Hello everyone
All of us here at Scottish Fencing hope you are able to #StaySafe and look after yourself and your loved ones at this time. It is of course - to use the popular word - unprecedented with so many facets of what we consider “normal” life paused or changed for the foreseeable future. We know there are many key workers amongst the fencing community here in Scotland and we extend our warmest thanks to you for all your efforts.
We first mentioned some events we had to postpone when this period of safety measures to combat COVID-19 began. These included Scottish Youth Championships and externally we were affected by the necessary cancellation of Challenge Wratislavia 2020. As you may have seen, CW2020 was initially moved to the end of June but has now been taken off the calendar completely for 2020 and will return in 2021.
In line with current thinking around events, we have now cancelled the Scottish Fencing Schools Championships previously in the calendar for June 13/14 2020. The only event we still have in the calendar for 2020 is the Scottish Open scheduled for 28/29 November at Inverclyde National Sports Training Centre in Largs - however we of course haven’t opened any entries as it may be postponed or removed in the coming months. To say the Scottish Open is definitely happening would be a naive move sadly - but we of course hope it does happen as scheduled.
Obviously the lack of sport and activity is disappointing. However, it has been hugely inspiring to see the activity online from our clubs, sharing their home workouts and other activity to keep members and onlookers in good humour. Several clubs such as Salle Holyrood, West Lothian, Dunblane and Salle Ossian have been conducting online activity and we hope the videos we have been producing in partnership with Keith Cook here have been hitting that “workout spot” to keep us all active.
West Lothian Fencing Club are also opening up their club training sessions on Zoom for anyone to join - please do have a look at their facebook page here for more info.
Also, we have now reached Episode 5 of The Big Hit podcast and there are plenty more to come from the team of Sean, Gavin and Kate as they talk to various characters from around the Scottish scene, past and present. Please do catch up with the episodes here or anywhere you get your podcast fix.
Lastly, our Pathways Manager Blair Cremin is contacting all our clubs directly and we will continue to touch base via whatever means are prefereable. All our staff are still working (remotely at home of course) and contactable with any fencing queries you may have.
Whilst it’s strange times, we are still here for you and will help as much as we can. Please keep us tagged in your social media posts so we can share them to the wider community and of course, look after yourself and your loved ones.
#WeAreHere
#ForgingTheFuture
