HAVE AT THEE: MIDN Phil Bywater (right) duelling with MIDN Tarrant Derksen, former under 15s fencing state champion of Victoria.

Photo: ABPH Kade Rogers

UNMASKED: MIDN Phil Bywaters (left) and OFFCDT Adam Brown.

Photo: ABPH Kade Rogers

By MIDN Phil Bywaters

It was a case of “All for one and one for all” when members of the ADFA Fencing Club (ADFAFC) duelled their way through to gold at a recent fencing competition.

Midshipmen Dee Khanna and Phil Bywaters, and Officer Cadet Adam Brown took the hat trick at the 2005 Monash University Novice Competition, which was held from July 2-3.

Eight fencing teams from ADFA and universities and clubs in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra competed. This was the second time the club had participated in the competition.

The tournament involves the three fencing swords, foil, epee and sabre and comprises individual and team events.

MIDN Bywaters and OFFCDT Brown were initially seeded fifth and eighth respectively in the men’s individual foil competition, but then joined Geoff Squire from the ANU Fencing Club to take the gold in the men’s team event.

The two men entered the individual men’s epee competition and were seeded third (OFFCDT Brown) and 10th respectively.

Officer Cadet Brown then struck gold when he teamed up with Geoff Squire and Peter Marrinon, also from the ANU team for the team epee event.

Meanwhile, after winning her first match, MIDN Khanna was seeded 10th in the individual women’s individual foil, but found gold when she teamed up with Meg Peffer and Susan-Louise Batly (ANUFC) in the women’s team foil event.

When the competition was over the ADFAFC had achieved fourth place overall with wins in both individual and team events.

The trio now have their sights firmly on the ADFAFC’s own inaugral competition, which is scheduled for August 20.

Want to know more about this ancient art? The ADFAFC meets on Monday and Wednesday nights between 1900 and 2100.

Anyone interested in participating, or for details on local clubs, should contact MIDN Phil Bywaters at p.bywaters@student.adfa.edu.au or SQNLDR Michael Spencer on telephone (02) 6266 1915 or e-mail michael.spencer@defence.gov.au.

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