“COUPE CURACAO” - 2008
1st INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP VETERANS FENCING TOURNAMENT

On April 10-13, twelve US veterans joined seven other veterans, two from Canada, two from Holland, one from Wales, one from Aruba and one from Curacao, along with several youngr fencers from Curacao, to contest the six Coupe(s) Curacao. During the opening ceremony, at an impromptu reunion, Paul Levy (USA) and Tony Jessurun (CUR) were re-united after almost 50 years--they each fenced in the 1959 Pan American Games!

The largest field was in Men's Epee, where Jim Adams (USA) beat Joel Spielberg (USA) for the overall championship and the Coupe. Epifanio Claresa (CUR) beat Al Cherry (USA) for the 50+ group with Rene Castellanos (USA) third, and Jim and Joel took the gold and silver in the 60+ with Austin Thomas of Arbua third. Mike Vitoux (USA) was 7th and Gaby Weisz of Canada 8th.

In Women's Epee, Marianne Bosco (USA) was undefeated for the day, garnering the Coupe and also the gold in 50+. Janice Midgley (USA) won the silver in 50+ and Jo Rorberg (USA) the bronze. In 60+, Pat Shepherd-Foster (GBR) of Wales won the gold and Ellen O'Leary (USA) the silver. Pat Lutton (USA) was sixth overall.

In Men's Foil, Tom Lutton (USA) beat Jim Adams for the Coupe Curacao. He won the gold for 50+ with George Lavarato of Canada second. In the 60+ event, Jim took the gold, Mike Vitoux the silver and Austin Thomas the bronze. Gaby Weisz was 6th.

In Women's Foil, Mieke De Graaf-Stoe of Holland won the overall and the Coupe and the gold for 50+. Pat Lutton won the silver medal in 50+. Ellen O'Leary only lost one bout all day, but that was for the final bout against Mieke. Ellen won gold in 60+.

Men's saber had a small field and Oscar Kardolus won all his bouts totake the Coupe Curacao and the gold in 50+; Rene Castellanos was second. In 60+ Paul Levy was first with Austin Thomas second.

Finally, women's saber was won by world #2 Ellen O'Leary who finished strong to win the overall Coupe and the gold in 60+. In the final bout, she defeated Pat Shepard-Foster. In her debut as a sabre fencer, Janice Midgley was undefeated in the pool and took the gold in 50+.

The Directoire Technique of Raymond Jessurun of Curacao, Carlos Gomez of Venezuela and Jan Boutmy of Dutch Antilles ran an excellent tournament. Two FIE rated referees from Venezuela did an excellent job. Everything ran on time. After the last event, we had a wonderful time at a Gala Dinner at the high point of Willemstad at Fort Nassau.

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