Covid-19
30th September 2020
Covid-19
We need to make a few changes to the Wednesday session to ensure group separation. From tonight everyone in a group must remain isolated from fencers in the other groups whilst in the salle. We will be running three groups as normal, but fencers in each group will now be confined to a single badminton court. Group A will use the court furthest from the entrance and group C the court closest to the entrance. On arrival please go directly to your designated court and place your bag at the end of the court. There is sufficient space at the end of the court for three bags. There will be six pistes available from tonight to allow everyone to complete their fights. Please keep to your designated court during the session, keep 2+m apart when not fencing and 1+m when fencing.
Ian Drew
WFC Treasurer and Covid-19 Officer
30th August 2020
Epee Hitmate+ wireless scoring box
When you press the button on the sender unit, the white LED will turn on to indicate the unit is ready. The sender unit will automatically sense the body wire/sword being inserted and then perform some tests. If the white LED turns off within 1 second, it indicates a short circuit within the body wire or sword. Since the most likely cause is the sword, replacing the sword should solve the problem in the majority of cases.
When you come to fix your faulty sword, the most common faults are either a trapped wire between the guard
and handle, or the bare end of a wire is touching anther pin in the sword terminal block. I would highly recommend
all fencers purchase a Digital Multimeter, since they are great for confirming faults like this before dismantling your sword and therefore save a lot of time.
If you need further help, then do please contact me and I'll give you some guidance.
Ian Drew
WFC Treasurer, Covid-19 Officer and Epee Hitmate+ Developer
20th August 2020
I noticed a few people last night were having problems with the Epee Hitmate+. These are the three newer systems with the strip lights on the outside of the case.
Since we will be using these a lot in the future, I thought this would now be a good time to explain how they work and what you can do with your equipment to make your experience of using them more pleasant.
The Epee Hitmate+ system comprises a console unit and two sender units. The console unit is placed on the floor and contains four lights. The two coloured LED strips are used to indicate valid on target hits the same as any wired scoring box. Above the two coloured LED strips are two small white LEDs. These flash briefly for a guard hit and are the same as the amber lights on some wired scoring boxes.
Console unit
Sender unit
The problems I witnessed last night and in the past have been due to poorly maintained swords and body wires. The sender unit continuously monitors the status of the body wire/sword and if it detects a problem it will either shut down or flash the red/green lights on the console during a hit.
I will go this into more detail in a future report for those fencers that are interested and have time to read it. In the mean time the only way to improve your experience with the Epee Hitmate+ is to spend some time maintaining your sword and body wire.
The most common faults I have found are:
Fencers without a Digital Multimeter (DMM), please perform the following tasks before the next session and monthly thereafter:
Fencers with a DMM, please perform the following additional tasks before the next session and monthly thereafter:
Task 2 is difficult to perform and measure, but what you are looking for is some remaining travel in the tip between the DMM buzzer sounding and the tip being fully pressed. Problems occur in both the wired and wireless scoring boxes when the contact spring in the tip only just makes contact with both contact pads in the barrel. During a fight you may find some hits are detected by the scoring box and others are ignored.
These checks should be done on a monthly basis to minimise interruptions to your fights. I you still experience problems when fencing, please let me know and I will try to give you some guidance.
Ian Drew
WFC Treasurer and Covid-19 Officer
14th August 2020
Although the Wednesday trial session was a success, there are a few minor changes we need to make for Wednesday and Friday sessions to make them run smoother. These include:
SPLC have allowed participants to enter the sports hall without face masks so long as the 2m social distancing rules are adhered to. If you need to use any of the facilities outside the main sports hall then please fit a face mask and follow the one way system, which is clearly marked on the floor.
When not fencing, please observe the 2m social distancing rules. SPLC have placed black crosses on the floor to aid fencers to keep their distance. There were a few occasions on Wednesday, particularly during and at the end of fights when fencers were coming to within 1m of each other without any face covering. This is not acceptable and must be stopped.
New dates have been added to the booking system for Wednesdays and Fridays. The ticket prices will be the same as before. and payment is via credit card. Due to credit card charges, which WFC will absorb, we will not be accepting any refunds. However, if you need to cancel a ticket, you will be able to transfer it to a session on another date up to one hour prior to the start of the session. We encourage you to book multiple tickets either for the same session or multiple sessions to minimise credit card charges and maximise our income. Please book a ticket appropriate for your age since the booking system does not have the ability to verify your age.
https://bookwhen.com/wingerworthfencingclub
Please read the Covid-19 Rules web page since there have been some changes.
