fencers who are not currently able to enter the 1st men’s team.

Any advice for prospective applicants

Any other questions please contact Tina (bu_fencingclub@btinternet.com)

If there are local clubs that university fencers sometimes attend then please list the following information for each:

Birmingham City Fencing Club

Cost to Join

Free with UBFC membership

Venue Details (where/size/quality/storage for personal kit)

Same venue as UBFC, Thursday nights

Coach(es)

Mike Whitehouse, others

Additional Coaching Costs

None, but competition for lessons is intense

Details of beginners courses (cost/coaches)

http://www.birminghamfencingclub.org.uk/

Club night information (number of pistes/footwork/free fencing etc)

Same as UBFC

Composition of club (experienced fencers/any weapon speciality etc)

Generally experienced fencers, all weapons (though Epee probably the strongest weapon)

Club equipment to use for training and competitions?

Same as UBFC

Does the club have any teams and if so what leagues/events do they compete in?

None

Do club members attend opens?

Yes, frequently

Any other information?

 

 

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University of Bristol

 

Name of University

University of Bristol

Website address

www.bristol.ac.uk

www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Union/Fencing/index.html

Contact email address

Men’s Captain 05-06: Dave Belfourd db2363@bristol.ac.uk  

Women’s Captain 05-06: Becky Main rm3485@bristol.ac.uk   

Coach: Prof. Neil Brown neil@fencingcoach.net

Size of fencing club

95 (2004-05)

Cost to Join (AU and Fencing Club fees where appropriate)

£25 new members

£20 existing members

(This includes the AU affiliation cost of £7.50 per person)

Also require a sports pass to enter sports centre or pay a nominal fee each time you enter

Venue Details (where/size/quality/storage for personal kit)

Centre for Sport, Exercise & Health, Tyndall Av. www.bristol.ac.uk/sport/

Fencing club uses studio with excellent floor next to large storage area for personal kit

Coach(es)

Prof. Neil Brown (www.fencingcoach.net), Tristan Parris. 2 students are funded by the University to attend a training course each year & then run beginners coaching.

University sports Centre staff run conditioning sessions for fencers.

Additional Coaching Costs

None for University fencing. Fencers must pay discounted fees for the local clubs.

Details of beginners courses (cost/coaches)

Monday evenings in Sports Centre, cost of lessons, kit usage and insurance covered in membership fee. Coached by qualified advanced/team fencers.

Club night information (number of pistes/footwork/free fencing etc)

Monday. Fitness & footwork for squad fencers (1.5 hours), coaching for beginners (2 hours).

 

Tuesday. Coaching for squad fencers (individual lessons & structured free fencing, 3 hours). After this session: foilists can attend the South West Centre of Excellence squad training or Bristol Fencing club, sabreurs go to Salle Hunt-Roeder, epeeists go to Bristol Fencing club.

 

Wednesday. BUSA matches or fencing session for intermediate fencers.

 

Thursday. Bath Sword Fencing Club.

 

Friday. Coaching for squad fencers (individual lessons & structured free fencing, 2.5 hours).

After this session: foilists can attend the Bristol Grammar School squad training or Bristol Fencing club, sabreurs go to Salle Hunt-Roeder, epeeists go to Bristol Fencing club.

Composition of club (experienced fencers/any weapon speciality etc)

Wide range. National squad members & fencers who start at university.

Does the club run in the vacation time?

Easter only

Club equipment to use for training and competitions?

Have just bought new equipment for training & competition.

Teams entered into BUSA, which leagues and finishing positions for last few years

Team

League

Final Position

Men’s

Premier

L8

Women’s

Premier

L8

Do you send fencers to the BUSA individuals, does the AU pay for transport and entry fees?

Yes. Club pays entry fees & transport costs are split between fencers travelling.

Do club members attend opens?

Yes

Do you have other regular matches? Friendlies, local leagues etc.

Compete in a Triangular tournament between Bath University and University of West of England

What about social events? After training, dinners parties etc.

Very active socially. Fencing club is sponsored by 2 local pubs, White Hart & Wedgies. Activity organised at least every week.

Can elite fencers get sports grants, scholarships or other help from the University? Give details of where from and how much.

Yes. Details at www.bristol.ac.uk/sport/high-performance/scholarships.html

12 awards of £3000 p.a. for new students, some awards of £1000 p.a., Advanced Sports Squad provides benefits worth approx. £1000 p.a.

Hall of Fame – list some fencers who are currently at your university or who are recent alumni.

Julian Nelis (2nd on British rankings), Tom Brenda (former U17 World Championship team member & 16th on British rankings), Lois Chang (top of British rankings) not a student but trains with the university club each week.

What is the best thing about your university fencing club?

Friendly welcoming atmosphere; club socials; excellent coaching. The friendly, open atmosphere between club and team fencers and the training and coaching that we receive

What is the worst thing about your university fencing club?

Training venue a bit small for some sessions, need more elite fencers to get back to the winning of the BUSA team event every year.

Anything else we should know?

Fencing is one of the 10 main Focus Sports at Bristol University. The 2 coaches (Neil & Tristan) have trained over 50 National champions between them at foil, epee & sabre.

Any advice for prospective applicants

Study hard. Do more footwork.

If there are local clubs that university fencers sometimes attend then please list the following information for each:

Salle Hunt-Roeder

Bristol Fencing Club

Bath Sword Club

Cost to Join

www.sallehuntroeder.com

www.bristolfencingclub.com

www.bathswordclub.co.uk

Venue Details (where/size/quality/storage for personal kit)

 

 

 

Coach(es)

Dennis Hunt, Neil Brown

Andy Martin, Colin Hillier, Martin Dale, Neil Brown

Norman Golding, Sue Benney,

Additional Coaching Costs

 

 

 

Details of beginners courses (cost/coaches)

 

 

 

Club night information (number of pistes/footwork/free fencing etc)

Tuesday & Friday

Tuesday & Friday

Thursday

Composition of club (experienced fencers/any weapon speciality etc)

Sabre only

Foil & epee

3 weapons

Club equipment to use for training and competitions?

 

 

 

Does the club have any teams and if so what leagues/events do they compete in?

 

 

 

Do club members attend opens?

Yes

Yes

Yes

Any other information?

Best sabre training in the South West

Mix of abilities. No National team members.

Huge club. National squad Modern Pentathletes train here

 

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University of Cambridge

 

Name of University

Cambridge

Website address

http://www.cufencing.org.uk

Contact email address

secretary@cufencing.or