Seacoast Fencing Club will be closed in both Manchester and Rochester until September. For the past 35 years we have only closed the club in July, but the past two years we have experienced very hot temperatures in August which has made fencing very challenging. This summer, New Hampshire has been experiencing a dramatic increase in 90+ degree heat in June, and so far 12 to 14 straight days of 90+ heat this July.

The number one priority of the club has always been health and safety. This level of heat is not safe for fencing in our fencing outfits. For that reason, Seacoast will be closed until Monday September 9 in Manchester, and Tuesday September 10 in Rochester.

However, both clubs will have their first beginning and intermediate classes on Thursday, September 5. The first class in both do not require full fencing gear, as both are footwork only, so shorts and T-shirts will be fine.

I look forward to seeing everyone in September!

Both of the two locations of the Seacoast Fencing Club will be open in June. Rochester will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Manchester will be open on Mondays and Wednesdays (but will not meet on Thursdays).

The Children’s Training in Rochester will be combined with the Youth Training in June. Some of the youth fencers will be moved into the Junior & Adult Training.

If Manchester’s Children’s Training has fewer than five participants, they will be merged into the Youth Training. Some of the youth fencers will be moved into the Junior & Adult Training.

The June dues will be $190 for Children, $200 for Youths, and $210 for Juniors and Adults. Please bring cash or check payable to Seacoast Fencing Club to the first meeting.

Below is a link to the google spreadsheet for the fencers and parents can sign up for the June session.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Qr8MsHJiKosbLOFZAduNm-db6jaxCmujKmpsbhpX4gE/edit#gid=0

Seacoast Fencing Club’s next one hour long beginning fencing classes in Rochester will meet once a week on Thursdays starting on September 5, 6:30 to 7:30 pm. There are no new classes over the summer (June thru August).

Manchester’s next one hour long beginning fencing classes will meet once a week, also on Thursdays starting on September 5, 6:30 to 7:30 pm. There are no new classes over the summer (June thru August).

The training groups for those who have completed their beginning and intermediate classes will continue to meet in May and June, but both clubs will be shut down in July and August.

Spring term (March, April, and May) starts the first week of March, and it is time to pay the dues for the next three months of fencing.

Please bring your payment to the first meeting.  Cash is accepted, and checks should be payable to Seacoast Fencing Club. Sorry, we do not accept credit cards or e-payments.

Those fencers who are moving into an older age group will meet once a week in the younger group, and once a week in the older group during this transition period. At some time during this term, I will move them exclusively into the older group. The dues for these fencers is $390 (children & youth), and $410 (youth & junior).

Spring Dues (March, April, May)
Children        $380
Youth            $400
Junior            $420
Adult             $420

Manchester Schedule  

Children                          6:00 to 7:00 on Mondays and Wednesdays
Youths                            6:30 to 7:45 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays
Juniors and Adults         7:00 to 9:00 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays

Foil and epee is fenced every practice.  However, in Manchester, epee fencers’ biggest night is Thursdays, and foil fencers’ biggest night is Wednesdays.  Monday is usually an even mix of foil and epee.

Rochester Schedule

Children                         6:00 to 7:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Youths                           6:30 to 7:45 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Juniors and Adults        7:00 to 9:00 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays
                                      2:00 to 4:30 pm on Sundays (National Training)

Foil and epee is fenced every practice.  The best turnout for epee is Tuesday, and foil is strong on both Tuesdays and Thursdays.  

Sunday practices in Rochester will have intensive training and coaching for those who want to prepare for regional and national competitions. We meet every Sunday except on weekends that we host a tournament. Please check the National Training Schedule to see if it is being held- we need six signed up to hold the session.

All Seacoast fencers can come to both the Manchester and Rochester locations if they want to pick up an extra day of fencing (with a new mix of fencers). There is no extra charge. 

As always, we are happy to stay an extra half hour if fencers want more time on the strip!

After qualifying for the Summer National Championships, eight Seacoast fencers will be competing July 2 through 8 in Phoenix, Arizona. These eight will be competing in 12 events, in Division 2 and Division 3 categories, five youth events (Y14 and Y12), and one Veteran event.

Trevor Wohlers, from Rochester (where he also trains), will compete in both the Division 2 and Division 3 Men’s Foil. Jacob Chreky, who lives in Massachusetts, but trains at Seacoast in both Manchester and Rochester, will be in the Div 2 & Div 3 Men’s Foil. Martin Moscowitz, from Windham, who trains at Manchester, will compete in both Y14 and Div 3 Men’s Epee. Alex Sfintescu will compete in Y14 Men’s Foil, and his sister, Emma, will compete in both Y12 and Y14 Women’s Foil. Both are from Bedford, and train in Manchester. Daphne Stewart, from Amherst, who trains in the Manchester club, will compete in Y14 Women’s Epee, and her father, Rob Stewart, will compete in the Veteran 50-59 Men’s Epee. Eoin O’Brien, from Derry, and trains in Manchester, will compete in Division 2 Men’s Epee. All the Manchester club fencers (except Daphne and Rob) also train in the national training group on Sundays in Rochester.

Chris Pullo, the Head Coach at Seacoast Fencing Club will be accompanying them at the National Championships. We wish all of them good luck at the National Championships!