Ian Drew
WFC Treasurer and Covid-19 Officer
4th August 2020
The booking system is now live. This system is new to me, so please be patient whilst I get to grips with it. If you have any problems please contact me with a description of your problem. At the moment only the trial session on Wednesday 12th will be listed. If this session goes well, we will add further sessions starting on Wednesday 19th and
Friday 21st.
https://bookwhen.com/wingerworthfencingclub
Ian Drew
WFC Treasurer and Covid-19 Officer
30th July 2020
A new page has been has been added, which describes in detail the rules that we must apply for fencing to take place indoors at Sharley Park Leisure Centre. Please read these rules very carefully since you will be asked to confirm your agreement with them when you make a booking.
We have submitted our draft Covid-19 Risk Assessment to SPLC and if this is accepted, we will run a test session on Wednesday 12th August (time to be confirmed). The session will be free but numbers are restricted. If this goes well we will start to run regular sessions the following week.
Ian Drew
WFC Treasurer and Covid-19 Officer
24th July 2020
Today British Fencing confirmed that DCMS has agreed that indoor fencing can restart on 25th July, although with a significant number of restrictions.
The restriction which effects us most is that groups will be limited to six from different households. Fencers in a group will only be able to fight each other once, which means that for a group of six you will have five fights. Fights will be limited to 15 hits (either 1x15 or 3x5) and 10 minutes duration. You will not be allowed to switch groups during the session.
Corps a corps, fleches and deliberate close quarter actions and any actions that breach the 1m distancing rule will not be permitted.
Although permitted in the guidelines, we will not be providing individual lessons for the short term. These sessions will be for sparring only.
We aim to start the first session on Wednesday 12th August. The start time and duration will be dependent on the number of fencers taking part. The first session will be free. If you need to loan club clothing and weapons for the duration of the restrictions, you must inform me before booking.
I'm waiting for further information from BF about an online booking system they are hoping to provide free of charge. We must use a booking system for track and trace purposes.
Ian Drew
WFC Treasurer and Covid-19 Officer
21st July 2020
As part of a phased return, Sharley Park Leisure Centre have informed me that they will be opening to clubs the week commencing 10th August. For WFC to restart sessions, we need to provide a comprehensive Covid-19 risk assessment based on British Fencing guidelines to SPLC. The WFC risk assessment will outline in detail the measures WFC will undertake to ensure social distancing and maintain high levels of hygiene.
Current government guidelines do not permit sparring due to the 2m social distancing rule. Therefore until the 2m rule is relaxed we can only run training sessions involving footwork. British Fencing have sent a request to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport regarding the relaxing of the 2m rule for sparring. DCMS have acknowledged the request but have not provided timescales for a response.
British Fencing have stipulated that clubs must appoint a Covid-19 Officer and register them. I have undertaken this role in the short term and will register with BF when the system is up and running. The Covid-19 Officer will be responsible for producing the risk assessment and procedures based on BF guidelines, gaining approval from SPLC, and ensuring procedures are implemented and adhered to.
In the meantime we will start to make plans for a return, which may include:
Ian Drew
WFC Treasurer and Covid-19 Officer
Covid-19
We need to make a few changes to the Wednesday session to ensure group separation. From tonight everyone in a group must remain isolated from fencers in the other groups whilst in the salle. We will be running three groups as normal, but fencers in each group will now be confined to a single badminton court. Group A will use the court furthest from the entrance and group C the court closest to the entrance. On arrival please go directly to your designated court and place your bag at the end of the court. There is sufficient space at the end of the court for three bags. There will be six pistes available from tonight to allow everyone to complete their fights. Please keep to your designated court during the session, keep 2+m apart when not fencing and 1+m when fencing.
Ian Drew
WFC Treasurer and Covid-19 Officer
30th August 2020
Epee Hitmate+ wireless scoring box
When you press the button on the sender unit, the white LED will turn on to indicate the unit is ready. The sender unit will automatically sense the body wire/sword being inserted and then perform some tests. If the white LED turns off within 1 second, it indicates a short circuit within the body wire or sword. Since the most likely cause is the sword, replacing the sword should solve the problem in the majority of cases.
When you come to fix your faulty sword, the most common faults are either a trapped wire between the guard
and handle, or the bare end of a wire is touching anther pin in the sword terminal block. I would highly recommend
all fencers purchase a Digital Multimeter, since they are great for confirming faults like this before dismantling your sword and therefore save a lot of time.
If you need further help, then do please contact me and I'll give you some guidance.
Ian Drew
WFC Treasurer, Covid-19 Officer and Epee Hitmate+ Developer
20th August 2020
I noticed a few people last night were having problems with the Epee Hitmate+. These are the three newer systems with the strip lights on the outside of the case.
