Scottish Fencing #JustDoesIt

Scottish Fencing are delighted to announce our latest kit partner- with Nike joining us as we build towards the 2022 Commonwealth Championships and beyond.

SF CEO Vincent Bryson is delighted to have got this deal over the line with our kit supplier PSL and it should mean the Commonwealth athletes, coaches, staff and fans look fantastic in their latest sports gear.

Vincent said “It’s amazing to have Nike onboard with us for the next few years. Our retail partner PSL have developed a great online store for us and I am certain our athletes, coaches and (hopefully!) fans will enjoy wearing the new kit both to cheer the teams on in London and also for their own leisure. To have SF wearing one of THE iconic sports brands is just fantastic.

PSL Sales Director Rennie Keith said, ”We are delighted to bring Nike to the sport of Fencing in Scotland. We have created some unique pieces for Scottish Fencing and are delighted to continue our relationship with another governing body as it continue to grow.

With the Commonwealth Championships coming up in August it will be an exciting year for Fencing in the UK generally, and we are keen to make sure all the Scottish Athletes and staff look and feel great as they continue #ForgingTheFuture for these championships and beyond.”

The Nike range will have more pieces added to it over the next few months and we will have a competition to design a couple of pieces within the range including the 2022 Commonwealth Tracksuit. We are looking forward to offering members the chance to help design this so please stay tuned over the coming weeks for more info.

To check out the range - click here

#ForgingTheFuture - Scottish Fencing's strategy 2022-2025

Good morning everyone

As mentioned last week, we are hosting a series of sessions with members to discuss the updated Strategic Plan for Scottish Fencing up to 2025. We have published the plan in 2 formats available below.

#ForgingTheFuture 2022-2025 PDF Version

#ForgingTheFuture 2022-2025 PowerPoint Version

Scottish Fencing CEO Vincent Bryson had this to say about the updated strategic plan.

“It was a fascinating experience to revisit and update the original version of the #ForgingTheFuture strategy with the Board. Clearly, when we wrote the last version the world in general never mind fencing was different. The updated strategy highlights key opportunities where the sport of Fencing can play a key role in positively impacting people’s lives and our Board were and are keen to ensure this happens.

We have seen membership numbers return slowly towards pre-pandemic levels and it’s been great to see the amount of interest and desire for competition over the last few months. How we maximise and build on this in terms of making the sport accessible to all and focus on the Changing Lives methodology to help clubs be present and impactful in their communities resonates throughout the strategy. I hope members enjoy reading it and can make one of the sessions over the next few weeks with the SF Board.”

#ForgingTheFuture

Scottish Fencing Board strategy sessions

The Board of Scottish Fencing plan to host three strategy sessions for members to attend in the coming weeks.

The intention for the strategy sessions is to gather thoughts, opinion and answer questions based on the latest iteration of the #ForgingTheFuture strategic plan which will be presented to attendees at the sessions. We will publish the strategy beforehand on Monday 21st March.

Each session will be chaired by a member of the Scottish Fencing Board, and we look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.

There are 3 events scheduled, please register for your chosen session below. All sessions will take place online.

 To register click here.

George Liston

Chair - Scottish Fencing

Departure of CEO

Scottish Fencing can today confirm that Vincent Bryson, CEO, will leave his role at the end of March to take up a new post outside sport.
George Liston, Chair of the SF Board, highlighted the great contribution Vinny has made to Scottish Fencing in his five years leading the staff team.

George said:

“It is with mixed feelings that I tell you Vincent Bryson will be leaving Scottish Fencing in the coming weeks. I say mixed, as our loss is tempered by the fact that he has been successful in securing a significant post outside sport. We have benefited greatly from his experience and expertise throughout his tenure and wish him well in his next job.
Vinny’s contribution has been excellent. He has established a high-quality relationship with our strategic partner sportscotland, culminating this year in a significant uplift in our funding. He built his network across the wider sports community and brought in new ideas that have challenged us and assisted the sport to grow. During the pandemic he became a leading voice for sport in its dialogue with sportscotland, and the Scottish Government. He fought vigorously for all sports and for fencing.
It is Vinny’s ability to make connections, develop a strategy and encourage participation that his new employer will value most. For our part, on top of his hard work we won’t forget his sense of humour or his fascination with 1980’s tracksuits.”

Stan Stoodley, SF President, commented:

“Vinny worked hard for us and has personally been willing to rise to every challenge, from developing strategy to feeding Twitter to laying pistes. His recognition of the importance of the volunteer workforce in sustaining fencing has supported the growth of referee, coach and athlete pathways, delivering improvements at all levels of our sport.”

