Universities' Fencing

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28262, 27 April 1957, Page 5

Universities' Fencing

A team from the Canterbury University College Swords Club will compete today against an Australian University team in the first such tournament ever held in the South Island. The results of the Australians’ tour so far indicate that the Australian standard is comparable with that of Nyw Zealand. In the main weapon—the foil —the outstanding Australian is N. M. Whitmond, whose thfee wins in four bouts against an Auckland provincial team which included two New Zealand champions, A. Gittos and B. Pickworth, suggests that he is a very good fencer. The only other Australian of great merit seems to be D. R. Smith whose efforts with the epee (six wins and two losses) against teams which have included four New Zealand title-holders, are extraordinary. When it is considered that the Auckland University College finished last in the New Zealand universities’ tournament last year,

its performance suggests that the Australians are capable of being beaten by any of the other three universities. The Victoria College team which included A. Ellis, C. Beebe and K. Beard, all former New Zealand university team members won most of its matches against the visitors. The Canterbury university team, although possibly not up to the Victoria standard, is still a good team. It includes D. Baughan, the captain, who is an excellent epeeist and a competent sabreur; M. Sharfe, the most experienced fencer of the team who has flashes of brilliance and Miss J. Murphy, captain of the women’s team who is a forceful aggressive fencer lacking only in experience. The Canterbury team has been practising five times a week and Jias now reached top form. Although some members of the team are inexperienced, as a whole it should give a good account of itself.