Image Credit: Contributed
February 06, 2017 - 4:49 PM
OKANAGAN – It was the first Canada Cup of the 2017 year and athletes came from all over Canada to compete in this event held at the Richmond Oval. Coaches Matt Clarke, Brendan Robertson and junior coach Chris Dlouhy represented the club this year and came home full of pride and amazing memories.
Saturday morning at 8am Dlouhy started off the competition in the Junior Mens Epee event. Epee is the largest of the three fencing weapons and the whole body is target.
The tournament started with a good showing of Dlouhy’s skills and footwork and was able to secure 3 victories and 3 losses placing him 22 out of 42 fencers after pooles. The next round of direct eliminations soon started and Dlouhy was faced against a fellow poole member, Toronto fencing club member Alexzander Zweger, who he’d just lost to 5-2 in his last poole match. With butterflies and nerves filling his body Chris quickly rose to the occasion and landing the first few touches. Zwegers couldn’t pull ahead of this match and continuous double touches secured Dlouhy victory 15-14, leading him to compete next to Quebecois fencer Alexandre Migneault. Coach Clarke recalls himself being very nervous for Dlouhy and how he knows what a talented fencer Migneault is. The nerves were for nothing, as it quickly became Dlouhy’s match securing many wrist touches against his opponent leaving Migneault little opportunity to set up his own game. Dlouhy won this bout 15-10 and was fated to fence against what would be silver medalist, Colin Dale of Toronto. Dlouhy was fortunate to finish 5th, which was a personal best showing for himself at that caliber of a tournament.
Later that afternoon, coach Robertson would fence in the Veteran (aged 40+) category. Robertson showed great strength and pushed his opponents very hard. Clarke recalls seeing his coach, Robertson , fight very hard for each point secured. After the round of pooles Robertson was paired against Dynamo fencer and long time friend, Robert (Bob) Noble. Noble took the match 10-6 and left Brendan a little unsatified as Robertson knew he could have done better.
Jan 30th was the day of what is usually the hardest event to place in, senior epee event. This category is for anyone 14 years of age or older.
Clarke and Dlouhy started this day off fencing fairly well against Canada’s top athletes. It was Clarke who unfortunately got hurt part way through the competition and was not able to give 100% from then on. He secured a 25th place losing to junior nation team member, Loup-Yann Ferre, in the top 32 bracket of direct eliminations. Dlouhy did win his first match against Quebec fencer, Jason Harel, but fell short when placed against Seraphim Jarov of Vancouver’s Dynamo fencing club. Sarov went on to place second in the event, losing in the finals to National team member Loic Beaulieu of Quebec.
The event was run smoothly thanks to all the hard workers from the Canadian fencing federation and the countless volunteers.
Okanagan Freestyle Fencing trains recreational and competitive fencing to anyone ages 8 and older and holds classes in Kelowna, Vernon and Lake Country. Their next local tournament is the OFF Spring Fling Epee Challenge held March 10-12th at the Oyama Community Center. For anyone wanting to learn to fence, please contact Coach Matt at 250 306 9253 or by email, okanaganfencing@gmail.com
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