Over the summer some people were busy and there were two babies born to past UUC fencers. Congratulations to Pat and Raj on the birth of their son Pierce who was born in August, and to Babs and Neil on the birth of their daughter Anna in September. We can't wait to see them both

The Annual University Colours Awards were held in the Belfast Hilton on the 19th May. These award sporting achievement right across all four campusus. From UUC Fencing Club, Stephanie Cairns and Shiela Madden received Club Awards for holding positions in the Club for more than two years. Joanne Simpson received the Coleraine Fresher of the Year Award. Chris, Donna, Andy and Julie, and Niamh also came long to suport the club. Lots of cheesy music and a tipple after dinner! A good night all round!

The man who brought us Golddigger has abdicated as Captain, he will always be remembered as Mr Vogue. The new committee are stepping up to the plate.

Jo: President

Steph: vice-president

Ruth: fundraising and social secretary.

Colin: will be armourer

Julie:Secretary

Mo: Tresurer.

Our new President!

Chris Shields has taken over from Donna as the President of the club while she writes up.

In September we shall welcome in a whole new committee with Joanne as President, Steph as vice-president and Ruth as fundraising and social secretary. Colin will be armourer. Julie and Mo will be back from Spain and will be the new secretary and tresurer.

Who is Donna??

In her 3 years as President, Donna made the first UUC sports calander (and posed for it), obtained funding for our aluminum piste, and generally looked after the Club and ensured that it was still as strong as when the presidency was passed on from Karen. In fencing she has specialised as a sabeur and has competed regulary in local competitions, the Winton Cup and in the 5 Nations in 2004, This earned her University Colours in 2004. (in response to a question asked at training)

Instead of our usual post intervarsity dinner and end of year barbarque, we are having a paint balling weekend in Aughnacloy on the 2nd/3rd June. It will cost £30 payable to Chris by Wednesday 10th. Babs and Neill are very kindly letting us stay with them so please bring sleeping bags and stuff.

The Winton Cup was held in Stroke-on-Trent on 8-9th April. This is a National competition with teams from across the UK. A number of UUC fencers made the trip over - Sheila, Jo and Julie competed in Ladies Sabre, Chris Shields for Mens foil, Steph for Ladies foil, Alistair and Andy for mens Epee,and Stephanie for Ladies Epee. Dr Gill was the NI captain and the organised one who looked after us all. The Ladies Sabre team were the most sucessful, winning 4 of their 5 team events. Apart from the competition we met but with other NI fencers, those still in the country, and those further afield. Dinner on Saturday night was lovely and the after party even better. Thanks to all those who made the effort to travel over,and to Dr Gill for driving and organising, and to Chris Kelly for dinner.

The NI Nationals were held in Derry on Saturday (25th March). There was a good turnout of NI fencers despite the Senior Nationals held in Dublin. UUC had a small team consisting of Jo, Colin, Niamh, Chris S, Andy and Stephanie. Andy beat Peter Brown from QUB to get gold. Jo was the most sucessful female, picking up a silver in sabre, and a bronze in foil. Niamh also picked up a bronze in foil and Stephanie, a bronze in epee. This was an enjoyable and sucessful way to end this seasons competitions and it's good to see how far our new fencers have come along.

Congratulations to Mark McEvoy and his new wife Bonita who got married in Sligo last week. They even included swords in the form of a guard of honour! From the whole of the Club we hope you are very happy together.

The competition was held on the 18th and 19th of Feb in Queens Univeristy Belfast.

Full Summary to Follow

The NI Open was held last weekend on the 14th and 15th of January. Due to exams only Andy Fenwick and Chris Gill managed to travel down to Belfast. Andy came second in Men's Epee losing out to honourary member Johnny 'CS' Willis who is currently 4th in the British rankings.

The Intervarsities will be held in Queens University on the 18th and 19th of February this year. Keep this weekend free!!! This is an Irish inter-university fencing competition with teams from Queens, UCC, UCD, Trinity, and Maynooth. All the weapons are fenced as teams of three though there are trophies for individual preformance, and of course the infamous boat race that we won last year. The highlight of this competition are not just the fencing and taking part but also the social side of the Friday night meeting and dinner on Saturday night.

Training starts up again on Wednesday 11th at 6pm in the Minor Sports Hall. There will be an additional training session in the gym starting on Monday 16th 6-7pm but please be ready to start at 6 ie turn up early. Excerise is meant to be good during exams so there's no excuse!

Sheila's 21st Birthday Party is on Friday night 6th of January at her house in Old Mill Grange. Come and celebrate with her and meet les senoritas Maureen and Julie who are back visiting from Spain.

