Woody Cavenaugh

Did you ever have one of those days where everything was absolutely perfect? I mean, the weather was perfect. The sun was rising in the most pleasing way, the grass was green, the trees were budding, the MP3 player is playing all my favorite songs. My coffee was extra delicious. It was like driving through heaven. That described my trip to Burlington where I was helping run the desk for the 2008 NC Division II/III national fencing qualifiers.

Then I arrived.

The arrival wasn't all that bad really, I carried my gear in and began to set up. Ten minutes later I realized that my computer...the one I use to run fencing tournaments...like the 2008 NC Division II/III national fencing qualifiers...was at home. I had brought the printer, I had brought all the accessories, but no computer. Opening my mind to all potential I called Mario to download the software on his computer while I told Cameron that I may have to make the hour and ten minute round trip back home to get my machine. Mario got the software but it took 24 hours to get the license key to run large tournaments. Damn. I made the drive home in just under 30 minutes, and yes, I may have played a little fast and loose with the posted speed limit. But to my credit, I was alone on the road so I wasn't endangering anyone but myself.

I may have mentioned in the past that I am Karma's bitch. Today was no different. I got the computer, turned around and watched the sun disappear behind dark clouds. A cold wind filled with the smell of rain hit me full in the face. I took off back in the direction of the venue and noted my low fuel light had come on. I had plenty of time to ponder this since I was the fifth car behind a loaded dump truck on a quiet country road. I couldn't pass for many reasons. The number of cars, the short and non-existent passing zones, the fact that my fuel level was low enough that if I went for full burn I'd probably slosh the gas to the back end of tank and stall. Don't forget the whole "do no harm" clause. And then I had to stop for gas. *sigh*

Close of registration for the first event was 9am. It wasn't until 9:05 that I got registration underway. I was not a merry man. All the joy of the first trip out was destroyed with interest and all I could do was try to be civil.

Fencing tournaments run like this. At the close of registration, a seeding chart is posted showing all registered fencers and their current rating. It is the fencer's responsibility to check the seeding chart to verify that their information is correct. If it is wrong, they come up to the registration table and make the correction. There is no penalty, a new chart is posted and we keep rocking on. This is extremely important with regard to the fencer's rating. This makes sure that all the pools are evenly weighted for fairness. Normal window of opportunity is ten minutes.

Someone in the saber event didn't know to check. I know this because his brother didn't check either. I know this because their coach noticed and brought it to our attention- after fencing began. Once the event begins, it isn't exactly easy to stop it. It requires assembling the bout committee discussing the situation and making the call. Since one of the kids who didn't check was entered as a unrated when he was actually rated a "D", stopping was the right decision to make. Where I took personal exception was were I felt that some forces were blame storming in my direction. We do check as best as we can when the fencers are checking in but it is the fencer's responsibility to (a). know what they are rated, and (b). check to make sure it is right. I think the fencer should be penalized for not checking. Other's think it is the check in desk staff's responsibility to check the registration against the latest USFA membership roster. This is cool when the turn out is low and everything is on time, but if there is a huge turnout or some other time crushing event occurs you have two choices, on time or late.

Sunday I took this tactic. The fencer checks in, I ask them to verify their rating. Once we are ready to start the event we will check the list against the national roster and quietly note where the fencer was mistaken. Then we will post the seeding and call them to check. If they don't fix it I will publicly humiliate them. A lot. Repeatedly.

Sunday started exactly the same way as Saturday did. Perfect day, perfect weather, perfect music, perfect cup of coffee. And the computer was in the car. This means that I can really savor and enjoy the humiliation, and not just do it out of spite. It will be a good day.

And it was a good day. All fencers checked, everything ran just the way it was expected and no one had a bad time. I'd call that a win. Even if our club did have two of our plastic expensive "Fencing Tournament" outdoor signs stolen. On the plus side, they are easy to spot and I am perfectly capable of stealing them back.