Dublin University Fencing Club Explained

Abovestyle:background:#DCDCDC
Above:Dublin University Fencing Club
Headerstyle:background:#F5F5F5
Label3:Founded
Label5:Location
Data5:Dublin, Ireland,
Label6:President
Data6:Rory Greenan
Label7:Head Coach
Data7:Dr. Colm Flynn[1]
Label8:Captain
Data8:Katie Lynch
Label14:Club colours
Label9:Website

Dublin University Fencing Club (DUFC) is the fencing club of Trinity College Dublin, located in Dublin, Ireland. The club caters for foil, épée and sabre. Its members are students, alumni and staff from Trinity College with a small amount of visiting fencers from other clubs.

Early history

In 1730, a group of students from Trinity College formed a Gentleman's Club of the Sword, or the Gentleman's Society of the Sword as it has also been called.[2] [3] This club, while initially hugely popular fell out of use by the last quarter of the 18th century. In 1774, Provost John Hely-Hutchinson formally established fencing in Trinity by employing a fencing-master and designating the Senate House specifically for this purpose.[4] With the further decline of duelling throughout the 18th and no record of the club throughout the 19th century, it is not until the formation of the modern D.U. Fencing Club in 1936 that the sport was reestablished in the college.[5]

Present status

Since its foundation, DUFC has grown vastly. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, membership was about fifty fencers in general with an Intervarsities team of 8.[6] In contrast, the 2009/2010 season saw intake of approximately 300 new members with an Intervarsities contingent of 24 competing, with similar numbers maintained in the club since.

The club's most decorated coach, Professor Patrick Duffy, coached the club from 1952 until 1987.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Information on Fencing Clubs Ireland . Fencing Ireland Club list.
  2. Book: Trevor West: the bold collegian. Heaney, Seamus.. 2016. 9781843516767. Dublin, Ireland. 972342388.
  3. Trinity College Dublin, D.U.C.A.C. Offices, Fencing Club Records: a clipping from an unknown 1992 newspaper, article entitled ‘Fencing mad’, also discussed the Gentleman’s Club of the Sword and comments on popularity
  4. Book: Duigenan, Patrick. Lachrymae academicae: or, The present deplorable state of the College of the holy and undivided Trinity, of Queen Elizabeth, near Dublin. Printed for the author. 1777. 109.
  5. Trinity College Dublin, MUN/CLUB/DUCAC/41/2, Fencing Club History: D.U.F.C. established in 1936
  6. Trinity College Dublin, D.U.C.A.C. Offices, Fencing Club Records, passim.
  7. Web site: Prof. Duffy Memorial Team Épée, January 2010. Dublin University Fencing Club News Archive.
  8. Web site: Fencing Ireland Results. Fencing Ireland.
  9. Web site: Olympic Representation by Trinity Students. Trinity College Dublin.
  10. Book: Burke's peerage, baronetage and knightage. 2003. Burke's Peerage & Gentry. Mosley, Charles.. 0971196621. 107th. Stokesley. 52621466.
  11. Web site: List all Dublin University Fencing Club events. Fencing Ireland Calendar.
  12. Web site: Role of Captains Committee in awarding pinks. Trinity Sport.
  13. Web site: List of Pinks recipients: p1. Trinity News Archive.
  14. Web site: List of Pinks recipients. Trinity News Archive.
  15. Web site: List of pinks recipients: p8. Trinity News Archive.
  16. Web site: Article on pinks recipients. Trinity News Archive.
  17. Web site: Article on Pinks recipients. Trinity News Archive.
  18. Trinity College Dublin, D.U.C.A.C. Offices, Fencing Club Records: 1988 promotional material for the Professor Duffy Memorial Team Épée event gives these details; confirmed by Sports Reference ([https://web.archive.org/web/20200419222241/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ Sports Reference]) Following his death in 1987, The Professor Duffy Memorial Team Épée tournament was inaugurated by D.U.Fencing Club. This competition is still run today and attracts teams from Germany, Italy and the U.K. regularly.[7]

    The club has maintained its status as a centre of excellence, consistently ranking at the top of the national club medal table in Ireland.[8] During the 2017/18 season, Dublin University Fencing Club became part of the Trinity Sport high performance programme, giving its first team access to additional strength and conditioning coaching, physiotherapy, anti-doping and nutritional expertise.

    Notable alumni

    Since the formation of the modern club, a number of members have gone on to represent the club and their country in both fencing and the modern pentathlon.[9] Some of these members are listed below.

    Competitions

    Hosted competitions

    D.U.Fencing Club hosts a number of competitions on an annual basis.[11] Events currently hosted are listed below:

    • The Professor Duffy Memorial Team Épée
    • Trinity Cup
    • Trinity Team Foil
    • Dublin Épée

    The Colours Match

    Known colloquially as Colours, The Colours Match (the fencing equivalent of its rugby counterpart) is hosted yearly between Dublin University and University College Dublin with each club cycling hosting privileges yearly.

    Honours

    Pinks

    Pinks are awarded for outstanding service to a sports club, usually with regard to representative honours, by the Central Athletic Club (D.U.C.A.C.).[12] Athletes in D.U.Fencing Club who have received pinks are listed below followed by the year of the award.

    Name of recipientsDate Pinks awarded
    J. M. StubbsFriday, November 21, 1952
    M. A. H. McCauslandTuesday, November 10, 1953
    Alistair Gordon Taylor[13] Monday, May 17, 1954
    John Howard EnglishFriday, November 15, 1957
    Malcom Richard BoydFriday, June 19, 1959
    Brian Michael Carew Hamilton[14] Friday, November 11, 1960
    Christopher Francis RyeSaturday, October 28, 1961
    John James Michael Laud Robinson[15] Friday, November 15, 1963
    Vernon Walter Fowler ArmstrongFriday, November 27, 1964
    Penelope Mary Johnston GreeneMonday, November 29, 1965
    Colm Murrough Vere O'Brien[16] Monday, May 2, 1966
    Paul Nicholson[17] Monday, November 27, 1967
    William Andrew Lambert HeatonWednesday, January 28, 1970
    Sean GillespieWednesday, May 10, 1972
    Richard George BoothFriday, May 14, 1976
    Nial Charles FergusonThursday, May 8, 1980
    Marcus Joseph AustinMonday, November 24, 1980
    Catherine Patricia RidgeWednesday, May 4, 1983
    Richard John MitchellThursday, May 3, 1984
    Mark DavisThursday, December 6, 1984
    Richard John MulkeenThursday, May 5, 1988
    Síle O'ConnorTuesday, December 4, 1990
    Paul John Thomas Bouchier-HayesWednesday, May 6, 1998
    Kate HarveyThursday, April 27, 2006
    David DelanyCahillThursday, February 28, 2008
    Colm FlynnThursday, February 28, 2008
    Kate HarveyThursday, February 28, 2008
    Lachlan SykesThursday, April 17, 2008
    Louis ArronWednesday, February 17, 2010
    Maria TreacyWednesday, February 17, 2010
    Hannah Lowry-O'ReillyFriday, March 11, 2011
    Maxton MilnerThursday, March 19, 2015
    Phillip CripwellTuesday, December 6, 2016
    Lucy JohnsonTuesday, December 6, 2016
    Camille Boelt HindsgaulMonday 26 March 2018
    Tadhg GartonMonday 26 March 2018
    Sam Mitchell Wednesday 1 May 2019
    Ross ByrneWednesday 1 May 2019
    Manon NouvianWednesday 9 December 2020
    William Mac Donald HughesTuesday 7th May 2024

    External links

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