Sheila Anderson, HR Director said:

“The role of CEO in SF is one of shaping the strategic direction and plugging the gaps. Vinny did both with great success. He has created a harmonious staff team which has worked together to deliver for Scottish Fencing. He built the capability of the staff, enabling us to encourage and support clubs to be at the forefront of the Scottish Government's Changing Lives agenda. This will be a lasting part of his legacy with us.
The effectiveness of his relationship with British Fencing has resulted in work on joint projects, sharing ideas and learning across the staff teams. We look forward to continuing this work. I am glad to have worked with Vinny and wish him every success”

We are currently considering our staff structure in the light of Vinny’s departure. As a result of a successful increased investment bid we have scope to adjust the shape of the team to best use their skills in line with the development we are aiming for.

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

Scottish Fencing Board
15 March 2022

Veteran Home Nations selection

The Scotland team selected for the Veterans Home Nations match in Bristol on 9 April is:

Women's Foil:

Sheila Anderson, Ruth Davidson, Helen Pitt. (NTR - Maria Cabrelli)

Women's Epee:

Karen Grant, Lorna Smith, Maggie Tait

Women's Sabre:

Viv Frith, Roz Graham, Michele Narey, Yvonne Walls

Men's Foil:

Rory Gibson, Mike McKay, Nick Mort, Paul Stanbridge

Men's Epee:

Andrew Brown, Niall Campbell, Malcolm Downie, Hugh Kernohan

Men's Sabre:

Keith Davidson, Richard Foster, Lindsay Rodgers, Paul Vaughan

2022 Scottish Open

This year’s Scottish Open took place at Inverclyde National Sports Training Centre in Largs. It was a great pleasure to chat with so many familiar faces from across the fencing generations and welcome them to our 6 weapon home event. The main hall at Inverclyde has recently undergone lighting improvements which enhanced everyone’s experience.

The fencing was very exciting to watch with many youngsters surprising their older opponents. The increasing complexity of fencing rules with its 3 P’s in foil and epee had lots of people chatting. Each day I witnessed many hard fought bouts with only the slightest margins in timing defining the win. Everyone was enjoying themselves. The full results are here on Fencing Time Live.

This year it was encouraging to see an increase in participation in our women’s events and we will actively encourage this trend going forward.  

A women's sabre match about to begin with an older women about to fence a younger competitor

Viv Mills was also in attendance at the event chatting with competitors and coaches about upcoming opportunities to develop parafencing within clubs and competitions as part of our commitment to developing fencing as an inclusive sport.

I would like to thank all the competitors that came along to Largs, the referees who supported the event and especially the volunteers that helped to set up and manage DT. In order to build and improve upon our collective experience of our Scottish Open and make it an outstanding event that people will look forward to coming to in the future I would like to encourage anyone interested in becoming a referee/para-referee, learning about DT, armoury, competition floor management for able bodied/parafencing and general volunteering to contact  me at president@scottish-fencing.com and I will seek to put you in touch with others who can help to develop your skills and knowledge.

A group of women referees with clipboards making their way to the hall to begin the poule matches

We will shortly be sending out a feedback questionnaire looking for ways to improve our event and I’d greatly appreciate you taking the time to fill it in and send it back to us. Thanks.

Looking forward to seeing you on a piste soon.

Stan Stoodley,

President, Scottish Fencing

News Update from Hugh Kernohan

Good afternoon everyone.

I write this to you all from the Inverclyde National Sports Centre where we will be hosting the Scottish Open next week. Fear not, I haven’t turned up ridiculously early for the Men’s Epee but thanks to sportscotland the board and staff team have been hosted here for 24 hours for our first face-to-face gathering since February 2020.   Apart from meeting in person some of the newcomers we had only ever seen on a screen, our purpose was to discuss our plans for the next strategic cycle. 

Shortly we will be publishing the next iteration of the #ForgingTheFuture strategy, covering the period up to March 2025.   We will hold a number of online sessions, hosted by the directors, to let members have the opportunity to ask questions on how we plan to put the strategy into effect and offer suggestions to strengthen those plans.   The staff team will also be in attendance.   When the sessions go live I encourage anyone interested to sign up:  it will be good to see you there.

On the competition front, I would like to offer my congratulations to those who competed in the recent Scottish Student Sport fencing beginners event, and my best wishes to those within the student community who are planning to head south for the BUCS Nationals this weekend.   I hope you travel safely and fence well.  If you have any media to share from BUCS, please do use the #ForgingTheFuture hashtag so we can re-share. 

On behalf of everyone within SF I’d like to extend the same thoughts to those travelling abroad on GBR duty this weekend. The commitment shown and sacrifices made to compete at this level are no small thing and you go with our best wishes.  I hope you enjoy the experience and learn from it.

