As a tribute to Domenico Angelo after whom our salle is named, and to explore the difference in fencing 18th century style to ‘modern’ visual the day followed the methods illustrated in the ‘Ecole des Armes’. Ted studied the text and etchings producing copies for us and instructed us on the day.
The biggest difficulty to overcome was the difference in the shape of the blades. Because the 18th Century sword was a flat blade with one sharp edge our guards had to be relearned. The rest of the coaching was also fun, starting with the salute which included moves such as doffing one’s hat, and the ‘the appel’. This was followed by Ted coaching us in moves such as disarming one’s opponent, using one’s left hand to parry and additional footwork.
All this was put together in a tournament which turned out to be very successful – a little confusing for the president at times and some temporary rules had to be applied as we progressed. We did find however, that the use of the left hand to parry, left one wide open to be hit by one’s opponent unless the parry was followed quickly by the thrust of one’s own sword - if not at the same time.
As always, our day was completed with a formal dinner before which Vanda fought her public
duel against the club champion to gain membership to Salle Angelo. She won the bout with honour and competence and was awarded her membership certificate by Ted during the dinner. Over coffee the speechifying included a recitation from Brian;
A collection of poems by by Ralph Goldstein.
– THE EPEEMAN –
The Epeeman, the Epeeman, in frayed and tattered gear
Can lick his weight in wildcats and can drink his weight in beer
And for the foil and sabreman he hasn’t any fear
For he’s a late edition of the dashing Musketeer. etc etc
And for the full poem go to www.columbusfencing.org/gls/
Photos by Gio and Tony
Crowd Gathers to Watch the Public Duel
The weekend followed the traditional pattern – arrive at the Royal Hotel on Friday evening (19th July) to have a bar meal, fencing all day Saturday. formal dinner at the Royal and coffee and muffins at the crib on Sunday. But there were two departures from the usual: Peter Heron, the Principal of Maniototo Area School, made the school’s gymnasium available to us and, being a fencer himself, joined in the fencing. The other event was Michael Jameson’s public duel for membership. This was fought in the art deco ambience of the Ranfurly Hotel and Michael, having acquitted himself honourably, was duly admitted to full membership of Salle Angelo.
The dinner at night was a warm friendly occasion – although the toast to the Queen had to be postponed until the National Anthems of France and NZ were sung, (preceding the televised match between France and the All Blacks). The awards for our tournament were:
Trophy for the winner of the Foil event Michael Arnott
Certificate for the winner of the Sabre event Tony Williams
Certificate for the winner of the Epee event Tony Williams
An excellent weekend all round. Bis Vivit Qui Bene Vivit (Royal Naseby Hotel Coat of Arms)
Ted Presents the Award to Fi
Saturday 18th April and a fine day. Perhaps the last day we could fence outside before the onslaught of winter and a decision was made to return to one of our favourite spots in the Botanic Gardens. It was a special day too as we presented the Salle Angelo Award to Fiona McMilllan for her outstanding work with young and beginning fencers. Fi has given up most of her Sunday afternoons to coach beginners in the Dunedin fencing clubs and we wanted to acknowledge the work she has put into this important area of fencing.
We hadn’t fenced outside in 2009 and this prompted us to plan for a Saturday in early March to fence in the park – with the piste beside the hothouses in the Botanic Gardens. It turned out a to be a hot sunny day and there was little shade so if you take a look at the photos you’ll see many versions of sunhats.
A good number of members turned up and there was some good fencing for the passers-by. One of them, a lady of “mature years”, was delighted to stop and recall memories of her fencing days at Otago University many years ago.
Another bystander took some good photos of the event. We are very thankful for his involvement as none of us had remembered to bring a camera. All the pictures in this article and the related album were taken by Swee Kin Loke – thanks Kin.
Proceedings were wrapped up with our all-important lunch for postmortems, to relate stories and to right the world. A very enjoyable day.
Salle Angelo celebrates the birth of Domenico Angelo on 6 February (1716) as close to that date as possible. This year it was Saturday the 7th and was held at Scotia (Old Railway Station) Restaurant.
