2021 Scottish Fencing Pathways Squad - Update

Unfortunately, we have had to postpone Day 1 of the 2021 Pathways Squad because of the current COVID-19 situation. Due to the current “circuit breaker” all travel during the next two weeks or so is for essential reasons only.

We apologise for the false start, but however much we miss fencing, we unfortunately do not believe it constitutes “essential travel”.

We expect November 15th to be Day 1 of Pathways Squad. Sign ups are currently paused, and all who have signed up so far have been informed. We will hopefully re-open sign ups in a week or so.

Please contact blair.cremin@scottish-fencing.com with any queries.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

 #ForgingTheFuture

LATEST GUIDANCE - Regional Impact

These restrictions are now extended to 2 November 2020. Once we know how the new tiered alert system will impact fencing activity and clubs we will publish this on this website and through our usual social media channels as soon as we can.

We know that everyone is keen to be back fencing but in the meantime please stay safe.

Hello everyone 

Yesterday the First Minister made a statement to Scottish Parliament outlining a series of temporary measures intended to stop the rise in coronavirus cases across the country. These measures are a mixed national and regional scope, and will be in place from 6pm on Friday 9 October 2020 for the hospitality changes and 1am Saturday 10 October for all other changes, and will remain in place until  Sunday 25 October inclusive.

The primary measures impacting on sport are regional in their reach, covering the following NHS Health Boards and local authorities;  

NHS Ayrshire & Arran (North, South and East Ayrshire local authority areas), 

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (Glasgow, East and West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, and Inverclyde local authority areas), 

NHS Lanarkshire (North and South Lanarkshire local authority areas), 

NHS Forth Valley (Clackmannanshire, Stirling and Falkirk local authority areas) and 

NHS Lothian (Edinburgh, East, West and Mid-Lothian local authority areas).

The temporary measures being introduced in these areas are:

  • Adult (18+) outdoor contact sport is not allowed, with an exemption for performance sport as defined in the Resumption of performance sport guidance. (Indoor adult contact sport continues to be prohibited across the country.) Currently there are no Fencing athletes or environments which meet the Resumption of Performance Sport guidance so no exemptions are granted. 

  • Traditional 1-1 on-piste coaching delivery is not permitted. Adults must remain at a distance of 2 metres when present with anyone from outwith their household.

  • Adult (18+) indoor group exercise activities are not allowed. (Adult group activity for the purposes of this guidance is activity, involving adults, from more than 2 households / 6 members of those households who take part in an activity on any one day.)  

  • Travel: The Scottish Government is asking people to avoid public transport unless necessary (e.g. work or school). People are advised to avoid (but not prohibited from) travelling outside your health board area if you don’t need to. For those living outside this region, they are advised not to travel into the region if you don’t need to. However, this advice is not mandatory and people are not required to cancel half-term breaks they have planned.

Outdoor adult non-contact group exercise and indoor adult individual exercise can continue in line with current Scottish Fencing and facility operator guidance. 

There is no change to sport and physical activity guidance for under 18s.

Those who were in the shielding group have not been asked to return to shielding but are being advised to take extra care, especially in the central belt, following the rise in cases.

The official Scottish Fencing guidance document is drafted and will be approved by government and sportscotland on Friday October 9th and summarily available for download later that day. If there are any questions please contact our staff team on

Liz.Anderson@scottish-fencing.com

Blair.Cremin@scottish-fencing.com

I hope you stay safe and look after yourselves and your loved ones.

 

Vincent Bryson

Chief Executive

Scottish Fencing

 

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Latest guidance for return of Fencing in Scotland 22 Sep 2020

Good evening

Following the First Minister’s announcement on 22 September 2020 there are no major changes to how people can take part in fencing activities:

·       Those aged 11 and under can fence indoors and out,

·       Those aged 12 and over can fence outdoors.

And although we don’t have an indicative date of when indoor fencing can return for all we can still fence outdoors for now.

Details on maximum numbers and more information about equipment and fencing protocols are all included in the guidance here.

We would like to highlight a couple of points. The further restrictions announced by the First Minister today are actions which aim to suppress the virus.

