In consultation with the AFF, Assistant National Coaches will be appointed shortly.  For Queensland, this means both a Foil Coach and an Epee Coach, due to the composition of the Australian Fencing Team (AFT).

Expressions of interest are being called for both these positions.  This should take the form of a brief document, addressing the points of the position requirements in the attached position description.

This should be emailed to the secretary on or before THIS FRIDAY 30th July.

Entries to AFF #3 in Perth are due on the attached form this Thursday.  Due to the late notice and the fact that mail redirections may delay posted entry forms, we ask that all entrants please email the secretary with their entries in addition to posting payment with the completed form.  Payment for entries can be made either by posting a cheque with the entry form or by paying at QFA #3 on the 24th, but you should please advise of which events you wish to enter by email beforehand so that it is received on time.

Please email if you wish to enter, or we cannot guarantee that your entry will be in time.  The QFA apologises for the late notification, but please ensure that you do not rely on the post alone to get your entry in by the due date.

Congratulations to all Queensland's athletes for their achievements at the recent Cadet and Under 15 National Championships in Sydney.  From the flight out to our return, everyone was able to focus on their event (or events) while having the chance to relax effectively after hours.

Queensland took both the first and final gold medals of the event, namely the U15 Girl's Epee Individual and the U17 Men's Sabre Team as well as many other inspiring results.  Below is the full list of results;

A final thanks must go to all team officials on the tour.  Without these people's help, we would not have had such a smoothly run competition all round.  In particular, the entire logistics of the Queensland tour was coordinated by David McFadyen, sending out information prior to the tour, driving the bus and making sure all athletes had working equipment for all the events.

Team manager: Cameron Smith

Assistant Managers: Peter Creese, David McFadyen, Michelle Hawkins

Coaches: Michael O'Brien, Simon Leitch, David McFadyen

Referees: Jeremy Hart, Simona Sarmiento, Michelle Hawkins

Non-tour referees: Michael Nelson, Chris Hart

If anyone has any feedback on any element of the tour, good or bad, please email Cameron Smith (cameron@cameronsmith.com.au) so we might improve the experience for all future QFA tours.

Congratulations again!

The AFF has formalised and re-stated its policy on accepting late entries to National Competitions.  While this system has been operating informally in the past, it is now a published policy and fencers are reminded of it.

The policy states:

"All Australian entries to AFF tournaments must be made through an AFF affiliated State Association. Late Entries may be notified to AFF and the hosting State Association via the fencer's affilitated State association in advance of a tournament, with payment made by state officials at the tournament to AFF Tournament Commission representatives. Late entries from States will also be accepted at the tournament if made through a nominated official of that state or that state has advised the AFF Tournament Management Commission that direct late entries from their fencers may be accepted for that tournament. It is the responsibility of the State to ensure that their fencers are in good standing with the State, properly affiliated and capitated to the AFF. If a levy is charged by the fencer's affilitated state, the state should notify the Tournament Commission prior to the event of the amount of the levy. If the state has not advised that a late entry fencer's levy has already been paid, it will be added to the late entry fee paid directly by fencers to the AFF Tournament Management Commission representatives and remitted to the fencers affilitated state by the AFF. The State hosting an AFF tournament should not accept any late entries directly from other State's fencers."

The AFF, following its general meeting in May, has decided to introduce the foil bib target in Australian National events from Jan 1 2011.  This follows the earlier AFF decision to give at least 6 months warning of the introduction of this rule.

The AFF has sent the following message: "The conductive bid for Foil masks will become a requirement for all AFF level tournaments from 1st January, 2011. The requirement will be for FIE approved masks only, for safety and potential insurance risk reasons, no converted conventional masks will be accepted"

The QFA will determine a policy for QLD competitions and publish this as soon as possible.

Antonio Signorelli, the Australian National Sabre Coach, will be conducting a one-day national training camp in conjunction with AFF#3 in Perth next weekend (timetable below). A limited number of additional places have been made available to fencers who are not currently members of the Australian Fencing Team.

If you wish to attend, please contact Peter Osvath (hpm@ausfencing.org or mob: 0418 107 903) as soon as possible.

AFF 2010 SABRE CAMP – PERTH, SAT AUGUST  7th - TIME TABLE

Attached please find the 2nd Round nomination form for athletes for vacant team positions only to represent Australia at the 2010 Commonwealth Veteran Fencing Championships to be held in Melbourne, Australian from 29th September 2010 to 5th October 2010.

Note: These Veteran Championships will be held in conjunction with the 2010 Commonwealth Fencing Championships. No 2nd round nominations for the Open events are being called as all team positions were filled in the 1st round nominations.

Nominations are to be received by close of business on Thursday, 12th August 2010 to:

Alex Donaldson
AFF Director
PO Box 243
BLAXLAND, NSW, 2774

Phone 02 4751 3459 or 0414 392 895 or Email: secretary@ausfencing.org

Over the weekend of 16-18 July, a team of 10 Australian fencers visited Christchurch, New Zealand for the Oceania Junior Championships. The event was also attended by a team from New Caledonia, and by juniors from all parts of New Zealand. Cameron Smith was the nominated Australian manager / referee / coach, supported by Michelle McAuslan.

In the Mens' Epee, Australia fielded six fencers. The top two Australians, Cosmin Mihailescu and Alex Hunter, met in the quarter-finals of the DE. After Cosmin's win, he progressed through to the final where he lost to the New Zealander Alex Chan 10-15. Final rankings were Cosmin Mihailescu (2), Alex Hunter (7), Nick Davies (10), Reagan Clarke (14), Robert Snell (18), and Patrick Daley (19). In the team event, Australia beat New Zealand 45-32.

In the Womens' Epee, Australian fencers Ioana Mihailescu and Amy Reynolds also met in the quarter-finals of the DE. Ioana won, and she progressed through to the final where she won against New Caledonian Clarisse Gally 15-10. Final rankings were Ioana Mihailescu (1), Amy Reynolds (=3). There was no official team event, so the two Australian girls and the New Caledonian formed a "goodwill team" and beat New Zealand 45-31.

In the Mens' Foil, Australia fielded four fencers, all of whom won their pools and made the 8. The final was between Australians Sam Mooney-Grand and Robert Snell, which Sam won 15-9. Final rankings were Sam Mooney-Grand (1), Robert Snell (2), TC Reynolds (5), and Patrick Daley (7). In the team event, Australia again beat New Zealand, this time 44-35.

Finally, in the Mens' Sabre, Australian Nick Davies lost in the semi-finals 8-15 to eventual winner Alex Chan from New Zealand, for a final ranking of equal third.

Australia medalled in all events contested, picking up three gold, two silver, and two bronze medals.

Final time table for the 'Be Active' WA International Fencing Tournament.  Note a slight change of some of the start times.