11:30, the fencers amassed outside the legendary breakfast pit stop, eat4less, for essential budget carbo-loading ahead of their games.
12:30, Northumbria Sports centre. The weapon order had been announced: Epee, Foil, Sabre. After a quick warm-up, they would go into the fray, and battle against the Poly.
The women’s started off first with “Mad-skills-len” Ivanova securing a commanding early 5-2 lead in the epee. Accompanied by her twin’s neat and tidy footwork,”Ele-nah you ain’t getting any points” Ivanova, pushed NCL even further into the lead. Acting captain “Ellie-Ir-winner” brought the event to a short close, using their already well-established score to spring board the team to victory, leaving Newcastle with a promising 45-16 epee-ic result.
"Acting captain “Ellie-Ir-winner” brought the event to a short close, using their already well-established score to spring board the team to victory"
The women’s momentum propelled them into further successes in the foil, where “Katie-10 points to-Griffins-dor!” was able to lay down a strong head-start for the remaining fights. Combined with “Francesca-Don’t call me Francesca- Smithers” impenetrable defence, the Poly were left on the receiving end of some unfortunately quick parry ripostes, yielding an impressive score of 43-12 for the NCL blades.
Last was sabre. As a result of the women’s huge hit lead, the Poly were fighting an already lost battle. Sabre was the Poly’s best weapon, but the NCL team were un-phased. After a concerted effort, and some questionable referee calls, the team pulled together to hit the final nail in the Poly coffin to a score of 45-24, bringing the overall result to a resounding 133-52.
"Sabre was the Poly’s best weapon, but the NCL team were un-phased"
With Stan Calvert finished, this brings the end to the Newcastle Fencing Club’s successful BUCS season. It also brings the end to many of our athletes tenure at the club, to the Bulgarian bosses: Elena and Madlen Ivanova, 1st’s Captain Matthew Grogan, and the master delegator Andrew Dixon, thank you for all your hard work and effort in the club, and good luck in your respective fencing careers, you will be sadly missed!
Navneet Kandhari
