News and Announcements

March 17 Update

17/3/2020

Dear Fencing Family

Well, this is new ground. Please take seriously the social distancing warnings of our medical experts and for the next week, please stay home.

SFO will remain closed until the end of the March Break and monitor the advice of the medical experts and various governmental advise and notes. On Saturday March 21, I will send a note for the next week but at present, we will likely not be operating on the Sunday 22nd, including new classes. The situation changes frequently and rapidly.

In the meanwhile, I am also asking ALL people who have keys to remain out of the club as we have noticed some people using it.

We are not actively sanitizing the club, and the virus can live on surfaces for some period. At present, only the Headcoach should be entering the club unless you tell me otherwise. This may allow us to open in small groups as we can control the environment in the immediate future but if the club becomes a non controlled space, it will remain closed. Please do not spoil it. If you have a key, stay out!
The entry code is now changed, and you will set off the alarm.

Be well, be kind and be unselfish to those whom you come into contact with. This is not an easy time but the values and virtues we inculcate in our sport - respect, value and integrity - will take us a long way.

Darren

News for March 3

3/3/2020

Congratulations to Blake, Ellie and Spencer for their results at the Ontario Winter Games this past weekend. All placed Bronze in individual foil. Ellie, Spencer anchored/captained their teams to gold in the team relay and Blake anchored/captained to silver. 6 medals in all. Photos here.

Trainings are as usual this with but Tuesday elite starts at 6 pm, and all Saturday footwork classes in March are cancelled.

Feb 25th update

25/2/2020

A few announcements, and reminders:

1. Tuesday Elite training will start at 6 pm, rather than 5 pm due to coaches being unavailable. Otherwise, all trainings are as usual with the exception of Saturday footwork trainings which will resume in April due to a tournament each weekend in March.

2. A reminder of the Toronto International Youth Challenge, the Ontario Provincials and the Vango Young Tigers Cup (Apr 11-12, details to follow on OFA webpage). Please register if you can, supporting tournaments is a real help for our experiences and the sport.

3. This Friday to Sunday is the Ontario Winter Games in Barrie and Orillia, and best wishes to Blake Degroot, Ellie Davies and Spencer Orr for their selection to the games. For most fencers, the Ontario Games are the first truly large scale games leading to the Olympics or the PanAmerican or Canada games. This is a sleep over, large multisport event with opening ceremonies and all kinds of fun. Congratulations to them and their families.

You can follow the games at:
https://www.orillia2020.ca/en/index.aspx

4. Finally, congratulations to Isabella Sabatini who was selected to fence in the PanAmerican Championships in San Salvador this year. Isabella started her fencing here in Stratford before moving to Toronto. SFO wishes her all the best.

Feb 4 weekly info

4/2/2020

Congratulations to SFO alumni: Gareth Marks (Waterloo), Justin Quong (Waterloo) and Ben Laurin (Queen's) for results in the OUA Men's Championships. Marks took the GOLD in men's individual foil, while he and Quong took the BRONZE in men's team foil for the Waterloo Warriors (photos here). Laurin's Queen's Golden Gaels took the overall BRONZE for accrued results in all three weapons. Alumni Siobhan Drysdale competes for the University of Toronto this weekend.

Some reminders:

1. Payment for SFO jackets and tshirts is due - and should be done via cheque or cash as we do not have the online store set up for this.

2. All competitive fencers should consider participating in the Toronto International Youth Challenge in March at the CNE grounds in Toronto. It will be a great expereince in a fantastic location. The hotel rate listed expires on 12th February. You will not find a better rate closer to the venue.
https://fencingontario.ca/register-today-2020-ontario-provincial-championships-and-international-youth-challenge/

Toronto International / team wear / Tournament Results

2/2/2020

All trainings are as normal this week, including elite footwork on Saturday.

Athletes should be thinking of registering for the Toronto International Youth Challenge, details below:
https://fencingontario.ca/competitions-clinics/ontario-provincial-championships/2020-opc-iyc/
Jackets and Tshirts
The order has been placed. Please make cheques out to Stratford Fencing Club, and the cost is 100$ per jacket and 20$ per t-shirt PLUS HST.

