Birmingham International 26/03/2016

First fencing competition of 2016 and it feels like a lifetime since my last (the Welsh in November) and like yesterday at the same time.
The venue itself was easy enough to find – and no arguments with doors! Fascinatingly, the sports complex is like a maze over two floors!

Unfazed – I’ve begun to find this initial part of a previously un-entered competition almost a calming ‘ritual’ now – I use it as part of the adrenaline-build. The organisers were absolutely fantastic, one of them extremely kindly walked me round the entire venue, showing me all the halls I may be fencing in and giving me time to make all-important landmarks with colours, numbers of steps, counting doors etc.
Playlist firmly plugged into ears in a relatively deserted hall, both myself and a close friend simultaneously warm up. Unspoken language between me not ‘seeing’ and neither of us hearing over headphones, superstitions, rituals and thought processes begin. And of course the dark chocolate, for me at least!

It’s fluent this time, no waiting and before I could think about last minute tape or where the Allen key is I’m plugged in. Weirdly, the first time I’ve not had nerves and actually found myself wanting, needing more adrenaline. Although in some ways an advantage, the measured aggression needed just wouldn’t materialise.

The poules flew – overall, I achieved more in points than the Bristol Open which was a similar level event, but for my personal standards and aims I was pretty unsatisfied with my fencing and determined to give the DE my all. And did!
No medals this time again, but achieving a point more than at Bristol was something to take home. Along with a wealth of experience than can only be gained from doing.

Within 24 hours of being home, I’ve stuck to my promise to myself and between a mixture of the “what an Earth am I doing??!” and the “just do it!” I’ve entered the British National Championships this April and as I waited for the page to load with the foil entries, even just seeing my name there gave me butterflies!

So, next stop, London 16/04/16.

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Fencing at the Welsh Open 2015

This was another ‘first time’ individual fencing event for me at the suggestion of a few friends during the Bristol Open.

Arriving two hours before Foil check-in as a good friend of mine who brought us is fencing in the Epee event, I’m already buzzing and fighting to contain the adrenaline reserves until later.

Re-taping, testing and double testing foils more than dissolves the time. As well as various (probably audible obscenities!) as I battle with completely invisible grub screws!

Finally I check-in and have already mentally begun my warm-up. Clocking almost every piste is metal – brilliant! More scope for contrast, shape and colour, more chance to hear and gauge opponents’ rhythm and speed. The lighting is all artificial so no sudden random variations (although I doubt the sun would’ve put in an appearance through the solid autumn drizzle-dirge!). After a careful ramble, I’d also counted pistes left to right to get the piste numbers and noted plenty of space between each so less opportunity for potential ‘Little Miss Bump’ encounters with wires, spools, bags etc.!

Creature of habit, I have ‘the last’ cigarette (yes, disgusting but arguably traditionally/historically connected to fencing – my excuse!) I get chatting to another lady Foilist who is so relieved to know she’s not ‘the only one’ with the bad habit! She notices the Black Sabbath tattoo on my left arm and the conversation turns to music.

As Fate decided, only half an hour previously I’d been talking music with my friends fencing Epee and artists who also fence. It’s been on the ‘dream-list’ forever to get to fence with Bruce Dickinson, maybe even Mick Fleetwood (if he still fences?!) and well long conversation short, it turns out this lady had the same coach as Bruce Dickinson for a time and went on to tell me with much animation how they’d happened to cross paths again very recently and that he was getting back into fencing where she fences regularly. I think I just pulled stupid faces! Well okay rationale, but cynicism aside for a second it was a truly awesome way to start a competition!

Back inside, dark chocolate, sips of water stretch and plug into the ‘play-list’. As I find an empty piste and start high kicks etc., I still can’t help wondering “should I slip the Dogtanian theme in there too!?” Really just so apt from the childhood perspective! Odd maybe next to Led Zeppelin ‘Ramble On’ and ‘Rock and Roll’ and Fleetwood Mac ‘Don’t Stop’ and ‘Never Going Back Again’!

Half humming some bizarre hybrid of the Dogtanian theme and Fleetwood Mac I find the piste for the poules and after politely explaining the limitations of my refereeing at this level, my first opponent recognises me from the World Service Facebook page! Turning the same colour as my mask at the lovely things she’s saying, she introduces herself as Rhiannon! (Forgive me an ironic giggle inside!).

If not to win, my usual goal of making it tough for them and getting at least a point in every poule bout got a tick expect the last one.
More than ready for the finals after what always seems an unending wait, I’d found that blissful balance of energy, concentration and adrenaline by the time the DE sheets were put up.

I’ve only done it once before, so I was somewhere between a state of elation and total disbelief after I won 15 – 13. I think my friend had minor hysterics when he asked how it went and apparently I dazedly replied “I think I just won that?!”

Managing to get five points in the second DE I was ranked 31st overall out of around 40 fencers who entered. After the following comments from my amazing coach and fellow fencers, there was more than earned reason to celebrate with a bottle of fizz and ‘Don’t Sop’ on repeat! See you next year Wales!

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