New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-31
Amateur League Makes Some
Radical Innovations.

Radical changes in the rules governing
bouts with foils have been made by the
Amateur Fencers' League OF America.
These changes will be put to a practical
test on Monday night, January S. at the
three-weapon team competition at the New
York Fencers' Club. DR.. Graeme VI. Ham
mond. president of the associa ton. stated
Yesterday that he expected the new rule to
result in more exciting bouts and 10 soon
terminate poorly fenced contests.
Instead of permitting a bout to go four
minutes, as heretofore. the match will end
: soon IS ono swordsmau has earned four
touches. The fenccrs will change positions
on the strip after three touches, or after
two minutes in case three touches have
not been made In that time" said DR..
Hammond. We have done away with all
penalties and have endeavored TO simplify
the Judging"
Or. j. Ernest Gignoux. OF the New York
Athletic Club, and a team champion with
foils. believes that the changes are of the
greatest importance.
1T places the expert foilsman at a dsad-
vantage I'm only one respect" he said. in
that tho two points Tor the riroste are done
away with. The most valuable touche Is
that scored on an attack The old rule of
two points was reward for such expert
ness. However, the change will not really
handicap fencers Of the championship
class"
According 10 W. Scott O'Connor. secretary
Of the association, the effort had been made
to make the rules conform to those under
which the Olympic fencing contests will be
conducted at Stockholm, Sweden next July.
AS an American team Of amateurs IL 10
compete there, II was deemed wise TO ac-
quaint them with the rules that will pre-
vail
Forty-two open tournaments with foils.
sabres and duelling swords will he con-
Quoted ny the league in seven different
cities this season. The ma iority Will take
place at Chicago. where sixteen compcti-
tons are dated-thirteen OF them under
the auspices Of the Illinois Athletic club
The New York division including the New
York Athletic Club. Turn Verein Fenccrs
Club and 18th Regiment Fencing Club. will
have fifteen. and the Long Island division
made up OF the Crescent Athletic club and
the Brooklyn Central Young Mems Chris
tian Association, will have charge of three
Three meets have been awarded to the
Boston Athletic Association. four To the
Pittsburgh Athletic Association. one 10 the
Baltimore Athletic club and one to the
Michigan Fencing club. at Ann Arbor. hi.
vision championships will he decided at
each Of the cities mentioned, and the Win
ners will qualify for the national title tour
nament
The active season will begin next Mon
day and close with the national champion
ships at the Hotel Aston on April 26 and o.
Among the new clubs TO join the national
organization are the Turngemeinde and
Norwarts rurn-Vereln. both Of Chicago.
and the Michigan Fcncers' Club. of Ann
Arbor.
The national schedule follows.
January s--New York Fcncers club. three.
weapon competition for a. +. J.. 4 trophy
January 22-New YORK Athletic club novice
lois competition for DIR. Hammond pair Of
February New York Athletic club. sabre
team championship for a. = l. A trophy
February l2-New York Fencers club
junior foils team competition for J. Sanford
saltus medals
March G-New York Turn verein. Junior
March New York Athletic club ,o,ls
Dwelling swords and sabros for president
March 1s--New York Turn verein. fors
team championship.
March 20 and 36-New York Fencers' Club.
qualifying with foils. dueIling swords and
sabres for national championship
Apnl 6-New York Fencers' Club inter-
scholastic foils team competition
April S-New York F4ncers' club. duelIing
sword team championship
April 18Th Regiment Fencers' Club novice
foils competition for DR.. James r. Clemens
medals.
April 15-New York Fencers Club, duelIing
sword junior team competition for Eddy cup
April 26 and 27--Hotel Aston national cham
pionshlps with folls. dueliing swords and
sabres.
LONG ISLAND DIVISION
February 3--Young Mems Christian AsSo-
citation, Central Branch, Brooklyn, Junior foils
three-msn team competition for Manrique
trophy.
March 21--Crescent Athletic Club foils COM
petition for Long Island championship
April 20-Crescent Athletic Club Junior
for lr