Time to step back and look at what we have achieved in the past 12 months. And there is plenty to be happy about.

2009 saw further expansion of our training timetable, with another junior session added over the course of the year. An important move to keep up with the growing demand for junior training. Both the under 10's and U 15's gained some great new talent in the form of new and motivated members and we are excited about everyone's prospects for 2010.

Competition results were also extremely good given the small percentage of members actively involved in the comp scene. Fioretto's teams retained the Splinter trophy for the 4th year running against Monash University and we had juniors fencing and achieving great results at National level and interstate, CJ's team foil silver being a real highlight for everyone. 

Closer to home plenty of junior medals at state competitions and Gold and Bronze in the ERC Championship (Eastern Region Competition). All in all these represent a great results for a year that was planned as 'quiet' on the competition front. Now that our new programs are well established and we are beginning to see the fruit that they are bearing, we are looking towards a more active involvement in State competitions in 2010.

Competitions are not the be all and end all of fencing though. Quite the opposite - they are only a means of testing your skills. The point of fencing in self awareness and self improvement, trying to become the best and most competent fencer you can be. Part of this involves putting back into the sport some of what you have taken out. At Fioretto there are always many opportunities for this aspect of a fencer's development.

In 2009 we continued our long standing commitment to the Variety Club Children's Christmas Party, with a crew of fencers setting up and running a stall where the kids at the party got a chance to try fencing. And it is always such a popular activity. At the 2009 party over 600 children managed to get a brief taste of our sport over the 3 hour duration of the event. Thanks again to everyone that went. They'll tell you it is a very busy day but very rewarding as well.

We also tried some new directions in 2009, taking part for the first time ever in the Myer Christmas Parade. We had an excellent crew of juniors with us there to help promote the sport and show the club's colours. We marched, we fenced, we had TV interviews. All in all a very interesting morning!

Some new training initiatives also proved a hits. A school holiday training program was set up in June as a trial. It was so successful that it was run again in September, this time as 2 separate programs for 2 different ages groups, over 1 full week! You can be certain that this will be back again in 2010.

Of course, the year would have been nothing if we were not continuing our efforts to improve our training facilities for our membership. 2009 saw the addition of 2 new electric pistes. And not just ordinary scoring boxes this time. Full competition boxes instead, with built in timing and scoring. There arrival had a great impact on the ERC and Fioretto junior events, not to mention our training. We can now have 12 fencers fencing electric at once which really does set up a great ambience.

Well that's it for this flash review. The most important thing lies ahead of us now - 2010. With strengthening membership, and stronger core groups in each age group, Fioretto does have a lot to look forward to. Most importantly, we look forward to sharing our knowledge and craft, and adding to community awareness of fencing.