Weekend Results RoundUp

This Saturdays action saw a legion of 15 young sabeurers in action at the Stratford Cadet Sabre event and 2 foilists at the women’s British U23 Championships.

In Shakespeare country, Salle Ossian’s Honor Paul (5th) and Joshua Bryden (7th) both battled through two rounds of poules and several tough DEs to make the L8. A great performance from both young fencers.

Lucia Paul (12th) and Sophia Milne (16th), both Salle Ossian, finished in the L16, while Rosie Shaw (19th, Salle Ossian), Eve Symons (21st, Salle Ossain), Oisin Lindsay-Dorward (23rd, Salle Ossain) and Thea Todd (25th, West Lothian Fencing Club) made the L32.

Miller Hetherington (34th, Salle Ossain), Hugo Shaw (36th, Salle Ossain), Guy Lumsden (37th, West Lothian West Club), Brodie MacDonald (47th, West Lothian Fencing Club), Griffin Manning (52nd, Edinburgh Fencing Club), Calum Kettles (56th, Salle Ossain) and Dara Gristwood (58th, West Lothian Fencing Club) all made the L64.

Scottish Fencing would to applaud all the fencers, parents and coaches for all their commitment, hard work and dedication.

In Hendon at the British Fencing u23 women’s foil Mhairi McLaughlin (18th, Salle Holyrood) and Hannah Fielding (20th, Edinburgh Fencing Club) both lost out in the L32. Mhairi was v3 d3 in the poules before bowing out 15-7 while Hannah was v2 d4 in the poules before being edged out 15-12 in the L32.

SportsAid Scotland

Our friends at SportsAid Scotland have supported many young fencers over the years with grant applications and funding, and we are asking the Fencing community to get behind SportsAid as they compete for the Persimmon Homes Building Futures fund.

Please have a read below and cast your vote!

VOTING NOW OPEN TO BOOST SPORTSAID SCOTLAND’S CHANCE OF WINNING SHARE OF HOUSEBUILDER’S £1MILLION CHARITY GIVEAWAY

Edinburgh-based charity SportsAid Scotland is in the running to win a share of a £1million Persimmon Homes Building Futures fund aimed at supporting under-18s across the UK but first they need online votes to win.

Persimmon Homes East Scotland is backing SportsAid Scotland to be a prize winner at a special event later this year, where cash awards of £100,000, £50,000 or £20,000 will be made to those with the most online votes.

 “We’re so proud to be chosen as a regional finalist and it’s given everyone a massive boost. The last 18 months or so have been extremely challenging for charities across the UK, including ourselves, so we’d really appreciate if people would get behind us and start voting,” chief executive Roddy Mackenzie.

“If we could win any of the top three cash awards then it would make a massive difference to the young athletes and para-athletes we support. We have backed the likes of Sir Chris Hoy in the past and we find athletes can hugely benefit from our annual awards.

“Voting could not be simpler. Just visit www.persimmonhomes.com/building-futures/ and select SportsAid Scotland, it would mean the world to us if we could have your support.”

Building Futures is delivered through the Persimmon Charitable Foundation in partnership with Team GB, the British Olympic Association.

Through Building Futures, a total of 128 grants of £1,000 have been awarded to groups supporting sport, education & arts and health across Persimmon’s 31 regional businessesand its head office.

As well as the £100,000 first prize, there will be a £50,000 second prize and a £20,000 third prize in each category, while a further 87 shortlisted projects will each receive £5,000.

Online voting opened on Monday 11 October and runs until midnight on November 19.

To support SportsAid Scotland please visit www.persimmonhomes.com/building-futures/. or https://bit.ly/3oGLC2Q

Events Update - 9/10 October 2021

Winning!!

Calum Penman claimed victory at today’s British Fencing cadet foil event at the Leon Paul Centre.

The podium had a very tartan feel as he needed to battle past fellow scots and Salle Holyrood club mates Thomas Walton (L4 15-9) and Nye Ulferts-Kilpatrick (Final 15-4) to win gold. 🥇🥈🥉

Making it a Scottish 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Well done lads!!

There were two other Scottish fencers in the field, David Kelly who finished 17th and Michale Ramage who finished 24th.

In women’s cadet event Ann-Emma Hu (Edinburgh fencing club) posted the best result finishing 5th after reaching the L8.

Hannah Fielding (Edinburgh Fencing Club) and Abigael McVinnie (Salle Holyrood) made the L16 to finish 9th and 14th respectively.

Three other Scottish Fencers made the L32. Imogen Cook (Salle Holyrood) finished 18th,

Lev-Jac Hu (Edinburgh Fencing Club) 20th and Merryn Ulferts-Kilpatrick 21st.