Tournament Results

Congratulations to our fencers who participated in tournaments this past weekend:
Foilling Around at Ryerson University

Y12 men's foil: Spencer Orr Gold
Y14 men's foil: Spencer Orr Gold

Canada Cup (Gatineau, QC)

Y14 men's foil: Blake Degroot 8th
Cadet men's foil: Blake Degroot 11th
Veteran's Men Foil: Scott Bell Bronze

Team Wear and Capital Clash Results

21/1/2020

All trainings are as usual, including Saturday footwork training, this week.

Teamwear:
We will be selling Nike Teamjackets (see below) for $100 plus HST. Due to the nature of this particular jacket, the back SFO crest will be screened or it will cause puckering in the back. The cost includes your surname on the back neck area. We will also see tshirts for $20 including HST.
If you have not ordered, please let one of the coaches know. We do have some sample sizes in the club.

Results:
Several of our athletes participated in the Capitol Clash, which is the largest Superyouth Tournament in the USA in Washington DC (actually Maryland), over the weekend. The CC is located in the heart of the metropolitan areas of many major US cities, so the level is very high. Over 3000 fencers participated.
Y10 woman: Ashley Davies 49th
Y12 woman: Ellie Davies 13th
Y14 woman: Ellie Davies 48th
Y10 men: Cohen Bernard 27th
Y12 men: Spencer Orr 15th, Cohen Bernard 107th
Y14 men: Spencer Orr 52nd, Blake Degroot 65th
Cadet men: Blake Degroot 58th.

Saturday Dec 7th Family Movie Night

4/12/2019

Our movie night for SFO families at the salle is this Saturday at 6:30 (apologies, I think we told folks originally the 8th, but that is a school night). It is a double bill of the Goonies and Christmas Vacation. Be advised of adult themes in the latter, and decide accordingly.

Bring your own munchies, drinks (but try not to spill on the floor).

D

Dec 1 training cancelled for all groups

1/12/2019

Training is cancelled for ALL groups today as a result of the freezing rain. We will resume normal training schedule next Sunday.

Stay safe.

Newmarket Challenge Results

1/12/2019

Congratulations to our SFO fencers for another great tournament!

E Davies: GOLD Y14 Women's Foil
B DeGroot: GOLD Y14 Men's Foil
S Orr: Silver: Y14 Men's Foil

Both B Degroot and S Bell were top 8 finishers in Senior Men's Foil as well.

Way to go, SFO!

Chicago Results, Movies, Holiday party

26/11/2019

Congratulations to Spencer Orr and Blake Degroot for their results at the Windy City (Chicago) Superyouth tournament.
Cadet men's foil: Blake Degroot (16th).
Y14 men's foil: Spencer Orr (20th), Blake Degroot (22nd).
Y12 men's foil: Spencer Orr (6th).
Both faced the top American fencers, acquitted themselves well and it is very hard to finish in the top 32 of any of these events, let alone in the top 16 or 8.

All training is as usual this week with the exception of the elite footwork training on Saturday (Newmarket tournament).

A few reminders:

Saturday Dec 7th is the Family Movie Night at the club - a private showing of 'Goonies' and 'Christmas Vacation'. Please decide on the age appropriateness for your family. We will start at 630.

Dec 22nd will be the last training of 2019, and will also be our Chrismakkah or Hannukamas celebration. We will be doing the usual white elephant gift exchange (you bring a wrapped gift, it can be good, bad or indifferent/used/regifted as a wrapped gift and we go through a process of open, steal or keep) and pizza/snacks following a team tournament for everyone in the club. As many in your family can participate as you bring wrapped white elephant presents for. But do remember there is a strong possibility of walking away with some wrapped toilet paper! Plan accordingly. All training times, including beginner, will start at 12 noon and we will have the team tournament, social time as we go merrily along. Minifencers will join us at 2:30 for the holiday festivities.

<<Previous