Red Rock Open
June 20, 2009
| Competitors Libby Garry - Epee Scott Carlson - Epee & Foil Everett Hilke - Epee Frank Van Dyke - Epee & Foil Joseph Wojcik - Foil Jeff Knox - Epee Ken Colgate - Epee Patick August - Foil John Wojcik - Epee Stephanie Mendoza - Foil Tank Andersen - Epee Ramsey Mendoza - Foil Alan Reikki - Epee Kathy August - Foil Amanda Marks - Foil Michelle Ricciardo - Epee |
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Total Foil Fencers 8
Total Epee Fencers 10
June 20th saw sixteen fencers show up to do battle in a Red RockOpen tournament. It was scheduled for all three weapons but only
three sabre fencers showed up and they were fencing at least one
other event so at the end of the day they opted to forgo the sabre.
For those of you who are Stab-N-Grab followers, a "real" tournament
is run slightly different than the Stab-N-Grabs. The events are set up
with pools between five and seven fencers. Bouts are to five touches
three minutes apiece. After the pools are direct elimination bouts
of fifteen touches each with total fencing time up to nine minutes
broken into three minutes of fencing, then a one minute rest and
repeting until the nine minutes are up. If there is a tie at the end
of the nine minutes then a coin is flipped and if the fencers remain
tied at the end of one more minute then one who won the coin toss
wins the bout.
Eight foilists started in a single pool. Scott and Frank were
fencing both weapons so they hopped around a bit. Just so you
you know, a pool of eight fencers takes quite a while to play
out. At the end of the pool, Scott was seeded first. Frank was
second. Amanda was third, followed in order by Patrick, Ramsey,
Kathy, Joseph and Stephanie. The purpose of the pool seems to be
twofold. First, to get people warmed up and to test the waters.
Second, to seed the fencers for the direct elimination. This way
if somone is having a really good day or a really bad day it is
is reflected in how they do in the pools. Of course, some people
do better in the direct eliminations and some do not.
The foil direct elimination began with Scott and Stephanie facing
off and Scott moving on. Stephanie made a valiant effort for her
first tournament and was a great sport about it. Ramsey and Patrick
were up next with Ramsey progressing. Amanda and Kathy fenced next
and Amanda topped Kathy. The final first round was Frank and Joseph
with Frank moving up. Scott and Ramsey started the second round with
Scott moving up. Amanda had to leave early so Frank got a bye for
that round. (Why doesn't that ever happen to me! Sigh) As a result
the final was Frank and Scott. For those of you who are regular Red
Rockers, this is not an uncommon sight. Of that battle of smack talkers
Frank won the day!
Enough about foil, on to epee. For this ten people showed up to
compete. There were two pools of five. One pool was Frank, Jeff,
Libby, Tank and Alan. It was a great pool of evenly talented fencers
except of course for Frank who dominated. Coming out of this pool,
the order was Frank (d'uh), Libby (surprise), Jeff, Alan and Tank.
Pool number two was Everett, Scott, Ken, John and Michelle. Of these
five Everett was seeded first, followed, in order by, Scott, John,
Ken and Michelle. It was not quite as evenly matched as the first pool
except for Frank of course, but all the bouts fiercely fought.
The direct elimination began with Tank and Ken fencing and Tank living
up to his nickname. Alan and Michelle were next with Alan moving up,
although Michelle fought hard. Round two began with Evertt and Tank.
This time Everett evaded Tank's forward motion and progressed. Jeff
and Libby were next with Jeff taking the day. Scott and John faced off
next and Scott took that bout. Alan gave Frank a run for his money
but in the end lost the bout much to Scott's consternation.
Everett and Jeff started round three. Everett was on his game and
slipped past Jeff to move up. Always an exciting match-up Scott and
Frank were next. Scott took Frank to 14-15 with Frank escaping defeat
by letting the clock run out since he had won the coin toss and was ahead.
Needless to say Scott thought he had more time but the more experienced
and perhaps more crafty, Frank took the bout. So Everett and Frank faced
off for the final. Everett has been known to beat Frank on occassion,
so the crowd was excited and looking for Everett to take Frank down. Not
to leave you in suspense for long, Everett lived up to the crowds hopes
and took the win. Much cheering and shouting ensued. And so the day and
the Red Rock Open ended. Some wins, some losses but great fun for all.
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