The Guest of Honour was Russell Towns who has had a long association with fencing in Otago. Many will remember Russell’s efficient organisation of Commonwealth and National Tournaments and many other activities in local clubs over the years. For his service to the sport he was awarded the MNZM in 2005.
Mike Geary was the Master of Cerermonies and guided us through the dinner, speeches and toasts very ably. Ted Nye presented an award (in absentia) to Fiona McMillan acknowledging her work with young fencers and those beginning the sport. The Royal Toast was proposed by Brian Ellis and the toast to Salle Angelo by Tony Williams. Gio gave the traditional Angelo address which took the line of thanks to two people – to Malcolm Fare who provided notes from and helped in an (unsuccessful) purchase of documents at a auction at Sotheby’s, and to Bruce McGechan who gifted prints from “Ecole d’Armes” and an early edition of Henry Angelo’s Pocket Fencing Manual to the family.
An excellent evening.
The opening day for 2009 was postponed for a week due to some people still being on holiday but on the 24th Feb. we gathered at Heyward Point (Gio and Ruth’s crib) to start fencing for the year.
It was hot! But the fencing was at a good standard considering the temperature and we had had a few weeks off.. I’m not sure who one the tournament – either Brian of Tony I think.
The fencing was by a followed a walk to the heads, followed by a few films in the Cannon Picture Theatre and all this flowed into a dinner, a few drinks, good conversation and generally righting the world.
Brian and Barry have obviously enjoyed their bout. Salle Angelo is more about the enjoyment of skilful fencing – both bladework and footwork – than it is about winning. The club’s tournament events are keenly fought but there is no club “ladder” and the fencers find there is satisfaction enough in challenging themselves and their opponents in the bout of the moment.
It was cold, wet and miserable. Roads were slippery and most members were quite agreeable not to turn up to the hall but to stay in the warmth.
BUT… One member did! We forgot to ring him and he stood courageously outside the hall for some time braving the elements (a photo will be forwarded as proof of this). Michael Angelo had travelled all the way from Hamilton (not especially for fencing I better add), thrown in his fencing gear in the hopes of some bouts at Salle Angelo but found the hall closed. I think, through his chattering teeth and crackling cellphone, he called us a pack of woosy, mellowpuff fencers. Honour will have to be restored.
A View: “Restraint is the defining strength of a true caballero (gentleman), since any boor can thrust but a skilled swordsman can parry” (D.C.Adams, The Last Diary of Don Juan, 2007)
The is an Article from ‘Cut and Trust’, the bulletin of Egham Fencing Club, England, written by Derek Evered.
Within a year or so we can learn the basic strokes and moves (technique). Next we learn when to use each stroke (tactics). Then a lifetime trying to master correct timing and distance.
But in my opinion, the hardest task: is learning “Le sentiment de fer”. Please excuse my terrible accent in French. Though Winston Churchill also spoke infamous English French (”Fronglay”). A translation of “Le sentiment de fer” is “The feeling of the blade”.
Of course your coaches teach this but you can practice also with a fencing partner by agreement. My description refers to foil and epee play but it is also possible at sabre. You attack your club mate with a direct thrust and he parries quarte.
Meeting no resistance to his blade he ripostes direct. Next you parry quarte after his parry so he must riposte by disengage. Then you choose to do these two responses in random order.
Wearing masks of course you repeat this sequence with him shutting his eyes when his parry is made. Then riposting direct or indirect with the eyes shut: “feeling the blade”. You have taught him le sentiment de fer! Reverse roles now so you can learn the same. Try a similar sequence after the parry of (circular) parry of counter sixte.
Similarly you can train to feel the blade during attacks. Thus you first engage in sixte the opposing steel and your opponent does nothing. You feel no resistance so attack direct. Next your partner parries sixte so you disengage to score a hit.
Subsequently he parries or not at random and you must respond appropriately.
Score your successes. This game is called: “The Coach Always Wins!”
