As you will all be aware, following News of the new community case of Covid, Auckland and Coromandel are re-entering Level 4 lockdown tonight at 23:59 for an expected 7 day period, and the rest of the country is doing the same for the next 3 days.

Regretfully this means that all Clubs are closed in each area for the relevant period, and this Sunday's FN SS Individual Championship Tournament will be postponed until a later date (TBA).

The situation is currently fluid, so FeNZ will be reviewing the status of the NZ Secondary School Championships (currently scheduled for next weekend - the 28th-30th of August) until we have a clear understanding of how this thing develops.

We'll let everyone know as soon as any decision is made.

David

el Presidente'

Fencing North

This is a reminder to secondary school fencers who want to fence in the National Secondary School Championships on 28 - 30 August.   You need to enter!

Entries for the tournament close on 11 August 2021.

The link for the entry and all tournament information is at:

  https://www.revolutionise.com.au/fencingmidsouth/events/88576/

Please note the date and the venue for this tournament have changed.

New date is the 04/SEP/2021 at Te Pai.

This is a reminder about the two tournaments being run by Whangarei Swords on 1 August 2021 in Whangarei.

There is the Whangarei Fun Competition that is designed for beginner fencers of two or less years' experience.  Follow this link to enter: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScNgP9DHDRlyWcBFMq3Poo-Ei1ZsCrdhrpybsREdS-BYtbrAA/viewform

here is also the Pickworth Open, that is open to all fencers, but designed for fencers of two or more years' experience.  Follow this link to enter that tournament:  https://www.registernow.com.au/secure/Register.aspx?E=44039

Live results as they happen.

FN SS#3 Individual 2021 Results

Fencing North Inc. Committee Meeting – 06.07.2021

 Meeting Opened:  7:11 pm (Microsoft Teams)

Present: David Elder (President)(holding Maja Saran proxy), Ben Upton (Secretary), Sunnie Sun (Vice President, Massey University), Katie Logan (NZ Academy of Fencing), Amanda Hopkins (Treasurer), Ryan Yan.

Apologies: Maja Saran (Head of Tournaments), Matt Stanley (Whangarei Swords), Mary Black (Tuatahi).

Confirmation of the Previous Minutes:  Minutes approved.

Matters Arising: 

Maja still needs more support – A call was made for help in terms of running foil events, but there were no responses.  There was a discussion around options (shoulder tapping / call out for club support).  Email to go out to all clubs to ask.  We will look to allocate tournaments to clubs again for 2022 season.

Medals – These have been ordered.  These may take a month (said 3 weeks ago).

Training Camp – To be held in 2 weeks’ time at MAGS.  Only 6 applicants thus far.  We will need to do more advertising to support.  We will send an email reminder.  There will be no increase in the coaching fee that has been offered.  This will be kept under review.  Flyers to be provided at the Secondary School # 3 tournament. 

Fabric Pistes – These have arrived.  Yet to be invoiced.

Sectional Pistes – These have been priced.  See further below.

Whangarei Tournament – This is on 1 August.  This will run the Pickworth and a beginner tournament.  Email to be sent promoting this. 

Epee Teams – This was moved to 3 November.  But there is a clash with Mid-South Tournament.  Mid-South have requested that this event be moved.  This will remain on the date allocated.  To be kept under review.  It is difficult to run two day tournaments.

Referee training – Slides still in production.  This is with Katie Logan.

Team qualification – The email has been sent out on this today.   

Treasurer’s Report

Fencing North is doing well.  Competition fees running at $19k.  Hall hire remains highest cost ($10k). Need to make a second payment of $5k for pistes.  Some money still owed to Oliver Agnew.  FIE provided some new boxes.  There were also some spools (now at Mid South – hopefully to be returned after NZSS at end August).  There is a possibility of buying some new spools. 

FENZ has ordered another box (Favero 0.5) and spools have been ordered, along with some masks have been ordered.  It is hoped that these will be coming to Fencing North.  

There needs to be an asset management plan around the equipment, so that the competition equipment is kept in good order.  To be discussed with Peter Butler.

Two new spools will be purchased – Approved.  Fencing North will need to look at retiring equipment to clubs when that is possible.  At present there is only enough stock to run tournaments.

Amanda’s report approved.   

