Monday, 18 March 2024

 We invented a new fitness game !

 We call it "Castle" !


It looks pretty disciplined - at least for the first few seconds......

(Joshua and Éanna defending the "castle" - Euan and Achmed attacking from the outside.)

The rules :

Two teams with two fencers each are involved in a "team fight" on one piste - simultaneously ! The two fencers in the middle - positioned back to back - defend the castle from the attackers outside. There are no breaks after hits. The referee interrupts in case of an emergency (fencer on the ground, broken blade etc.) or when the game ends with one team reaching 50 hits.

From our experience a "castle" match takes around 3 to 5 minutes in total.

The technical equipment required:

Three extra cables with banana plugs and a body wire allow to combine the two reels in the middle (castle) to connect them to one side of the scoring machine (e.g. "green"). Another three cables with banana plugs and a body wire allow to connect the outer reels (attackers) to the other side of the scoring box (e.g. "red").

Very important: The "dead time" of the scoring box after each hit - which is the time frame for the acoustic signal and till the box is ready again for the next signal - has to be reduced to 1 second. As we use in our club mainly our VSM boxes (virtual scoring machines: see link on the left) this is simply done by changing this value in the software settings.

.... and then it can escalate fairly quickly.

Okay - it has not that much to do with olympic fencing....

... but it is very exhausting and so much fun !


 The "Ravens" on their way to success...

CFC's outstanding performers in competitions

Looks like we are blessed with a number of outstanding young talents - leaving a very good feeling for the future of the club. Some recent examples :

Winner of the last Christmas cup 27th November 2023:

Gold for Euan Burke !




 
Youth Winter Epee Challenge 10th December 2023 :
Silver medal for Euan Burke and the bronze medal for Éanna Connolly !

 
Excalibur Cup 6th February 2024 :
 Gold for Euan Burke !
 
Spring Epee Youth Challenge 3rd March 2024 :
Trust me - I am not worried to repeat myself:      Gold for Euan Burke !
 
Galway Novice 2nd March 2024 :
Gold for Éanna Connolly !
 
 
Looks good on Galway colours :

Cool parry ripostes and nice fleché attacks - Éanna managed perfectly to leave the gold in the West :


Thanks a million and congratulation to all of our recent medalists !!!
 
By the way - one little remark about Euan who also competed on the Galway Novice 2023 vs. all adult opponents (e.g. see one of his actions below) :
He performed very well but was defeated in his 2nd DE match. So he decided to travel the next Morning to Dublin and won the gold in his own age group (Spring Epee Youth Challenge 3rd March 2024, see above). 


Good fun also for our other beginners who started on the Galway Novice 2024:
 
Kate

Mikaela
 
Paco


 One for all and all for one....

Team fun : Some images from more recent events...

Western Open 14th October 2023 :


Professor Duffy's Team Challenge 20th January 2024 :



 The CFC club trophy

The recent winners of the CFC club trophy for men's epee:

Rainer - 14th July 2023

 
Éanna - 2nd September 2023

Éanna - 6th November 2023


Joshua - 8th March 2024


Rainer - 15th March 2024