Fencing the Germans

The Germans comes from town called Kregfeld. Kregfeld is twinned with Leicester and this event was part of the 40 years of the link.

As expected the teams were a scratch affair. I fence Foil normally but at a push I can fence Epee. The GB Epee teams were short a couple of bods. I put myself down as Epee reserve and was called up along with another chap. I was on second so I had a chance to observe the German team, Hans, Jens and Frederica. Hans was really good technically but did not move a lot and was left handed, Jens was much the same as me in temperament and Frederica was a proper Epee specialist.

Hans beat me but I got a few points. I ran Jens out of time with even points. Frederica and I were the last bout the pool. I had almost twenty points to make up in threes minutes. So I had little choice but to get stuck in. Fredi just had to score five to win. Epee is usually very cagey. I fought in a Foil style and made sure she did not get a double. I took seven points in under a minutes. Fredi got a handle on my tactic and became very defensive. The time ran down and that was that.

The second pool was different, Walter was huge and strong and quite agressive. I was not intimidated, I hit him on the counter quite a few times. Denis was a stylish Epee-ist. He had no idea what to do with me. His faints did not work and did not like to get in close so that was just what I did. He still beat me but it was close. Again I was up last with ten points to make to the other chaps target of five points. I did not manage it. Still it was a good match.

Prizing giving was a formality. The Germans tooks the trophy home, as expect or designed but the individual medals were an even split. It was a good days fencing held in a good spirit.