As the year draws to a close, the BCFA continues to enforce guidelines in order to keep our athletes safe through the COVID-19 pandemic. Click the link below to view the updated December 2020 guidelines.
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BCFA Return to Sport (COVID-19) – Update: November
As we follow the BC Provincial Health restrictions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the BCFA continues working toward keeping our athletes safe and healthy while returning to sport. Please find the updated return to sport guidelines below:
COVID-19 Restrictions Update (November 7, 2020)
With BC entering the second wave of COVID-19 and cases continuing to rise throughout the Province, further restrictions have been put into place that will affect many indoor sports. The following links provide information regarding the new restrictions in place throughout the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley regions.
BC Government: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/lower-mainland
viaSport BC: https://www.viasport.ca/return-sport
BC Sport Relief Fund
Many clubs and sports facilities have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with limited to no financial support. In support of these groups, viaSport BC has teamed up with the Province of BC to provide a relief fund for local non-profit sport organizations in BC. Check out the link below for more information and see if your organization qualifies for the sport relief fund:
Local Sport Relief Fund (viaSport): https://www.viasport.ca/grant/local-sport-relief-fund?utm_source=viaSport+Newsletter&utm_campaign=a9922d6e73-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_04_14_05_04_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e001f69b1e-a9922d6e73-200044521
Guidelines: https://www.viasport.ca/sites/default/files/Application%20Guidelines%20FINAL.pdf
Sport Relief FAQ: https://www.viasport.ca/sites/default/files/LSO%20Funding%20FAQ%27s.pdf
BCFA Return to Sport: COVID-19 (Update)
As British Columbia attempts to flatten the curve amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the BCFA continues it’s efforts to keep its athletes and coaches safe whilst returning to training. Check out the document below for the latest guidelines regarding returning to sport safely:
BCFA License 2020/2021
Don’t forget to purchase/renew your BCFA license for the upcoming season.
BCFA license: https://2mev.com/#!/memberships/british-columbia-fencing-association-2020-2021-membership
Returning to Sport: COVID-19
As BC begins it’s shift toward easing COVID-19 restrictions, take a look at these resources on how to stay safe while returning to sport and the precautions that are in place:
Via Sport BC – Return to Sport Guidelines
BCFA RETURN TO SPORT GUIDELINES JUNE 4th 2020
Juniors bring home Gold and Two Silvers at 2020 Pan Ams!
Following the Cadet events, the Junior competition ran from February 25th-28th with both individual and team events.
Day 3
The first day of the Junior events say Fynn Fafard and Seraphim Jarov competing in the Men’s epee category, fresh out of the Vancouver World Cup. Both boys started out strong in their poules, with Seraphim going undefeated 6-0 and Fynn 5-1, losing only a close 5-4 bout to Justin Haddad (USA). With a 2nd place seed for Seraphim and 7th place for Fynn, both were granted BYEs through to the round of 32. Seraphim faced Luis Steffano Brilla Araya (CRC) winning in a prompt 15-5 bout, while Fynn was against Pedro Petrich (BRA) with a victory of 15-6. In top 16, Seraphim faced off with Jorge Valderrama (CHI), and unfortunately losing the close bout 15-14. Fynn moved forward into the round of 8 after a 15-9 victory against Lucio Perez Ondartz (ARG). However, in top 8 he also versed Valderrama and despite being a lead throughout the bout, he ended up losing 15-13. Seraphim finished 9th and Fynn 6th.
Day 4
On the second day of Junior events, Christina Zozulya competed in women’s epee and Adam Wong in Men’s foil.
Christina started the day going 3-2 in poules, and gaining a BYE into 32s. Her first DE was against Claudia Aguilar (MEX), winning the close bout 15-14. In the round of 16 she faced Michaela Joyce, but was defeated 15-9. She finished in 15th place overall.
Adam went 3-3 in his poule, seeding 23rd and having a BYE going into DEs. In the round of 32 he faced Kevin Lima (BRA), but lost an unfortunate 15-4 bout. Adam placed 24th overall.
Day 5
Fynn and Seraphim competed again in Team Men’s Epee, seeding 2nd and having a BYE into the round of 8. Their first opponents were Team Colombia, and with a steady lead throughout the 9 periods, the Canadian team won 45-19. In the semi-final, they faced Team Brazil, and with another comfortable lead they beat the Brazilian team 45-35. The gold medal bout was close through the first five periods, though the Canadians were at least a point or two in the lead. They were able to grow their lead gradually in second half of the bout before defeating the Americans 45-35 to win the gold medal!
