 |
 |
|
|
The 1st Novice Tournament was held in September 2000.
Earlier that year Monash University had hosted the Australian University
Fencing Championships, but for the first time the AUC was not allowed to
include a Novice foil event. The novice event had long been seen as an
ideal introduction to large-scale competitive fencing, and enabled novice
fencers to participate in the whole Intervarsity experience.
Monash fencers were reluctant to see the novice fencers miss out on all
this, so the Novice Tournament was hurredly convened.
The event was a success, so in 2001 the Novice Tournament was held again, moved to July so as not to clash with the Australian University Games. With more time to prepare it was bigger and better than before, and most Victorian Clubs were represented. In 2002 it was great to see some fencers come all the way from WA, hopefully the trend will continue.
Drawing on the IV experience, the Tournament includes both individual and
team events, for all three weapons. Clubs are encouraged to put together
a "novice team", with more experienced fencers acting as team manager and
armourers to help keep everything running smoothly.
This is a great way to foster club spirit and team camaraderie, as well as
introducing novices to the world of roll-calls and weapons-check with minimal
stress.
Social events are run after the competition ends each day so that
competitors can relax and get to know each other and the officials without
the swords and masks getting in the way. The Presentation Dinner, also an
IV tradition, gives a sense of occasion to the awarding of prizes
as well as providing a great night out.
In addition to medals for the winning fencers, there is also a perpetual
trophy for the the most successful club, and this year there will also be a
perpetual trophy for the most successful club in sabre events.
If anyone would like to donate a perpetual trophy they should talk to the
event organisers.
The Novice Tournament will continue to be held annually for the forseeable future.
<-- The new sabre trophy, for the most successful club in sabre.