Competitions

Maja Saran’s report (via email) was read.  SS #2 a success.  McLeavey less so in terms of numbers.  Two day tournaments are a stress on all concerned and we are unlikely to take that approach in 2021.

There was discussion around U20 and U23.  This will be moved to weekend of 4^th September.

Referee scheme with voucher payments is working well.

Report approved.

Permanent Venue

A venue in Ellerslie was looked at alongside Auckland Swords but the landlord withdrew.  Other options are being looked at.  Lloyd Elsmore Park (Pakuranga) is being developed.  There may be some options there, although this is a long-term plan.

Health and Safety

No reports, although there was a minor hand injury in women’s sabre – Incident report completed.   

Fundraising

Rhys Greensill has been asked to focus funding to sectional pistes.  There are quotes obtained.  It was suggested that FN apply for funding to a maximum of $15,000 for 2-4 pistes.  Approved.

Oceanic Juniors / Seniors

There is the possibility of some TV coverage which Dave Elder would assist with in terms of production.   The cost is around $5k per day.  Total cost around $15k.  Sky Sport Next might provide some $5k.   So there would be a shortfall of $10k.

There was discussion as to whether this proposal should be progressed.  It was accepted that the likelihood of an Oceanics event was doubtful and even if it took place, there would likely be low attendance on account of Covid / travel restrictions / nature of the event.  Agreed that this year is not the year.  TV coverage proposal not approved.

Applications will be made for funding in any event, as well as secondary school championships.  There will be funding sought for venue hire and first aid help.  Approved.

FeNZ News

President’s Cup was held.  The additional mask strap rule was delayed prior to that tournament.  That rule will apply for Oceanics / Nationals.  There is still a request for assistance for the Officiating Commission (led by Hamish Bulmer).  FIE rules that apply to FENZ tournaments will be advertised more clearly as there has been confusion on some aspects (Shouting rule for example).  A Privacy Officer is being advertised.  There are now FENZ socks – being sold via Mainland Fencing.

Other Business:  

• Oceanic Seniors / Juniors – David has put together a team.  Heather will be DT.  Maja as deputy DT.  Hamish McMorland – Armourer.  David Butler – Floor Manager.  Katie Logan – Referees convenor.  Sunnie to assist with accommodation and billeting of referees.
• Whangarei Tournament discussed.  Maja to be approached to see if she can assist with setting up registration etc.

Confirmation of next meeting date – Monday.26 July 2021. 

Meeting Closed:   9:27 pm

Live results as they happen.

2021 McLeavey Results

Live results as they happen.

https://www.fencingtimelive.com/tournaments/eventSchedule/270644F1EFB34488A418B080DE8C2AA3#today

When:                   Saturday 17^th and Sunday 18^th July – 10am to 4pm

Where:                  Mt Albert Grammar School, Alberton Avenue, Mt Albert, Auckland

Who:                     Fencers – beginner through to high performance

                             Coaches – coaches are encouraged to attend with their fencers

                             Referees – an opportunity to practise skills with NZ top referees

Camp Fee:   $50 for 2 days, $35 for one day (Please Note – this camp is subsidised by Fencing North as part of a Fencing New Zealand initiative)

          Mt Albert Grammar students – please contact Kyle Macdonald

Coaches:               To be determined based on numbers attending

Registration Form: https://forms.gle/EdbJDeBuXxEjvmW16

Fencing North Inc. Committee Meeting – 08.06.2021

 Meeting Opened:  7:05pm (Microsoft Teams)

Present: David Elder (President), Ben Upton (Secretary), Maja Saran (Head of Tournaments) Sunnie Sun (Vice President, Massey University), Katie Logan (NZ Academy of Fencing), Amanda Hopkins (Treasurer), Rhys Greensill, Mary Black (Tuatahi).

Apologies: Peter Butler (Auckland Swords), Maja Saran (Head of Tournaments), Matt Stanley (Whangarei Swords)

Confirmation of the Previous Minutes:  Minutes approved.

Matters Arising:  Oliver Agnew has been paid website maintenance fees that he had incurred personally until 2019.  2020 and 2021 receipts still awaited.  Oliver Agnew to be asked if he can assist on a ProBono basis in terms of website improvement.  Ben Upton to attend to that.

Referees are being paid with records being kept.  The Fencing Time server is now up and running.

Parents guide to fencing which Mary has prepared.  This needs to be finalised and published. 