Sticking with foil at the Senior Satellite in Copenhagen, Scottish Fencing Director of Equalites, Mhairi McLaughlin was representing GB losing narrowly in the L64 after going 4v 2d in her poule. A return to international competition after almost a two year break.

More Winning…

In Manchester, 5 Scottish fencers took the piste for the British Fencing BRC but it was Isaac McKerr (Edinburgh fencing club) who stole the show!

Battling his way back from a shaky start in the poules, being 26th ranked going into the DEs, all the way to the final in which he won 15-11!!!!

Congratulations Isaac!!!!🥇

On what was a good day for Scottish fencers Rachael Lever (University of Nottingham) also claimed a bronze medal :) - well done Rachael 👍🥉

Adam Howie (Edinburgh Fencing Club) continued his good work from yesterday making the L16 to finish 15th.

Lucas McKerr (Edinburgh Fencing Club) made the L32 to finish 28th while Calum MCGhee (Wallace fencing academy) finished 40th losing an all Scottish L64 to Isaac who was on route to a medal.

At the Senior Sabre Open at the Paul Davis Fencing Academy, Kate Daykin (Salle Ossian fencing club) earned a fantastic bronze. She won all her Poule fights to be seeded 2nd before finally falling in the L4 15-11. Well done Kate! 🥉

Lucy Higham 12th (Salle Ossian Fencing Club) and Vivien Frith (@Shakespeares Swords) were the other scots in the field.

In the men’s event Julian Ghosh (@camden fencing club) made the L32 finishing 31st.

A great weekend all round - congrats to everyone who is back competing.

#ForgingTheFuture

Event Dates - “Open letter to the fencing community”

Members of Scottish fencing and friends of the fencing community – it has been a challenging time for us all, whether you were new to the sport at the start of 2020 or welded to it over decades, the disruption wrought by the pandemic has been unprecedented.  Now, after what seemed like a lifetime, club activities have begun to resume and there has been a race to fit competitions into the calendar.  This adds to the illusion that the pandemic and its effects on our sport are in the past, and we have returned to normal.  This is not the case.

On a positive note, fencers are once more able to train and to compete, even though these competitions may limit entry numbers more than before.  Whilst all organisers will attempt to build some resilience into their planning, disruption is much more likely than before.  When organisers and those on whom the running of a successful event rely – officials, helpers, coaches – have to cancel at short notice, this could be due to illness, infection or a requirement to isolate, it could also be to protect vulnerable family members.   Venues may be forced to close due to a lack of staff or to enable a deep clean, organisers may suddenly have to adapt to changes beyond their control; inevitably, frustration will be felt.

I ask that all of you – fencers, coaches, volunteers, family members – assist by managing fencers’ expectations.  In our clubs, and elsewhere within the fencing community, we should celebrate the fact that fencing has been able to resume, indoors.  That this has been possible in this context and we can practise the sport we love represents a huge step towards normality, but the coming months will not be normal.  When disruption frustrates and upsets some, please be there to support them and those who organise events, whether these are club sessions, training events or competitions.

The enjoyment of fencing has not gone away, but some of what we took for granted has, at least for now.  Stay safe, enjoy fencing and I wish you all the best for the coming year.

George Liston

Chair - Scottish Fencing

Event Dates

Scottish Youth Championships - 15/16 January 2022 - St Georges School, Edinburgh

Scottish Open - 26/27 February 2022 - National Sports Centre Inverclyde, Largs

New Independent Directors join the Board

We are delighted to announce that following our recent recruitment, Giles Lomax and Jude Salmon are joining the Board of Scottish Fencing as Independent Directors.

Giles Lomax brings extensive experience from working within other sports and participating at a national level in strategic projects. At Scottish Gymnastics he led the development of performance coaching and he is currently a member of the Scottish Professional Development Board for the Chartered Institute of Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMPSA). He personally achieved high levels of performance within Rugby League and remains part of their UK Coaching Advisory Group. He sees his strongest skill set within Talent and Performance objectives and we will look to use this capability to strengthen SF’s coaching and athlete pathways.

Jude Salmon has a strong understanding of what attracts people into sport and the benefits they gain from being involved.  As an Active Schools Manager in Edinburgh, she has worked with several fencing coaches and sees fencing as offering an alternative to the catching and throwing sports.  Her personal sport is swimming and she has two sporty children.  Her knowledge of sports hubs and how to attract funding to sport will be particularly useful as we look to re-establish our presence in the West as part of the #forgingthefuture strategy.  She has a strong interest in the wider social outcomes sport offers through the opportunities for young people to get active.   As the Scottish Government look to the sporting sector to contribute to a healthier Scotland, Jude’s knowledge and experience will help us target our activities, as will her experience of projects to increase women and girls’ participation.