With that in mind and in the spirit of collaboration we ask clubs to focus on involving as few participants as possible, for the minimum amount of time, whilst still allowing your training sessions to run effectively.

Consider:

·       training in bubbles of 6 – 8  

·       limiting bouts to no more than 10 minutes (3 bouts to 3 minutes for example)

·       Avoiding close contact fencing

Please also ensure participants leave the training venue as soon as sessions finish and that there is no spectating.

We also ask clubs/COVID officer to note that there is a change in the guidance for anyone coaching indoors. Coaches are now required to wear face coverings indoors to minimise the risk of virus transmission as much as possible.

For any clubs offering indoor fitness and footwork sessions to members aged 12 and over please ensure footwork training is not to face to face. Participants aged 12 and over should avoid sharing air flow and follow 2m social distancing at all times.

We also ask COVID officers to read the guidance published today. There are updates mainly around areas of equality and how to assist those who may find it harder to meet some of the guidance which is in place. Just as an example previous versions of the guidance asked clubs to only accept on-line payments. There is now recognition that this is a barrier to those who don’t have bank accounts and if there are members who need to pay cash this is okay.

So please take the time to read and consider any changes your club may need to make.

As you revisit the guidance if you have any questions please get in touch we are happy to help. Whether it is relating to the guidance or facilities you can reach us at admin@scottish-fencing.com

Many thanks

SF continues to engage with other governing bodies around the future of sport

This week marks an important next step towards the return of sport in communities across the country with indoor sports courts and swimming pools now able to reopen in line with the latest Scottish Government public health guidance.

The Scottish Sports Governing Bodies Forum and Executive Group welcomes Monday’s communication from Stewart Harris, CEO, sportscotland announcing the release of a £1.5m COVID Support Fund to support Scotland’s sporting system (Sportscotland set up £1.5m Covid support fund for governing bodies). 

This timely statement recognises that whilst progress has been made with the re-opening of sports facilities across Scotland, this does not mean a full restart of sport as we know it and that many sports, particularly those reliant on accessing indoor sports facilities for Club training and competition, face a much slower return as local Trusts and leisure operators take a cautious and phased approach to the re-opening of their facilities.

We want to see more progress made in line with the latest public health guidance at all levels of sport, to ensure that clubs and local communities have access to facilities. The SGB Forum continues working with partners across the sporting system including sportscotland, the Scottish Government and Local Authorities and Local Trusts to bring about the safe return of sport, and is committed to ensuring that all of Scotland’s sports club members, volunteers and communities can access critical and much loved sporting and physical activity opportunities as soon as possible.

However, whilst there is a clear desire from all partners to reopen facilities and get our sports into these facilities as quickly as is safely possible, the ongoing difficulties presented by COVID-19, including facility staff on furlough, training requirements and venue remodelling to comply with social distancing measures, means that it is unlikely that all venues will be able to reopen fully for some time to come. 

In the meantime, as a sector, we need the support, understanding and backing of all our Clubs and Members now more than ever as we work to protect the rich sporting fabric of our nation and strive to bring sporting activity back to being at the heart of our Scottish communities once more.

 Vincent Bryson - Chief Executive Scottish Fencing & Interim Chair of The Scottish Governing Bodies Forum.

 

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Latest guidance for return of Fencing in Scotland

Good evening everyone

It remains an uncertain time and we welcome the latest comments from the First Minister around easing of restrictions. We are pleased to confirm our latest guidance for Fencing in Scotland as we continue to emerge from lockdown.

The latest guidance takes into account the updates from the First Minister on Thursday August 20th with changes to group sizes and adult contact sport (outdoor) among the key changes. 

The changes within the guidance will be effective from Monday August 24th or Monday August 31st and this is iterated within the guidance document here.

Whilst we have been part of a mass collaborative, collective effort with partners and government to get the guidance turned round in time, please do reach out to admin@scottish-fencing.com with any questions around points of clarity or anything you find ambiguous within the guidance.  

In terms of the government route map, we remain in an evolving Phase 3 with the next round of legislative review due to happen in September.

