If the section has once again obtained the organization of this event reserved for over 40s, “it’s because we produced a good file, he exclaims. In addition, we have a site that lends itself very well to it”. Thirty-four standard format tracks (14 mx 1.5 m) will thus be laid in the Cosec gymnasium, the wall on the left as well as in the covered tennis courts. A day of installation will be necessary with “the maximum number of volunteers possible”. Everything will have to be dismantled on Sunday evening.
Nearly half a thousand fighters are already expected. All of them will only compete in epee. If Saturday will be devoted to individual matches, Sunday will be punctuated by the team tournament. The establishment of quotas allowed skimming the number of participants. During the last edition in Troyes, nearly 80 teams took part in the event. This year, 74 teams will compete for the national title.
Be present on D-Day
As a reminder, the category of veterans is split into four: 40-49 years old, 50-59 years old, 60-69 years old and those over 70 years old. “Fencing can be practiced for a long time, recalls Franck Bellevier, who will officiate as head of the 36 referees made available by the French Fencing Federation (FFE). This allows us to continue to have fun, to practice a combat sport, to meet friends. »
Olivier Marthe-Bastien took advantage of the final selections – which took place on the sidelines of the New Aquitaine championships in Gironde – to “take stock of the shortcomings. On what will be able to help them, ”adds the technician, who will have to juggle between sports monitoring and organization. “I won’t have much time to coach but thanks to our good team of volunteers, we will try to juggle while being behind our veterans. »
Like Romain Cannone, crowned Olympic champion in Tokyo when he was ranked 47th in the world, the fencing master warned his men: “we will have to be present on D-Day. Afterwards, everyone has their own method of approaching such an issue”. Boris Defevere knows something about it. First in the regional ranking, the Angloy could not win the title in Talence, on May 14th. “It’s rarely the same one who wins,” he says.
Anglet Olympique Fencing
The section was set up in 1982 with former Biarritz Olympique licensees. “Since then, it has developed and it works rather well”, is satisfied Franck Bellevier. The club welcomes between 85 and 110 shooters depending on the year. “We start with the little ones, from 6 years old, up to the oldest, from 70 to 80 years old. »
–
