New Orleans
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New Orleans
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Date
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January 1940
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volume
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5
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1
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page start
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12
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page end
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12
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en
NEW ORLEANS
In New Orleans, the local Division of the Amateur Fencers' League of America is in its third year of existence, after a ten-year period of inactivity. It numbers here some twenty top-notch fencers, men and women, who find it necessary to belong to it because of their competitive inclinations and the consequent need for an affiliation with the national organization. Needless to say, this Division is the heart of local fencing; by staging various contests throughout the year, it encourages the sport among the followers of various degrees of proficiency; by constant insistence upon the modern interpretation of the rules, it conducts an educational program of improvement in style and efficiency of individual fencers. Its members are the examples of form and proficiency; almost all of them are of the highest degree of skill and are holding or have held local and regional championship records.
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MARDI GRAS TOURNAMENT
Among the various events sponsored by this Division and of interest to the followers of this ancient and interesting sport are the Mardi Gras International Tournament and the Dueling Oaks Meet. The latter is held annually in May, in connection with the opening day of the City Park, under the historic trees and on the ground hallowed by the memory of countless duels that have taken place there in days gone by. The former is an event of international importance and has steadily attracted many star fencers from all over the U.S.A., as well as a good following of sport-minded public. First organized three years ago, the event provides fencing competition in the three recognized weapons for men and in foil for women, under the international rules. Last year's contest attracted twelve men of international calibre, three of whom were U.S. Olympic fencers and national champions, one a foreign open champion, and others well known for their consistent good showing in international competitions. This year's advance registrations indicate that many of them are coming back again. Entries have been received from Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, as well as from some Pacific Coast, Middle West, and Eastern fencers.
Presided by Señor Pedro N. de Abreu, the genial Consul General of Brazil at New Orleans, himself an expert swordsman and devotee of the sport for nearly a half-century, the Mardi Gras Tournament will be an event of major social and sporting importance. Held on Saturday and Sunday, February 3rd and 4th, in the Vieux Carré, it will provide for spectators a complete picture of fencing progress in individual competitions, from preliminaries to the finals, through all elimination pools; the tournament will be competently staffed and the judging directed by certified officials designated by the Amateur Fencers' League of America; the participants will be given a full opportunity to display their talents to the fullest advantages and the public will be given a complete and detailed insight into the intricacies and the absorbing finesse of execution of the movements of this great sport.
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FENCING IN NEW ORLEANS
In New Orleans and Louisiana, we can count a good five hundred fencing followers; some three hundred of them, and probably more, reside in this city. There is a large group, formed annually, at Louisiana State University, as well as smaller ones at Shreveport and other towns. In New Orleans, we now have the two-year-old active groups at Fortier and S. J. Peters High Schools; the famous fencing group at New Orleans Academy, leaders in prep-school fencing in the South; the perennial group at the Y, only partly active because of lack of leadership; the adult group at the New Orleans Athletic Club, the nucleus of all modern fencing in the city; the large, enthusiastic, and highly competitive group at Salle d'Armes de la Nouvelle-Orleans, consisting of teams of fencers of both sexes and of almost all ages; and, lately, the group at Tulane University, formed recently in spite of the lethargy and lack of interest on the part of the school officials. There are other smaller units in the city, but they are not permanent.
The New Orleans Division will meet the A.F.L.A. Division of Florida at the New Orleans Athletic Club on February 5th in a 3-weapon team and individual meet to inaugurate the first Dixie Championships.
The New Orleans Academy will hold its annual Gala and a 3-weapon meet with the N.O.A.C., as well as the finals of the 1940 school championships, at the Athletic Club on February 9th.
Lt. Gustave Heiss, U.S.A., was entertained at the Salle d'Armes de la Nouvelle-Orleans on January 8th during a visit following his return from the matches in Cuba.