Closer to home, we have the Scottish Open next week but also have the rescheduled Scottish Youth Championships for Under 20’s on 19 March at Bathgate Academy. Entries are now open and you can access them here.  As ever, we look forward to seeing the next generation of Scottish Champions.

Also on the weekend of 19-20 March, across both days , we have our first face-to-face coach education opportunities for a long time.   Please have a look here and sign up – our coach educators are looking forward to seeing you.

Coming up over the next few weeks will be updates on new Steering Groups run by the board and opportunities to volunteer as part of these, and in other areas of Scottish Fencing effort where you may wish to contribute your time and expertise. If you have a passion for digital media, competition delivery, or coaching then we will certainly have something for you.

Thank you and have a great weekend.

Hugh

Hugh Kernohan – Governance Director

#ForgingTheFuture

 

 

 

 

Scottish Open Announcement and FAQ’s

Para Fencing Events

Please note: Due to low entries the para events won’t take place. However, we are postponing these rather than cancelling them. We hope to run another event later in the year. Details to follow soon.

Age Limits

The limit to ages is now on the date of the event rather than 1 January. If you are now eligible to fence in the Open and would like to compete email us at admin@scottish-fencing.com and you can pay the £45 lower rate.

Please note: Many of the events are busy and we are now setting limits on entries to:

  • Women’s Epee – 28

  • Women’s Foil – 28

  • Men’s Epee – 42

  • Women’s Sabre – no limit yet

  • Men’s Sabre - 35

  • Men’s Foil - 35

While we have set limits there is a chance spaces will come available so it is worthwhile adding your name to the waiting list.

Contact Information

Liz Anderson

Email – admin@scottish-fencing.com

Mobile - 07803 207349

Welfare Officer – Ross Morrison

Email – safeguarding@scottish-fencing.com

Mobile – 07950 902245

Photography/Social Media

If you would prefer not to have your picture taken or feature in any website/social media posts please email admin@scottish-fencing.com in advance of the event. Remember to also mention this to DT on the day of the event.

Event Schedule

Saturday 26 February 2022

Check in / Event Start

09.30 / 10.30 Women’s Foil and Men’s Epee

12:30 / 13:00 Women’s Epee

Sunday 27 February 2022

08.30/ 09.30 Men’s Foi l and Men’s Sabre

12.30 / 13.00 Women’s Sabre

Frequently Asked Questions

COVID Protocols

We appreciate your cooperation with the following protocols which are in place to keep everyone safe.

Please do not arrive at the venue if you have any Covid symptoms. We will refund anyone who is unable to compete due to Covid.

Face coverings

All competitors, spectators, coaches and event staff are required to wear a face covering when not fencing or warming up.

Lateral Flow Testing

Competitors, spectators, coaches and event staff are required to take a lateral flow test 24 hours before the event and then again on the morning before they leave for the venue. (or in the morning before they go for breakfast if staying at Inverclyde House).

Scottish Fencing staff and officials may check your lateral flow test result on arrival, please have your result confirmation text or email to hand.

As per Scottish Government guidance we will not check Covid passports as there are competitors aged U18.

In line with current advice we would recommend that you test in the run up to the event and post event as follows:

•             1 Week before the event: Test twice weekly with one test on the day of the event.

•             1 week after the event: Test twice weekly

•             Ongoing after the event: Continue to test twice weekly

Order rapid Lateral Flow tests to your home: https://test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/order-lateral-flow-kits

Collect rapid Lateral Flow tests from your nearest coronavirus test site: https://maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk/

Collect rapid Lateral Flow tests from your nearest pharmacy: https://maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk/findatestcenter.html

How to do a rapid Lateral Flow test at home and get advice on the test result: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/test-and-protect/coronavirus-covid-19-how-to-do-a-rapid-lateral-flow-device-lfd-test-at-home

Check in Scotland

All coaches, officials and spectators are asked to check-in on arrival at the venue using the Check-in Scotland QR code which will be available throughout the venue.

 

Equipment

Each fencer is personally responsible for making sure that his or her clothing and equipment conform to BF rules and are in good condition. Neither SF nor the organisers of the competition, nor any official or referee involved in the competition is responsible for these matters, or for any accident, loss or damage to persons or property however caused

All fencers must wear the correct kit as per British Fencing rules.

This will include FIE chest protectors (m.25 4(c) ) and 800N sabre gloves (as per the rule at https://www.britishfencing.com/urgent-safety-notice-sabre-gloves/)

 

Equipment Stand

Please note there will be no equipment stand at the event.

Armoury

Armoury services will be available at the event provided by Paul Thomson.

First Aid

First Aid cover is by MX Medical.

Spectators

Spectators will be permitted at the event. As a guide we would recommend that each fencer brings no more than one coach and one spectator.

Catering

There is a café on site at Inverclyde which will be open during the event.

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