Duel in The Park 2007
Bexley Fencing Club have been involved in The Danson Festival since 1990 and in 2007 we decided to institute, what we hope will become, an annual invitational competition.

Duel in The Park 2007 was envisaged as a four team competition where the teams begin by fighting in a 'poule' to determine positions for the finals.
In the team competition format each team consists of three fencers with optional reserves. In each round, each fencer fights all the fencers in the opposing team so that there are nine fights in each round. Each fight is to five points so that the winners will be the first team to 45 points.

For those that were there, you will know that things didn't turn out as planned. The competition was arranged for the Saturday, which was in the open air and the weather was not kind.
By around two in the afternoon we had only completed two of the poule fights and it became clear that we could not finish. In the best tradition of making the best of what we had, the competition was deemed to be a draw and everyone got on with what they had come to do, fence.
Between showers, even during some light showers, we fenced.
At the end of the afternoon everyone was awarded their medals and the day was deemed to be a success.

In many ways this event was a learning curve. None of the current members of the club had put on this kind of event before, even though The Bexley Fencing Club have been doing so for more than fifty years (as you can see from our Club History.) Our thanks go out to all those who took part, all those who came to support us, Our friends from Gravesham Fencing Club who braved the elements to take part and all the visitors that came to see us. Our special thanks go to our families and friends who continue to tolerate us and our sport.

On the Sunday the weather was kinder and the shelter better. We had moved under the cover of the sport's tent and although we were slightly limited in space we fenced our way through the afternoon, showing off the Epee, Foil and Sabre weapons that are used in our sport. The main idea around Sunday was to provide a demonstration of fencing and the club members supported the club once again.

Those that took part in Duel in The Park 2007 were:
Owen, Karen, Paul R, Matt, Liz, Phil, Mick, Gabbie, Clare, Scott, Craig, Chris, Brad plus Miles Gandolfi, Matt Dean, Alek M, Andy M from Gravesham. Plus numerous family members, friends, colleagues and people dragged off the street.

Bexley Fencing Club would like to thank the following for their help in bringing "Duel in The Park 2007" to The Danson Festival this year:

Bexley Council