After more than 60 years, Dunedin doctor Ted Nye is still
fencing. Photo by Craig Baxter.
He has a tournament named after him, may have coached
everyone in the tournament, and probably has more experience
than all the competitors put together.
Ted Nye has been fencing for more than 60 years and, at 83,
says he still enjoys the sport.
Tomorrow, fencers from around the South will converge on
Dunedin for the annual Ted Nye tournament.
Organiser David Barson said the tournament was a way to thank
Nye for his contribution to the sport.
Proceeds from the tournament, now in its fifth year, will go
to the Otago Community Hospice, in which Nye had been
involved for many years.
The 83-year-old physician still fenced every week, and said
it was a great sport because of its mix of both physical and
mental demands.
"It is an interesting sport; a big intellectual challenge.
You need some of the technical skill and an element of
physical skill to progress," Nye said.
"But in saying that, if you go along for a weekend
tournament, you could get anywhere between 30 to 40 bouts and
you could probably only do the first three with just
endurance. So you have to have the technical skills."
He said it was great for fitness and he still liked to have a
few bouts every Saturday morning at an informal gathering of
fencers.
He favoured the sabre and foil classes.
Nye was introduced to the sport while doing his medical
training at the University of London and St Bartholomew's
Hospital, and he took it up because it was something to do
away from studying.
He fenced for his medical school, university and county team
while in the United Kingdom, but emigrated to New Zealand in
1960.
He then represented Otago-Southland teams for "more years
than I can remember".
"But I never won a national title. I had seconds and thirds
on quite a few occasions, but never managed to get a title."
Nye represented New Zealand against Australia in 1969.
Age has not slowed him down. He helps run a hospital clinic
one day a week, and also does a bit of work at the University
of Otago Medical School.
He was not going to compete in the tournament tomorrow, as he
had other commitments.
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