Since we will be using these a lot in the future, I thought this would now be a good time to explain how they work and what you can do with your equipment to make your experience of using them more pleasant.
The Epee Hitmate+ system comprises a console unit and two sender units. The console unit is placed on the floor and contains four lights. The two coloured LED strips are used to indicate valid on target hits the same as any wired scoring box. Above the two coloured LED strips are two small white LEDs. These flash briefly for a guard hit and are the same as the amber lights on some wired scoring boxes.
Console unit
- Open the console unit case and check the white status LED.
- If it is turned on, the console is already switched on and ready to use.
- If it is turned off, press the ON button and the white LED should turn on.
- At the same time, all four front panel LEDs and buzzer should turn on for two seconds.
- The console unit will remain switched on for 10 minutes after the last recorded hit.
Sender unit
- Press the button on the sender unit and the white LED will turn on.
- Insert your body wire and weapon into the sender unit.
- Press the tip of your sword on the floor or foot and confirm the red/green light on the console turns on for two seconds. Note: Hits will not be recorded if you press the tip switch with your bare hand.
- Press the tip of your sword on your opponents guard and confirm the white light on the console turns on briefly.
- You are now ready to fence.
- At the end of the fight, disconnect your sword and body wire. The white LED will turn off within 1 second,.
The problems I witnessed last night and in the past have been due to poorly maintained swords and body wires. The sender unit continuously monitors the status of the body wire/sword and if it detects a problem it will either shut down or flash the red/green lights on the console during a hit.
I will go this into more detail in a future report for those fencers that are interested and have time to read it. In the mean time the only way to improve your experience with the Epee Hitmate+ is to spend some time maintaining your sword and body wire.
The most common faults I have found are:
- Full or intermittent open circuit connections in the body wire.
- High resistance connections in the body wire.
- Full or intermittent connections in the sword connector.
- Short circuit connections in the sword.
- Poorly adjusted sword tip switch.
Fencers without a Digital Multimeter (DMM), please perform the following tasks before the next session and monthly thereafter:
- Remove the rubber hoods from your body wires and tighten all six grub screws.
- Disconnect the two wires from the sword connector and scrape the ends using the edge of a sharp blade. This will remove any enamel or tarnish from the wire. Replace the wires and fully tighten ensuring the ends of the wires do not touch any other part of the sword.
- Fully tighten the handle.
Fencers with a DMM, please perform the following additional tasks before the next session and monthly thereafter:
- Connect the DMM between pins 1 and 2 (two pins closest together) on the sword connector and fully press the tip switch. Measure the resistance and confirm it is less than 2 ohms. Proceed to step 2 if this passes.
- Switch the DMM to the continuity setting (buzzer sounds when you short the DMM leads together). Slowly press the tip switch until the DMM buzzer sounds. Confirm the tip switch has between 0.1-0.3mm travel remaining. Proceed to step 3 if this passes.
- Connect the DMM between pin 3 and the guard/blade. Measure the resistance and confirm it is less than 2 ohms.
Task 2 is difficult to perform and measure, but what you are looking for is some remaining travel in the tip between the DMM buzzer sounding and the tip being fully pressed. Problems occur in both the wired and wireless scoring boxes when the contact spring in the tip only just makes contact with both contact pads in the barrel. During a fight you may find some hits are detected by the scoring box and others are ignored.
These checks should be done on a monthly basis to minimise interruptions to your fights. I you still experience problems when fencing, please let me know and I will try to give you some guidance.
Ian Drew
WFC Treasurer and Covid-19 Officer
14th August 2020
Although the Wednesday trial session was a success, there are a few minor changes we need to make for Wednesday and Friday sessions to make them run smoother. These include:
- Increasing the number of badminton courts from two to three so that we can increase the number of pistes from four to five.
- Increasing the number of groups from two to three allowing for up to 18 fencers.
- Notifying fencers prior to the session, which group they will be in and who they will be fencing.
- Allowing fencers to use any free piste in the salle.
- Increasing the number of cleaning stations to reduce the waiting time between fights.
SPLC have allowed participants to enter the sports hall without face masks so long as the 2m social distancing rules are adhered to. If you need to use any of the facilities outside the main sports hall then please fit a face mask and follow the one way system, which is clearly marked on the floor.
When not fencing, please observe the 2m social distancing rules. SPLC have placed black crosses on the floor to aid fencers to keep their distance. There were a few occasions on Wednesday, particularly during and at the end of fights when fencers were coming to within 1m of each other without any face covering. This is not acceptable and must be stopped.
