Northern California
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Title
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Northern California
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Date
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February 1941
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volume
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6
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issue
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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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13
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content
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en
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
The University of California's five-man team won the Heron Trophy in men's foil over a field of seven teams fencing in the Northern California division. In the competitions, which began on October 4 and ended on November 29, the University team was tied with the Olympic Club in matches won and lost, each compiling a score of 5-1, but California's record of 107 bouts won and 43 lost against the Clubmen's 98-52 gave them the trophy.
The G G 5 captured third place with four matches won and two lost. The Funke Fencing Academy, Stanford University, the Oakland Fencing Club, and an unattached team finished in that order behind the prize winners.
Salvatore Giambra, fencing under the colors of the G G 5, won the division's 1940-41 men's intermediate foil championship on December 4 at the University of California gymnasium. Giambra defeated Harry Mortimer, of the Olympic Club, 5-3 in a fence-off after the two had been tied with records of four victories and one loss apiece at the end of the regular competition. Third place went to William Mertsching of Hamilton Field, U. S. A., who lost only to the two medalists. Fourteen foilsmen entered the competition.
The Open Individual Sabre Championship of Northern California was held at the Olympic Club on January 24th. There were 14 competitors. Salvatore Giambra of G. G. 5 and Alfred R. Snyder of the Olympic Club were tied for first place at the completion of the five-man finals with 4 wins and 1 loss apiece. Giambra won the fence-off 5-3. Lawrence Bocci of G. G. 5 took third place on the basis of touches after tying with Jack Hovick of the University of California with 3 wins and 2 losses each.
The Junior Individual Sabre Championship of the Division was held at Burkes Gymnasium on January 31st. The competition opened with 11 contestants. Robert Shrader of the Oakland Fencing Club won first place over Jack Hovick, University of California, on a 5-1 fence-off after they tied in the finals with 4 wins and 1 loss apiece. Dallas Mays of the Oakland Fencing Club was third with 3 wins and 2 losses.
The Division's Women's Junior Foil Team Championship was also held on January 31st at Burkes Gymnasium. There were only two teams entered. The Funke Fencing Academy team of Emilie Romaine, Helen Sander, and Margie Nevis defeated the G. G. 5 team of Lydia Riedener, Yolanda Becutti, and Norma Perotti by a score of 7 to 2.
The final match of the Division's Open Sabre Team Championship was held at the Olympic Club on February 3rd. Six teams entered this competition originally. The Olympic Club team of Alfred R. Snyder, Bryan H. Smith, and Harry Mortimer and the G. G. 5 team of Salvatore Giambra, Victor Vari, Lawrence Bocci, and John Cinelli each survived its respective elimination round in an earlier evening undefeated. Although the G. G. 5 team appeared slightly stronger than the Olympic Club team on a statistical basis, the Olympic Club team won the right to represent the Division in the Pacific Coast Championships by winning the final match 5-3.
The Oakland Fencing Club, whose members' names are beginning to appear among the Division's winners, deserves some sort of introduction. Formed only last April, it has consistently maintained fencing interest in what was originally raw territory for fencing. Not a single week has gone by without at least one meeting, often two. One must be really interested in fencing to participate in its activities—no "fly-by-nights" allowed. Members must have sound training in at least one weapon and must be a member of the A. F. L. A. before acceptance. The club offers no instruction, and its members pay no dues. When money is needed for any purpose, a vote on an assessment to members is taken, and one negative vote is sufficient to kill the proposal.
Fencing, both recreational and competitive, has been initiated at Hamilton Field, the Army Air Base in Marin County.
