Date: Thu, 28 Apr 1994 21:22:19 -0400
From: cent@tower.lcs.mit.edu (Pandora Berman)
Message-Id: <199404290122.VAA14410@tower>
To: sharons@juliet.ll.mit.edu
Cc: carolingia@bloom-beacon.mit.edu
Subject: fencing at pennsic

    From: Sharon Stanfill <sharons@juliet.ll.mit.edu>
    Date: Wed, 13 Apr 94 10:34:41 EDT
    To: carolingia@bloom-beacon.mit.edu
    Subject: fencing at pennsic

    Conor asks:
        I have heard that in order to fight (heavy list) at pennsic you
        need to qualify three months before.  Can anyone tell me if the
        same is true for fencing?

    I doubt that this is the case. As I recall, two years ago, this was
    not true - I think there may have even been qualifications at Pennsic
    for rapier combat. 
    Nesta

First, to the best of my (limited) knowledge, Conor's assertion is false:
for the past several years, the last-qualification date for Pennsic
fighting has been no earlier than mid-July, and more lately I believe it
has been the end of July.  You should check with a marshall to be sure --
Sebastian or some one like that will know for certain, while anything that
you hear fifth-hand is rumor.

Second, unless the Middle has radically changed its traditional position,
there will be some fighting war points, and some archery ones, but fencing
will be a sideline -- like a demonstration sport at the Olympics.  So qual
dates would not be an issue, and qualifications at Pennsic itself would be
plausible.  If the Middle has changed its stance (unlikely as yet, since
they're just starting to recognize fencing as a licit activity), I would
expect the last-qual date to be the same as for fighting.

On the other hand, I assume that they are going to enforce the
required-membership-to-fight rule.

Eowyn