Thank you again to our members for playing your part in protecting yourselves and each other. Please do share your stories on social media if your club can restart or increase its activity and once again please remember we are here and happy to answer any questions on lockdown or anything related to club and athlete development.

I wish you all a happy and safe weekend.

Vincent Bryson

CEO

Scottish Fencing 

 

 

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Joint Statement regarding facility access from sports industry partners

In recent months a wide range of partners across the sporting system, including the Scottish Government, sportscotland, Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport (SGBs), local authorities and leisure trusts, the third sector, as well as the further and higher education sector have been working together to progress plans for the safe return of sport, in line with the latest public health guidance.

Today’s announcement by the First Minister that indoor sport facilities and gyms can reopen from 31 August onwards, is the latest step forward in relation to the phased return of sport at all levels, as we continue to follow the Scottish Government’s route-map through and out of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The reopening of facilities, which will play a key role in Scotland’s recovery from the pandemic, will be widely welcomed by clubs, individuals and the wider public. However, it is important to recognise that several challenges including the current economic landscape still need to be overcome before the delivery of sport in local communities and at a club level will be considered in any way back towards anything like normal.

While the desire from all partners to reopen facilities is clear, the difficulties presented by COVID-19 means that it is unlikely that all venues will be able to do so on day one, or for some time to come. Reduced capacities due to the required physical distancing will have a direct impact on the operational capabilities of venue operators and the economic viability of some facilities.

We understand this will be frustrating for many people but while we all continue to work towards our shared goals and objectives, the continued support, patience and understanding of everyone involved, is more important than before.

As a sector we are committed to working together to address the challenges that still lie ahead. We want to see more progress made in line with the latest public health guidance at all levels of sport, to ensure that clubs and local communities have access to facilities, and that will remain our number one priority.

Aberdeen Lockdown

To our members living in Aberdeen stay safe.

We are sure you are aware of the new lockdown measures:

Travel limited to 5 miles

Do not meet other households indoors. 

If you are under 18 or have anyone U18 in your household and have enjoyed the easing of restrictions, we hope you can get back to fencing soon once the Aberdeen lockdown is lifted.

#StaySafe

Scottish Governing bodies collaborative approach during COVID-19 crisis.

Scottish Government Review of Lockdown: Thursday 30 July 2020

Scottish Fencing have been engaging significantly with our other governing body colleagues since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis and we are keen to share with members some of the actions we have taken as part of this collaborative, sector-wide approach.

Following a formal communication sent to the First Minister on the morning of 30th July 2020 from 32 individual Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport (SGB), the SGB CEO Forum welcomes the recognition by the First Minister of the requirement to move forward the re-opening of sports facilities. 

As a sector, we are disappointed the indicative timescale for a return to indoor sport is not sooner.  We have submitted evidence in mitigation of any risk to public health and ask for clarification as to what more compelling information is required to ensure our sports can return to activity and competition within the indicative dates given.

However, we will work with the Scottish Government and sportscotland to understand the level of evidence we need to provide so all requirements for indoor sport to safely return in late August can be met. As ever, we will react positively to any encouragement from Scottish Government to review the dates. 

We are especially concerned for those SGBs which only have the small 2020 summer window to restart their sport and competitions.  Without access to facilities – both indoor and outdoor, wet and dry – our member Clubs cannot function and cannot contribute effectively to the recovery that the whole of Scotland so desperately wants and needs. 

As we are all aware the reality is that ‘sport-in-Scotland’ is more than just ‘sport’. This has been clearly demonstrated through the national focus on maintaining daily physical activity throughout lockdown and effectively contributes to the social fabric of our local communities as a whole through (although not exclusively): 

·       The health and wellbeing of the Scottish Nation; 

·       Equality and inclusion;

·       Contributing to effective learners;

·       Mental health and wellbeing;

·       Tackling obesity;

·       Social inclusion and;

·       Women and Girls in Sport.