Both will serve a four-year term on the Board.  By exercising the power in the Articles to appoint an Additional Director the Board now comprises three women and seven men, broadly reflecting the gender balance of the membership and in line with the 30%/70% split which funding bodies regard as the minimum target.

RECRUITMENT - Head of Pathways & Community Change

Scottish Fencing is looking to recruit a motivated individual with excellent leadership skills to support fencing clubs and the wider fencing community. The intention for this role is to increase the impact of the sport of fencing across Scotland as a driving force for inclusion and change within the sporting community.

This is a dynamic period for Scottish Fencing and we are looking for an individual who will lead the growing presence of fencing within Scotland through supporting & encouraging fencing communities to participate in innovative development & inclusion activities.

The above is a snapshot of the role - for the full advert and Job description please click on the links below.

For an informal conversation about the role, please reach out directly to Vincent Bryson, Scottish Fencing CEO on vincent.bryson@scottish-fencing.com

HoPCC Job Description

HoPCC Full Advert

SF Application Form

Equality Monitoring Form

Blair Cremin departs Scottish Fencing

Scottish Fencing can today confirm Pathways Manager Blair Cremin will leave his role at the end of September.

Vincent Bryson, Scottish Fencing CEO had this to say about Blair and his enormous contribution during his time with SF.

“It has been a real pleasure to work with Blair for the last 3.5 years. We are a small staff team so we have got to know each other well and I am absolutely delighted he is moving onto a role which will continue to challenge him professionally. He has done so much in his time which we must continue to drive forwards, including forming the Referee Advisory Group, starting up the #ForgingTheFuture programme, creating new and sustainable relationships with British Fencing and forming the Scottish Fencing Pathway Squad.  

Blair leaves us having made a game-changing contribution towards the sport, particularly as sport moves towards making a significant positive impact on communities and changing lives but more importantly being an authentic leader who put the fencing community’s interest first.  I know the Scottish Fencing community will join me in saying thank-you to Blair”.

Stan Stoodley, SF President said “While everyone at Scottish Fencing is pleased to see Blair’s career develop, we are sad to see him go. Our clubs and members have greatly benefited from the contribution he has made in developing our strategic objectives. Blair’s friendly, enquiring and accommodating professional approach to member consultation and engagement has facilitated many new opportunities for both individuals and clubs within our community. On behalf of the board, staff and members of Scottish Fencing I would like to say thank you and wish him well for the future.”

George Liston, Chair of the SF Board, said “Blair’s contribution has been remarkable.  He has brought a refreshing perspective from beyond the fencing community, built relationships across the sport and earned considerable respect.  Most importantly he has put his heart into his role at SF and he will be a hard act to follow.  I am pleased that his skills and potential have been recognised:  he will be an asset in his new role.  Blair, SF has benefited greatly from your time with us, I am glad to have worked with you and I wish you every success.”

Scottish Fencing will shortly begin a recruitment process with a focus on future requirements for the pathways role. In 2018 we launched our #ForgingTheFuture strategy with a focus on 2025. 

Following the pandemic and a number of shifts in priorities at the government and strategic level, we will share the future plans for fencing in Scotland with members later in the year.

Please keep an eye on our website and social channels for more information.

Vincent Bryson

Chief Executive

2022 Commonwealth Fencing Championships - Selection

Scottish Fencing is pleased to launch the Selection Criteria and Process for the Commonwealth Fencing Championships in 2022. 

The document contains selection criteria and links to eligibility criteria for Cadet, Junior, Senior, Para Fencing and Veteran athletes. Please click here to see the document and FAQs

The recent survey launched by Scottish Fencing gave some interesting feedback on what members thoughts were around the process. We have published the answers to the survey questions but not the individual written responses – please click here to see the summary of responses. 

 I’d like to personally thank all the members, volunteers, board and staff for their input. This has been a long process and not without difficulty as the competition landscape changes ever further and with the possibility of restrictions to sport not yet ruled out by government, Scottish Fencing reserve the right to revisit the selection criteria should there be change to the competitive landscape brought on by any increasing of restrictions. 

With this in mind, the Scottish Open will return early next year at Inverclyde National Sports Centre in Largs on February 26 and 27 2022. Entries will open as soon as practical and in the near future we will look to recruit volunteers for the event. 

As ever, the staff team and I remain available to discuss or answer any queries and I look forward to seeing you on-piste soon. 

Paul Vaughan – Director  

 

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