2014 Tom Wright Memorial Veteran Fencing Tournament
DCFC member Kashi Way (right) celebrates his gold medal with fellow foil fencing finalists!
10/6/14
Fencers with decades of experience gathered at DC Fencers Club for the Tom Wright Memorial Veteran Fencing Tournament, a three weapon tournament sponsored by the Capitol Division. The tournament honors Wright, a longtime Capitol Division fencer who fenced sabre at Harvard graduating in 1941. After retiring from a distinguished career as an architect in Washington, DC, he returned to fencing at the NIH club in the 1990’s, when he was in his 70’s. He went to England on one of the first USA veteran teams before World Veteran Championships were officially recognized.
Meet Manager Lewis Sloter noted that after Wright’s passing in the spring of 2006, the Capitol Division executive board decided to name the fall vet event after him. Before then it was known as ‘The Graybeard Duel’ and was held around Veteran’s Day.
Sloter added, “[Wright] was the only person I’ve ever met who actually fenced in a duel.”
Congratulations to all the fencers in the Capitol area on joining us for this lively event. In addition to great fencing, fencer and blogger Badger Merritt wrote about sartorial fencing flair at the tourney.
Thanks also to our referees, and to meet manager Lewis Sloter, who capped off his meet management clinic with a live tutorial at the Tom Wright. Thanks for helping us grow the sport with this training opportunity, Lewis!
A special congratulations to DC Fencers Club members Kashi Way, who took gold in the Vet Combined Mixed Foil, and to Valerie Asher, who won the women’s category for the Mixed Epee event. Both will have their names engraved on the trophies, which reside at the club. Well done!
Full results are on AskFred.net.
Enjoy this photo essay on the DCFC Facebook page.
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