Victor Gantsevich (Coach), Manuel Belmonte (Team Manager), Team Canada: Ted Vinnitchouk, Fynn Fafard, Seraphim Jarov and Nathan Brunet – Gold Medalists.
Day 6
The last day of competition featured Christina Zozulya in Team Women’s epee and Adam Wong in Team Men’s foil.
The women’s team faced off with Costa Rica in their first DE, with a landslide victory of 45-12. Their next bout against Chile remained close, even seeing the Canadians slip a point or two behind at times. However, in the 5th period they pulled ahead and shifted the bout in their favour, ending with a 45-35 victory. In the gold medal bout they were against Team USA, but unfortunately lost the match 45-23, taking home the silver medal!
Canadian Women’s Epee- Silver Medalists. Photo by Esgrima El Salvador Centroamérica.
In the team men’s foil event, Canada was up against Colombia in their first DE. The team had a strong start with a 45-19 win over the Colombians. In semi-finals they faced Chile, and it was a close bout the whole way through. The lead went back and forth between the two teams straight to the end where Simon Poon anchored the Canadians to a 45-43 win. The gold medal bout against the US was a close one. Going into the 7th period, Adam Wong was subbed in for Niklas Holland, bringing the team to 35-34 over the Americans. Unfortunately, in the last period the US team managed to make a break for the lead, winning 45-39 over Canada.
Canadian Men’s Foil – Silver Medalists. Photo by Esgrima El Salvador Centroamérica.
Well done to all of our Junior athletes who competed last week!
BC Cadet fencers medal at 2020 Pan American Championships
The 2020 Cadet/Junior Pan American Championships took place from February 23rd-28th in San Salvador, El Salvador.
Day 1
The Sunday saw Eli Lippman and Zakhar Vozovik in Cadet men’s epee, and Jack Pan and Jerry Pan in Cadet men’s sabre.
Lippman started off with 4 wins and 2 losses in his poule, seeding him 10th going into DEs. Vozovik was 5-1 in his poule, his only loss being 4-5. Going into the direct elimination rounds, he was seeded 4th. Vozovik was granted a BYE into the round of 16, while Lippman faced off against Emmanuel Bernal (PAR). In a swift 15-3 bout, Lippman advanced into top 16 with his BC teammate. Vozovik was victorious in his first DE of the day, winning 15-8 against Saul Moris Villacorta Portillo (ESA). Lippman defeated Andrew Graber (USA) 15-9 to make top 8, where he would have another 15-9 win against Dennis Russanov (USA). Vozovik had a 15-12 win over Nicolas Candela (USA) in his top 8 bout, to advance him into the medal rounds alongside his teammate. The semi-final would show to be a tough fight for both Canadians, where Lippman would lose a close 15-14 bout against Daniel Ojeda Buitrago (CRC), and Vozovik would lose 15-11 to Arturo Rangel (MEX). Two bronze medals for BC in the first event of the day!
Zakhar Vozovik and Eli Lippman – Bronze medalists. Photo by Esgrima El Salvador Centroamérica.
Next up were Jack and Jerry Pan in Cadet men’s sabre. Jerry went 5-1 in his poule, seeding him in a tied 1st place going into the direct eliminations. Jack went 4-1 in his poule, seeding close behind his brother in 7th place. Both boys would earn a BYE into the round of 16. Jerry then defeated Jose Miguel Arroyo Rivera (PUR) 15-7, while Jack won his bout against Ricardo Lopez 15-10. However, it was in the round of 8 that the boys would have to face off against each other. The win would go to Jack 15-11 to make it into the semi-finals. Jack would go on to lose his top 4 bout against Colby Harley (USA) 15-7, while his brother would finish 5th overall. With three BRONZE medals and a top 8 finish on day 1 of the competition, our BC fencers were off to a good start.
Jack Pan – Bronze medalist. Photo by Esgrima El Salvador Centroamérica.
Day 2
The second day of competition was Janet Chen in Cadet women’s epee and Adam Wong in Cadet men’s foil.
