2011 European Veteran Championship inaugurates in Hénin-Beaumont: Fencing Update
The first 2011 European Veteran Championship was inaugurated on June 1, with competitions beginning the next day, on June 2, at the Espace Francois Mitterrand in Hénin-Beaumont, France.
The local club’s President, Benedict Friess, showed happiness after the long day was successfully concluded. Friess said that they had conducted championships in the past, but never for the Veteran category.
Though he was never satisfied, yet he was happy to see 1350 fencers to participate in the Championship. These fencers belong to 31 various nations, all across Europe. He also found the spectators to be enjoying the function and said, “The public is happy,
everyone is smiling and seems happy to be there.”
The first day of the competition included Women’s epee and Men’s foil of age-groups 50-59 and 60-69 and Men’s sabre 40-49 and 70 plus. These followed the opening ceremony and then the finals of the above mentioned competitions.
In Women’s epee of Veteran 2 (V2) group, a French Veteran, Christine Tran secured the silver medal after being defeated from the German Astrid Kircheis by 8-10.
Regarding the event, the President of Hénin-Beaumont Club, Friess said, “I do not have time to see a lot of fencing. I stopped 5 minutes to watch the final men's sabre V4. I think it was moving well for their age, we see that the fencers have been preparing
seriously for the championship of Europe.”
According to him, all the participant Veterans were quite well-preapared for the championship except for one, Alexandros Levantidis, a Greek fencer that had to withdraw due to his physical condition.
One of these fine Veterans included the 54-year-old Mariette Mason, from Shenfield. She took part in the competition after fighting twice against cancer.
One of the remarkable purpose of her to take part in the championship, is to raise fund for Macmillan Cancer Support and the Vicky Clement-Jones centre at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, both who saved her from cancer each time.
She is one of the top most veterans of Great Britain, who is grateful to these organisations, said, “Competing in the championships, and in doing so raising money for these two fantastic organisations, is a way of saying a very sincere thank you.”
Despite going through her medical treatment, the brave fencer took a tough training, prior to participating in the event.
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