With confirmation that other public spaces and venues in Scotland are now reopening and in recognition of the immense challenges facing the restart of the Scottish sporting sector, the SGB CEO Forum wish to work quickly with Scottish Government, sportscotland and facility operators to establish a clear strategy to resume sport, for our members, clubs and communities.

Scottish Fencing fully supports the collective drive of Scottish Governing Bodies to reopen as many sport facilities in Scotland as quickly and safely as possible.

A copy of the letter to the First Minister can be seen here

 

Obituary - Prof Bert Bracewell

Professor Bert Bracewell - picture by kind permission of Richard Winpenny

Professor Bert Bracewell - picture by kind permission of Richard Winpenny

Professor H T Bracewell  “Bert”           1936- 2020

Authored by Bob Jamieson 

Bert as he was known to all was born in London and after National Service in the RAF where he served as an Armourer he then spent time working and playing cricket for Iraq Petroleum in London 1966.  During this period he was approached to take the position as the first National Fencing Coach for Scotland. 

Leaving the Cyrano Club in Essex which he had started some 4 years earlier and the London Latista Club where he had trained under Professor Alf Simmonds the move north would prove to be the beginning of Bert’s lasting legacy and the start of Scottish Fencing’s growth and force in GB Fencing. It would also mark the end of Bert’s own amateur fencing days, which included success in the RAF fencing team and an invite to join the Olympic fencing squad. He would later be runner up in the British Professional Championships on numerous occasions.

One of his jobs on arrival in Scotland was to train the Scottish squad for the 1970s Commonwealth Games. The 1970 Games would be the most successful, and last, Games for Scotland. Bert’s desire to put fencers in the crowd to explain the sport to spectators, meant fencing was a sell-out. 

From the late 60’s the development work undertaken by Bert saw the standard and numbers of Scottish Fencers rise significantly. School clubs increased throughout the nation, breaking the mould of fencing being mostly in Edinburgh schools, with Bert’s renowned enthusiastic introduction to the sport. The first ever Scottish School Championships were held in 1969 in Edinburgh with both Public and State schools entering from all over Scotland.  5 days of competitions with Gala Finals on the Saturday, Schools week as it became known had really taken off.

In 1969 Bert established The Scottish Coaches Association, its aim to develop the standard of existing coaches, introduce Scottish coaching awards and also to create new coaches. The choice of Purple track suits for the newly qualified coaches was certainly Bert’s idea. 

As National Coach Bert travelled everywhere visiting Scotland’s existing clubs and the many new ones he had set up. Dressed in black track suit bottoms, white BAF track suit top and Blazer with BAF badge he was easily recognised as “The Prof”.

Bert produced and trained many of Scotland’s top fencers however on one occasion when competing at the 1970 Inverclyde Tournament he demonstrated his skill at foil and competitive side by beating all to claim the championship and add his name to the list of illustrious previous winners. He represented Britain at five professional Masters World Championships at all weapons. In Athens, when celebrating beating the then World Champion, he fell off a raised piste and broke his arm, his only ever fencing injury.

A move of house from Edinburgh to Breastmill House Kirkliston in 1981 gave Bert his own training Salle at home. Fencers travelled from all over to take regular lessons at all times of the day in the converted barn and with the floor covering acquired from the running track at Edinburgh’s Meadowbank Stadium it proved to be an ideal and permanent training venue for any standard of fencers who loved the sport.  He still continued his travels around the Scotland he grew to love, especially the Highlands where he made so many close friendships.

There is no question that the success and the stature of Scottish Fencing today is due significantly to the work of Bert Bracewell. From 1966 when he came to Scotland to his retirement in 1992 the quality of his teaching and the enthusiasm he constantly demonstrated was the defining factor. Following his retirement as National Coach, Bert continued coaching and developing British Champions. He was still coaching until the coronavirus pandemic forced him to self-isolate. 

Bert’s well worn old style plastron which he wore for many years and regarded by many of his pupils as being far too small certainly improved the accuracy of the cut or hit during the lesson. However, Bert, always one to ask that bit extra from the pupil during the lesson, probably adjusted his target just in time to avoid the hit landing on his unprotected chest. 