Women’s epee was the first event of the day, and Janet had a strong start going 6-0 in her poule. With an indicator of +19, she was a clear front-runner going into DEs. Earning a BYE into 16s, her first bout was against Daniela Gonzalez (MEX), who she defeated 15-10. In top 8, she had to verse her team Canada teammate, Heidi Zhu. Janet would end up losing 15-9 to finish with a 5th place result.
In men’s foil, Adam Wong began with a 5-1 poule and an indicator of +11. This would give him a 4th place seed and a BYE into the round of 16. In his first DE, he won a 15-8 bout against Colton Anderson. Unfortunately, Adam would lose his top 8 bout 15-9 against Lorenzo Mion (BRA) to finish with a 6th place result!
Well done to all of our BC cadet fencers on Pan Ams Championships!
BC Men’s Epeeists compete at the 2020 World Cup!
This past weekend (February 7th-9th), six BC men’s epeeists competed at the Peter Bakonyi World Cup. The event was hosted at the Richmond Olympic Oval, where some of the 2010 Winter Olympics events were held 10 years ago!
Seraphim Jarov wasn’t only the highest ranking BC fencer, but also the highest ranking Canadian at the end of the competition. In poules he went 2-4, beating Mateusz Antiewicz (POL) 5-3 and Rok Sobocan (SLO) 4-0. With a 124th place seeding and a BYE into 128s, he was against Rubes Martin (CZE) first. He won the bout 15-12 to move into the 64s. In a close bout, he fenced Jose Felix Dominguez (ARG) and won 11-10. With day 1 of the day finished, Jarov would advance into the top 64 on day 2 – facing world no.4 Kazuyasu Minobe (JPN). Another close bout, but this time his opponent would take the win, with a score of 12-11 for Minobe. Jarov finished the event with a 62nd place result.
(Seraphim Jarov. Photo by Devin Manky)
Fynn Fafard started off the preliminary rounds with 2 wins and 4 losses, defeating Yeisser Ramirez (USA) 5-3, and Michael Geraghty (IRL) 5-2. He was seeded 135th after poules, which landed him a BYE into the round of 128. He faced Peeter Turnau (EST) in his first DE, and despite hanging onto a substantial lead for a majority of the bout, an arm injury hindered the bout. Turnau caught up and they went to the overtime minute. In a tense close-quarters fight, the Estonian took the 15th point and won the bout 15-13. Fafard finished the event with a 154th place result.
(Fynn Fafard and Peeter Turnau (EST). Photo by Devin Manky)
Dylan French also went 2-4 in his poule, with wins over Yuval Shalom Freilich (ISR) 5-1 and Hoi Sun Fong (HKG) 3-2. He was 147th going into DEs, just narrowly missing the cut. In his first DE, he faced Anatolii Herey (UKR); 4-time Gold, 2-time silver Satellite medalist, as well as bronze medalist at Grand Prix and World Cups. Their bout was a close 15-14, but Herey took the win in the end. French finished in 163rd place.
(Dylan French and Anatolii Herey (UKR). Photo by Devin Manky)
Zakhar Vozovik, Eli Lippman and Mateo Kadyszewski all fought hard in their poule matches, but unfortunately didn’t advance through to the direct elimination rounds. Vozovik went 1-5 in his poule, defeating Hongjie Song (CHN) 5-4. Lippman also went 1-5 in his poule, with a victory against Abdelkarim El Haouari (MAR) 5-3. Kadyszewski went 0-6 in his poule.
(Zakhar Vozovik. Photo by Devin Manky)
Dylan French and Seraphim Jarov both competed in the team event, alongside Marc-Antoine Blais-Belanger and Maxime Brinck-Croteau. The team faced Korea in their first DE. At the beginning of the 5th leg, the Canadians were leading 12-11, but by the end of the period the Koreans were up 19-16. Their momentum didn’t halt, as their finished the bout with a score of 44-29. The Korean team (Sung Ho An, Jaeseon Kwon, Sangyoung Park and Jae Ho Song) would go on to win the Gold medal!
(Team Canada: Maxime Brink-Croteau, Marc-Antoine Blais-Belanger, Seraphim Jarov, Dylan French and coach Victor Gantsevich. Photo by Devin Manky)
Congratulations to Seraphim Jarov for his top 64 results and to all of our BC fencers for their hard work this weekend. Well done to all of the boys that competed at the World Cup for the first time this year. Looking forward to some good results as the Pan Ams and World Championships draw closer!