Post by El Cid on Mar 23, 2004 1:21:43 GMT -6
Some observations and comment about the RYC #2 Tournament held at Rice this past weekend and organized by Salle Mauro. It brought back memories of the old spaghetti western "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly."
1. The good ...
The organizers ought to be complimented for the schedule and the rapid transition from pools to DE to the final bouts. One of the hardest thing at fencing tournaments both for fencers and spectators is the interminable waiting periods in between bouts. Mark and Co. run a tight ship that should have pleased everyone.
It was also very nice to see plenty of young and very young fencers pouring their hearts in the sport. Competitors behaved with good sportmanship before during and after each bout. It was a real pleasure to have the opportunity to watch some darn good fencing.
2. The Bad ...
The strips were not according to regulation (in size) and without the electrical pad. When you are charged $30 for the first event, $10 for the next, after a registration of $10 ($5 if preregistered) and a mysterious surcharge of $2 (is that the 'coffee tax'?), one expects to have a minimum of professional presentation.
The medals (no trophies) were without any imprint in the back to indicate which event the fencer won or placed in -- CHEAP -- give at least something the kids can remember this tournament from any other club event!
The judging was mostly done by young kids that volunteered their service. In epee this was generally not a problem, but several foil fencers and their parents were furious at what they claimed were wrong calls. Some complained loudly and to the director, others just shook their head in disappointment. This should not have been the case since there were several qualified and certified judges present in the room who could have been used, and there are many more in the Houston area, but they were not asked to judge. WHY? It's good that young kids are given the opportunity to judge, but when you have a Regional Tournament and incur these fees, you have the right to get the service you paid for. Once more, unfortunately, it is all in the name of being CHEAP (in the service provided, not in the fees charged).
3. The Ugly ...
Both days one could feel the tension due to the controversy between the organizing club and the new club in Houston. You'd think that fencing is a sport to compete fairly. Instead it looked like it was a struggle to show the other one who is better. A benign person would have attributed this to the high spirit of competitivness of the fencers ... but it all changed when "SOMEONE" was going around taking pictures of who (parents or coach) was talking with whom (parents or coach of the other side).
Now, we know that we have some very good coaches from the former Soviet Union, but the KGB times are over even there and fortunately for all of us we never had those unpleasant experiences here. For those who weren't there no Russian was taking pictures and if you were there you know who the frustrated photographer was, threatening, "These will go to the judge!" Everyone was quaking in their ... sandals! LOL
If the threatening photographer was just a minor nuisance to the adults -- many out of towners were first puzzled then they all laughed in disbelief -- the atmosphera for the kids was unhealthy. This spilled over in the support given to certain fencers who were used as pawns in this stupid game of chicken.
Conclusion:
If we cannot get over all this like adults, let's make sure that somebody else orgainizes these tournaments next season.
If other readers were there and had a similar or a different impression, please come forward and criticize openly everything you agree or disagree with.
El Cid and his Colada
1. The good ...
The organizers ought to be complimented for the schedule and the rapid transition from pools to DE to the final bouts. One of the hardest thing at fencing tournaments both for fencers and spectators is the interminable waiting periods in between bouts. Mark and Co. run a tight ship that should have pleased everyone.
It was also very nice to see plenty of young and very young fencers pouring their hearts in the sport. Competitors behaved with good sportmanship before during and after each bout. It was a real pleasure to have the opportunity to watch some darn good fencing.
2. The Bad ...
The strips were not according to regulation (in size) and without the electrical pad. When you are charged $30 for the first event, $10 for the next, after a registration of $10 ($5 if preregistered) and a mysterious surcharge of $2 (is that the 'coffee tax'?), one expects to have a minimum of professional presentation.
The medals (no trophies) were without any imprint in the back to indicate which event the fencer won or placed in -- CHEAP -- give at least something the kids can remember this tournament from any other club event!
The judging was mostly done by young kids that volunteered their service. In epee this was generally not a problem, but several foil fencers and their parents were furious at what they claimed were wrong calls. Some complained loudly and to the director, others just shook their head in disappointment. This should not have been the case since there were several qualified and certified judges present in the room who could have been used, and there are many more in the Houston area, but they were not asked to judge. WHY? It's good that young kids are given the opportunity to judge, but when you have a Regional Tournament and incur these fees, you have the right to get the service you paid for. Once more, unfortunately, it is all in the name of being CHEAP (in the service provided, not in the fees charged).
3. The Ugly ...
Both days one could feel the tension due to the controversy between the organizing club and the new club in Houston. You'd think that fencing is a sport to compete fairly. Instead it looked like it was a struggle to show the other one who is better. A benign person would have attributed this to the high spirit of competitivness of the fencers ... but it all changed when "SOMEONE" was going around taking pictures of who (parents or coach) was talking with whom (parents or coach of the other side).
Now, we know that we have some very good coaches from the former Soviet Union, but the KGB times are over even there and fortunately for all of us we never had those unpleasant experiences here. For those who weren't there no Russian was taking pictures and if you were there you know who the frustrated photographer was, threatening, "These will go to the judge!" Everyone was quaking in their ... sandals! LOL
If the threatening photographer was just a minor nuisance to the adults -- many out of towners were first puzzled then they all laughed in disbelief -- the atmosphera for the kids was unhealthy. This spilled over in the support given to certain fencers who were used as pawns in this stupid game of chicken.
Conclusion:
If we cannot get over all this like adults, let's make sure that somebody else orgainizes these tournaments next season.
If other readers were there and had a similar or a different impression, please come forward and criticize openly everything you agree or disagree with.
El Cid and his Colada