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DC Fencers Club sends three members to World Veteran Fencing Championships in Croatia

 

 

September 20, 2011

DC FENCERS CLUB SENDS THREE MEMBERS

TO 2011 WORLD VETERAN FENCING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN CROATIA

 

Seven fencers from DC-area fencing clubs will represent the United States

at the top competition for veteran fencers

SILVER SPRING, MD – Three champion fencers from DC Fencers Club are on the United States Veteran World Championship Team that will compete in the 2011 Veterans World Fencing Championships, held September 27 to October 2, 2011 in Porec, Croatia.  Valerie Asher, James “Jim” Adams, and Kazimieras “Kaz” Campe are on the U.S. team that will compete for gold against other national teams in the world’s top competition for fencers ages 50 and up.   

Kazimieras “Kaz” Campe (Edgewater, Maryland), has fenced for over forty years.  In 1998, Campe won the first gold medal for the USA in a world championship competition at the 1998 World Veterans Fencing Championship, held at La Chaux-du-Fond, Switzerland.   Most recently, Campe won first place in Veteran 70 Men’s Epee at the USA Fencing 2011 Summer National Championship in Reno, Nevada, which qualified him to be on the USA World Championship Veteran fencing team, competing in the Veteran 70 men’s epee event.

James Adams (Rockville, Md.) is the 2010 U.S. National Champion in all three weapons in the Veteran 70 category, and then took silver in all three weapons at Summer Nationals 2011 in Reno, Nevada.  Adams won the silver medal in Veteran 70 Men’s Epee at the 2010 Veteran Worlds, and he will compete in all three weapons at the 2011 World Championships.  Adams first took up fencing more than 50 years ago at Princeton.

Valerie Asher (Bethesda, MD) in her first season fencing Veteran 50 Women’s Epee won the silver medal at the 2011 Summer National Championship and clinched a spot on the World Veteran fencing team.  Asher began fencing epee in 2000, she won her first national medal in 2002, and has competed nationally and internationally in epee in the senior category (ages 13 and up).  This is her first World Championship event.  Asher started fencing foil in college in the late 1970’s when epee and sabre competitions were not open to women.  The first Women’s Epee Olympic event was in 1996; women’s sabre was added at the 2004 Olympics.

The U.S. Veteran Team — at 50+ members, one of the largest teams going to Veteran World Championships — is composed of fencers with the highest points standings after competing in up to three U.S. national tournaments during the 2010-2011 season.  Other fencers from the Capitol Division (the Washington, DC area) who will represent the U.S. are: Bettie Graham, Veteran 70 Women’s Foil and Women’s Epee (Chevy Chase Fencing Club); Mark Henry, Veteran 70 Men’s Epee  (Chevy Chase Fencing Club);  David Kosow, Veteran 70 Men’s Sabre and Foil (NIH Fencing Club/Rockville Fencing Academy); Philip Sbarbaro , Veteran 60 Men’s Sabre (National Fencing Foundation of Washington).  DC Fencers Club salutes our club members on the World Veteran team, our fellow national capitol area fencers, and the entire U.S. Veteran Fencing Team.

Veteran fencing has grown in popularity alongside the sport of fencing at large. The first World Veteran Fencing Championships took place in 1998, organized by the Fédération Internationale d’Escrime, the international fencing federation.   Often called a “lifelong sport,” the World Veteran Championship fittingly added a 70+ age category in 2009 for men, and 2010 for women.  In the Worlds tournament format, fencers compete in individual events in one of the three fencing weapons: epee, sabre, and foil.  In each weapon category, there is a first round of “pool bouts” in which 6 or 7 fencers compete in 3-minute bouts of 5 hits.  After the pools, fencers compete in direct elimination bouts of up to 10 points, in two 3-minute rounds with a minute break between each round.  In sabre, there is a one minute break after 5 hits. Prizes include FIE medals, and gold, silver, and bronze medals and diplomas for each weapon category.

Follow Vet Worlds and other DC Fencers Club news on Twitter @DCFencersClub, and look for the hashtag #fencing.  Other timely updates on Veteran Worlds can be found at Fencing.net and more information on the U.S. Veteran Fencing Team can be found at USA Fencing, the national governing body for this Olympic sport.

Fall beginners classes at DC Fencers Club

Each generation of world fencing champions gets its start in a beginner fencing class.  It’s not too late to give kids a chance to try fencing this fall.  Starting in October, DC Fencers club hosts six separate beginner fencing classes on weekdays, weeknights, and Saturdays, including kids beginner classes, teen beginner classes, daytime classes for homeschoolers, and an all-ages/levels fencing class.  Equipment is provided for beginners.   For more information on introducing your child to this Olympic sport, call 301-562-1990 or email .

• Homeschool Beginner Fencing Class (Ages 7 – 12) – Wednesday, September 28 (8 week course), 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm. 
• Kids Beginner Fencing Classes (Ages 8-12) – Saturday, October 1 to December 3^rd (8 week course).   9:00 am – 10:00 am. 
• Beginner Sabre (Ages 7-11) – Saturday, October 8th to December 17th. 11:00 am – 12:00 pm.
• Beginner Epee (Ages 9 to 12) Wednesday October 12th to November 30^th (8 week course)  5:00 – 6:00 pm.  
• Teen Beginner Epee  – Mondays, October 17 – December 5 (8 week course) 6:30 –  7:30 pm.
• All ages/all levels Epee fencing class (Ages 13 to adult).  Saturdays, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm.

About DC Fencers Club

DC Fencers Club (DCFC) has a national and international reputation as one of the best fencing clubs in the United States.  The club offers instruction through classes, camps, workshops, and individual lessons.  Fencers of all ages are welcome, and members range from recreational fencers to fencers who compete in local, regional, national, and international tournaments.  DCFC coaches have a combined 100 years of training, competition, and teaching experience, and they include credentialed fencing masters and National and World Champions.  DC Fencers Club promotes excellence, sportsmanship, and safety in a friendly, easygoing environment.

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