In 2016, to celebrate Bert’s 80th birthday the family organised a surprise birthday party and fencing event for him.  How they kept this surprise from Bert is anyone’s guess but the look of delight and the smile on his face when fencer after fencer knocked on the door clearly demonstrated the mutual love and respect shared by both fencer and coach. Guests from as far as Cornwall to Shetland, and Chile to Australia turned up to celebrate this remarkable coach’s 80th birthday. Recalling tales from almost 50 years of fencing made it a long but very enjoyable day. 

It’s impossible to count the number of fencers Bert produced, from the beginners who just liked fencing to the medal-winning Paralympians, Olympic fencers, the fun loving drama students, the dedicated Scottish wheelchair fencers, the British and Scottish Champions -  he coached them all.

In 1980 Bert was awarded the prestigious Gauthier Trophy by the British Academy of Fencing for his services to youth fencing and in 2016 the Lifetime Achievement Award from British Fencing.

Bert was not just a great fencing coach. He was a father-figure to many and a man who encouraged all, no matter their background, gender or sex, to widen their ambitions, believe anything was possible and to go for their dreams, in fencing, education and work. Bert treated everyone equally, training the person before him, and helping individuals realise their own fencing and non-fencing strengths. Through tough times, fencers knew they would be greeted by his warm personality and cheeky grin and find a home and safe haven in fencing halls and salles.

An avid stamp collector and Miniature Metal Soldier enthusiast, Bert painted his Military collections in great detail and re-enacted many 18th century historical battles. His tactical awareness, obviously from his ability as a fencer, gave his opponents little chance as his cavalry and foot soldiers advanced without warning to claim the day.

Bert was also a very good and very competitive cricketer. A favourite tale of his, was his two hattricks in successive years for Iraq Petroleum which gained him two salary increases.  His love for fencing saw him continue to take up the sword every day but he did have to sacrifice his joy of playing regular cricket. He passed on the joy of cricket to his son and grandson.

Bert passed away peacefully on 14 June at home surrounded by his greatest love, Joan, and  his loving family who he cherished. He will be sadly missed by all, his love and passion for the sport which he passed on to everyone will be remembered for ever. 

Bert is survived by his wife Joan, children Julia, Karen and Michael, and his grandchildren, Jonty, Amy, Scott, Laura and Josh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phase 3 General guidance & coaches guidance

Hello everyone

Thanks to the collaborative network of governing bodies, sportscotland and Scottish Government we are delighted to share the Phase 3 guidance for our clubs and members and also specific guidance for coaches.

This was approved today (Friday July 10th) by sportscotland and Scottish Government and I am personally very grateful to our staff, board and partners for their input. Whilst not close to what we term “normal operations”, we are a step closer and I hope those who can take advantage of the latest easing of restrictions can enjoy their fencing again - however adapted the environment is.

As ever, our number one priority is to maintain members health and safety and play our role in eradicating the virus so please do maintain the level of vigilance and commitment we have already seen as you go about your physical activity and your daily lives.

Some key points from todays guidance are below

 Sparring outdoor for Children (U11) and young people (12-17 inclusive) is approved from Monday 13th July 2020 with appropriate outdoor safety measures eg flooring, footwear.

 - Children 11 & Under dont need to socially distance from each other at any time

 - Young people (12-17) dont need to distance when on piste - but do when they arent! So they can spar/train together but when that activity is over, they must distance.

 - Adults must maintain distance at all times.

 - No coaching inside the “2 metre boundary” at any time.

There are more stipulations within the guidance regarding risk assessment submission and establishment of a responsible “COVID Officer” for clubs and we are grateful to be part of the Home Nation effort coordinated by British Fencing to provide lists of duties and capabilities for the COVID Officer. Please see the BF website page here for further information.

Our guidance is drafted in 2 PDF documents found at the Dropbox repository we have used before. there is a folder titled Phase 3 and both documents are in there or can be accessed by clicking this link here.

I hope everyone can enjoy some form of fencing if the environment allows, in the meantime, please do #StaySafe and look after yourself and loved ones.

Vincent

Vincent Bryson - CEO