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BY BRENDAN MCCARTHY The Telegram-Eel River Bar. N.S.

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Vhenasked how he would describe fencing to the uninitiated, Edward Swannie offered this short answer: "It's chess at a hundred miles an hour," said the 16-year-oldfrom Corner Brook, "so you better be ready to

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think and move fast. "

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A Grade 11 student at Corner Brook's Regina high school, Swannie is one of the three members of Newfoundland and Labrador's fencing team at the 2003 Canada Winter Games in northern NewBrunswick. "Fencing is all about tactics, combined with foot speed," he said. "You need to be quick and you need to have good footwork. If you don't move, you're dead meat. That's the first thing you learn." These Games are very much a learning experience for the New. foundland team, which also includes Swannie's 14-year-oldbrother William and 15-year-oldJames Anderson, also from Corner Brook. Anderson is the most experienced of the group, but that's not saying much, since he's fenced for only three years and took part in his f11'stnational competition

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The "Three Muskateers, ftNewfoundland and Labl'ador's fencing team (from left) James Anderson, William Swannie and Edward Swannie. all from Comer Brook. just last year.

The Swannie brothers began last September, but according to Aubrey Sanders, their coach at the Corner Brook Fencing Club and the team's manager at the Games, they were quick learners. "They have come a long way in a short period of time," said Sanders. "Their experience here will only help in their development." See MEASURING, page A2 RelatedstQries,page C1

Measuring success iil small steps ~ F~. 2., 103

ContinuedfrompageA1 (. There will be no medals for New. foundland in fencing at these Games. . In fact, there is no real expectation the . team will even score a win in its head-. to. he a d mat c h ups wit hot her provinces, where each fencer will fight for three three. minute periods, making nine total points up for grabs. Success here will be measured in small doses, as was the case Wednes. day afternoon, when the Newfoundlanders lost again, this time to Saskatchewan. But the score was 8-1

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in favour of the westerners, not the 9-0 whitewashing of previous matches at the Games. . Toughest opponents "James got a win against one of the fencers from Saskatchewan and got us a point, a very big point for us," said Sanders. "It might not seem like much to anyone else, but it's a huge confi. dence booster for oUrguys." Another came Tuesday, as New. foundland faced Quebec, with Ander. son revelling in the fact he managed two scoring hits against a national

team member. . "It's pretty intimidating going against the best in Canada. guys \\"ho are going to the world champi. onships," said Anderson, a Grade 10 student at ~egina. "That was yester. day. We're more comfortable today. I think we're still a bit intimidated, but not as much, especially since we were fighting the best teams f1rl>t.Westart. ed out against Quebec and Alberta. Now that we've got those provinces and a few of the butterflies out of the way,we'll be better." 11'TU:[email protected]