New dates have been added to the booking system for Wednesdays and Fridays. The ticket prices will be the same as before. and payment is via credit card. Due to credit card charges, which WFC will absorb, we will not be accepting any refunds. However, if you need to cancel a ticket, you will be able to transfer it to a session on another date up to one hour prior to the start of the session. We encourage you to book multiple tickets either for the same session or multiple sessions to minimise credit card charges and maximise our income. Please book a ticket appropriate for your age since the booking system does not have the ability to verify your age.
https://bookwhen.com/wingerworthfencingclub
Please read the Covid-19 Rules web page since there have been some changes.
Ian Drew
WFC Treasurer and Covid-19 Officer
4th August 2020
The booking system is now live. This system is new to me, so please be patient whilst I get to grips with it. If you have any problems please contact me with a description of your problem. At the moment only the trial session on Wednesday 12th will be listed. If this session goes well, we will add further sessions starting on Wednesday 19th and
Friday 21st.
https://bookwhen.com/wingerworthfencingclub
Ian Drew
WFC Treasurer and Covid-19 Officer
30th July 2020
A new page has been has been added, which describes in detail the rules that we must apply for fencing to take place indoors at Sharley Park Leisure Centre. Please read these rules very carefully since you will be asked to confirm your agreement with them when you make a booking.
We have submitted our draft Covid-19 Risk Assessment to SPLC and if this is accepted, we will run a test session on Wednesday 12th August (time to be confirmed). The session will be free but numbers are restricted. If this goes well we will start to run regular sessions the following week.
Ian Drew
WFC Treasurer and Covid-19 Officer
24th July 2020
Today British Fencing confirmed that DCMS has agreed that indoor fencing can restart on 25th July, although with a significant number of restrictions.
The restriction which effects us most is that groups will be limited to six from different households. Fencers in a group will only be able to fight each other once, which means that for a group of six you will have five fights. Fights will be limited to 15 hits (either 1x15 or 3x5) and 10 minutes duration. You will not be allowed to switch groups during the session.
Corps a corps, fleches and deliberate close quarter actions and any actions that breach the 1m distancing rule will not be permitted.
Although permitted in the guidelines, we will not be providing individual lessons for the short term. These sessions will be for sparring only.
We aim to start the first session on Wednesday 12th August. The start time and duration will be dependent on the number of fencers taking part. The first session will be free. If you need to loan club clothing and weapons for the duration of the restrictions, you must inform me before booking.
I'm waiting for further information from BF about an online booking system they are hoping to provide free of charge. We must use a booking system for track and trace purposes.
Ian Drew
WFC Treasurer and Covid-19 Officer
21st July 2020
As part of a phased return, Sharley Park Leisure Centre have informed me that they will be opening to clubs the week commencing 10th August. For WFC to restart sessions, we need to provide a comprehensive Covid-19 risk assessment based on British Fencing guidelines to SPLC. The WFC risk assessment will outline in detail the measures WFC will undertake to ensure social distancing and maintain high levels of hygiene.
Current government guidelines do not permit sparring due to the 2m social distancing rule. Therefore until the 2m rule is relaxed we can only run training sessions involving footwork. British Fencing have sent a request to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport regarding the relaxing of the 2m rule for sparring. DCMS have acknowledged the request but have not provided timescales for a response.
British Fencing have stipulated that clubs must appoint a Covid-19 Officer and register them. I have undertaken this role in the short term and will register with BF when the system is up and running. The Covid-19 Officer will be responsible for producing the risk assessment and procedures based on BF guidelines, gaining approval from SPLC, and ensuring procedures are implemented and adhered to.
In the meantime we will start to make plans for a return, which may include:
- An online booking and payment system to eliminate the signing-in register and money box.
- Limiting the number of fencers at each session to meet the required packing density.
- Implementing two 1 hour adult sessions on Wednesdays and two 45 minute junior sessions on Fridays to allow everyone the have a fence. We do not foresee this as a problem, since it's amazing how many fights you can finish in a short session especially when the options for socialising will be significantly reduced.
- Taking the temperature of fencers as they arrive.
- Asking parents not to enter the building but to wait outside for the duration of the session.
- Using wireless scoring boxes to reduce the amount of cleaning between sessions.
- Restricting the use of club clothing and weapons. Fencers without their own kit will need to apply to WFC for loan of equipment for the duration of these restrictions.
- A trial session(s) free of charge to test the Covid-19 procedures.
- Ensuring all fencers are BF members. There are 90-day free trial memberships available from BF.
Ian Drew
WFC Treasurer and Covid-19 Officer