Treasurer’s Report

Fencing North is doing well.  There is $55k in the bank, although there are pistes to be purchased from that amount.  There is a profit with a few school tournaments to come which will assist.  We are up to date on payments.  Oliver Agnew still be to be paid (as above). 

Amanda’s report approved.   

Competitions

Maja Saran’s report (via email) was read.  David Elder explained that Maja requires more support.  This requires more volunteers.  There is a request for a person to run the foil tournaments.

David to discuss with Maja how a team (built around students and parents) might be built around tournament organisation, with Maja running this operation.

There is also a need to advertise the need for volunteers.  Katie Logan to draft a FaceBook post and handout for that purpose.  This to be agreed and discussed with Maja.

Medals – These are $4.58 + GST each.  A lot are needed.  $2,000 spend required.  This was approved.  Medals to be awarded at selected tournaments (essentially the individual Fencing North Championship events – there are trophies found for the school teams).  Secondary School # 4 is designated as the medal event for schools.  There is a likely need to increase the tournament fee by $5 per entry for these events.  Medals won’t be awarded retrospectively.  This position will be reviewed before the beginning of next season so that medal events are designated early and this can be made known in the tournament programme.

There is a need to track trophies. 

Permanent Venue

Rhys Greensill reported.  15 + properties seen over the last month.  One (in Ellerslie) was looked at more closely as it was well priced.  There is another building next to it which could allow expansion.  The currently available space may not be ideal in terms of size and would not allow use for the larger tournaments (which is a key consideration as the main spend by Fencing North is around venue hire for the larger tournaments – c.$25,000 per year).  This still needs to be discussed with Auckland Swords.  Zoning is an issue where ‘industrial’ categorisation makes it difficult to house such a venue.  Blockhouse Bay Tennis Club can be looked at too.  Scarborough Tennis club as well.  There are 4 real estate agents who are aware that we are looking.

Health and Safety

No reports.   

Fundraising

Fabric pistes have been ordered.  Sectional pistes – quotes required so that we can apply for funding (three quotes required).  Active NZ has turned down the latest application.  Rhys to contact Active to see what the issue might be. 

Auckland Council has asked to see a demonstration with some fencing at a school event.  This is to support a recent funding application.  This to be attended to.  The Tuatahi event may be a good example.

Training Camp

This is being primarily run by Kyle MacDonald in the weekend of 17/18 July 2021 at MAGS.  There is some advertising.  There is FENZ funding available for this.  There is still some planning being undertaken in respect of this before more active promotion can start.  Amanda Hoskins to assist with administration if required.  There is a good template for this from the last camp, which can be repeated.

Whangarei tournament

Matt Stanley is looking to promote a tournament in Whangarei.  He has asked about dates.  He has offered 1 August 2021 (Pickworth) or 29 August (which clashes with SS).

1 August was the preferred date, subject to Maja’s approval as Head of Tournaments.

We will not likely run the tournament on 6 November 2021.

FeNZ News

Epee teams to be moved to after Fencing North Open (September). 

There is a new rule around mask straps is now in play.  This has been an FIE rule since 2018, but only recently imposed for upcoming FENZ tournaments.   This needs to be advertised for FENZ Tournaments. 

After discussion it was agreed that Fencing North will this as a requirement for 2022 for its tournaments.  The options are to retrofit or replace.  Daniel Chan can do this.  Preferable that fencers attend to this as soon as possible as it is a safety issue.  Ben Upton to inquire of other re-sellers in Auckland as to what they can offer, so that this is promoted.

There was a discussion around plastrons.  There is a move to 800N plastrons.  As this is now a national tournament requirement (even with 800N jacket), this is recommended, but won’t be a requirement at FN tournaments.   

National rankings are being unfrozen as of 1 January 2021.

Other Business:  

• Referee training slides - Katie Logan has prepared some slides around penalties.  These will be circulated to Anja and reviewed, and then sent to referees.  There are some links to videos that can be added. 
• Team qualification – Raised by Mary Black.  Given that FN has previously resolved to give priority to school teams.  These will be entered in order of ranking (by reference to national rankings or secondary school tournaments – if the national ranking is not available or accurate).  For ‘orphans’, then they will be allocated to a team on application in second priority (again with team member ranking applying).

Confirmation of next meeting date – 6 July 2021. 

Meeting Closed:   9:56 pm