The long awaited Fencing Club calanders are now available. These calanders contain naughty but nice pictures of us and other clubs and are very cleverly reversible so you can chose if you want to look at girls or guys. They're £5 form Donna but you need to hurry.

Our Christmas dinner was held on Friday 9th December in the Montague in Portstewart. It was good to see everyone dressed up 1920's style complete with cigars and feathers. Not only did we have our dinner, our new members had to participate in our own mini boat race, against currant champions Donna and Chris. Unfortunately they were just too good which means that a lot more practice is needed before February. The party then headed to the Anchor, along with some bemused looks, then back to the Montague for a final nightcap or two.

Of course there is photographic evidence which will appear shortly

Training is over for this year and will start back on Wednesday 11th January, and also on Mondays starting 16th January 6-7pm. Happy New Year

The Derry Open was held on the 19th and 20th of November. It was good to see most of the team there. Everyone fenced really well even though for some it was their first competition after only 2 months of training.

Results for UUC were:

Mark McEvoy 1st Mens Epee

Chris Gill 3rd Mens Epee

Stephanie Gray 3rd Ladies Foil

Donna Lecky 3rd Ladies Sabre

Stephanie Cairns 3rd Ladies Epee

The Sports Centre holds sessions for fitness training on Mondays 5-6pm, £1.20, and circuit training on Wednesday lunchtime 12.30-1.30 £1.

These sessions are open to everyone. If people want to improve their general fitness it may be worth going.

Congratulations to Mark McEvoy on his engagemant to Bonita. Mark was a UUC fencer and coach and is currently working and living in Sligo. They hope to get married early next year.

We shall be hosting a pub quiz in the Montague on Tuesday the 22nd of November. This was a really good night out last time and we encourage everyone to come along and bring a few friends and raise some money for the club. There will be the usual promotions and karoke afterwards. Starts at 9.30pm.

The Derry Open is a competition in Foyle College in Londonderry where Mike coaches. This year it is on the 19th and 20th of November. This is a friendly competition which everyone can compete in and be introduced to other NI fencers and get some really good experience of 'proper' fencing on piste. We shall be driving down to Derry on Saturday and Sunday, and having pizza and stuff at Donna house in Portstewart on Saturday night where you will get to know everyone in the club better and hear a few UUC legends....

Entry froms were given out on Wednesday night, please return them along with £7 next Wednesday (16th). You can pick up a form then as well if you don't have one.

Those competing will need NIFU membreship- this is a one off payment that means you are insured and licenced to fence. For this and other competition listings and results go to the NIFU website www.nifu.co.uk on our Links page. We shall get some membership forms for next Wednesday as well.

Chris is holding an extra training session on Tuesdays from 5-6pm in the Minor Hall for those who want to coming along. Starting from Tuesday 15th November.

The Fencing Club will be having a night out in the Montague in Portstewart on Tuesday 1st November at their quiz night. Please come along and support the club and help Chris with the answers. Starts at 9.30pm.

The UUC Fencing Club had a club night out at the Comedy Night held in the Riverside Theatre on campus on Monday 24th. Those who went really enjoyed the three acts that preformed and will never get in a car with a Fermanagh driver but we might arrange a trip to Amsterdam... but learn how to ask for oranges before hand.

For those who couldn't make it the next show is in two weeks time on the 7th of November, keep on eye on this website or the notice board and we'll let you know what's happening.

The NW Open was held up here in Coleraine last weekend (22nd and 23rd October). The numbers of competitors was smaller than previous years but this did nothing to detract from the quality of fencing and the both friendly and competitve spirt for the fencers who took part. Thanks to those in the club who help set up pistes and to Alistair for running the competition.

Results

U13 Foil- 1st C Little, 2nd L McCartney, 3rd A Cheevers, G McCracken

Mens Foil- 1st K Grahame, 2nd K Debadi, 3rd L O'Hara, D White

Mens Epee- 1st E McColgan, 2nd P Watson, 3rd D Burnside, P Hazlett

Mens Sabre- 1st D Downey, 2nd G Skyes, 3rd D Caulfield, K Debadi

Ladies Foil- 1st H Currie, 2nd C Hollywood, 3rd I Codd, L Rimmer

Ladies Epee- 1st F Haldane, 2nd R Greer, 3rd S Cairns, A Dixon

Ladies Sabre- 1st M Donnelly, 2nd C McMinn, 3rd J Connor, D Thompson

Congratulations to Andy Fenwick for winning the British Under 20 Championships in Epee. Andy has just joined the Univerity as an undergrad in psychology but has visited the UUC fencing club to train. His younger brother Steven who is in Foyle College was also sucessful in winning the Under 20 Sabre.