The Hampshire Fencing Union Sabre Competition was held this year at Seacourt Tennis Club in Hayling Island on 11 March 2012.
Fencers from Espada Fencing club in Bournemouth, Seacourt Fencing Club and Portsmouth & Southsea Fencing Club all convened to contend for the title and the splendid trophies which are much sought after by Hampshire trophy hunters for whom size is everything!
Chris Jupp and Lucy Wright from Seacourt were the defending champions from 2010 (the competition was not held in 2011) and were eager to hang on to their titles (notwithstanding having hired a delivery van for the day to return the trophies).
The competition was fierce amongst the men, although the women’s title was sadly uncontested with Lucy being the only woman sabreur there (trophy retained!)
Old rivalries between clubmates raged as the pool unique saw everyone fighting everyone. Eryk swashed and buckled; Nathan adopted the ‘frog en guarde’ position as a distraction; Carl parried quart; Martin circled sixte; Lucy crashed in; Liam did pointy épée things; Chris steamed in and Keir riposted.
The final was a great display between Chris Jupp and Keir Ovington. Chris, the left-hander from Seacourt was given a good fight by the odd sock wearing foilist from Bournemouth, but eventually triumphed and won the trophy for the second time.
A great day was had by all. Thanks go to Martin Toms for running the competition along with Allen and Lorna Cooke.
