Club News - Sancroft Blades and Wallace Fencing Academy Merge

Sancroft Blades merging with Wallace Fencing Academy

On Tuesday 29th August, Sancroft Blades will take on the operational management of Wallace Fencing Academy . This new club will operate from the Linlithgow Academy in Linlithgow on Tuesdays from 6pm-9pm, and Saturdays from 9am-1pm with some additional sessions exclusively for pupils of Linlithgow Academy.

This merger will allow Sancroft Blades to continue their steady growth with a larger venue, additional training times, improved digital infrastructure, and an enhanced, three-weapon coaching team. This merger is an ideal partnership for both clubs due to the foreseeable closure of Sancroft Blades’ previous venue in Denny, Falkirk due to council funding cuts, and reduced capacity at Wallace Fencing Academy due to the reduced availability of coaches and volunteers who have, for a very long time, enabled the club to deliver effectively both within the club setting and more widely in their notable delivery of development and competitive events.

This new partnership will work to foster a supportive and inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds and at all stages in their fencing journey, from beginners to social fencers, right through to performance athletes. This will include the return of events such as the much loved 48’ers and other development opportunities for coaches, volunteers, referees and armourers.  Sancroft Blades will encourage collaboration with event organisers and clubs throughout Scotland to build a diverse calendar of events to meet the needs of the fencing community in Scotland.

All current and former members of both clubs will be welcome, alongside any guests who wish to drop in or access additional training regardless of weapon.

For more information about Sancroft Blades and to contact the club, they can be contacted through      facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SancroftBlades, email at sancoftblades@hotmail.com and online at https://www.leonpaul-scotland.co.uk/

Sancroft Blades wishes to offer special thanks to the De Sainte Croix family for providing them with this opportunity and for working closely with them as they transition into the new club structure. Calum will remain a key part of the club’s coaching team and they intend to fully utilise Morag’s decades of events experience and the long-standing relationships she has built across the fencing community.

Introduction to Refereeing Session - Level 1

We will be running an Introduction to Refereeing Level 1 session online on Thursday 14th September. The session will take place on Zoom and will be delivered by Sam McLellan.

Details

Date - 14th September 2023

Time - 6.30 - 8.00pm

Location - Online via Zoom

Cost - £5 for Scottish Fencing members.

If a club has 4 or more people interested, we can offer a club rate of £20. Please contact Clare Queen, clare.queen@scottish-fencing.com to take up this offer.

About the Level 1

Level 1 is designed to be an introduction to the rules of fencing for those new to the sport either as a fencer or coach, parents and other supporters.  It is envisaged that it will help parents support their fencers and spectators or supporters to understand how fencing is refereed, why competitions run the way they do, why some hits are awarded and others not, what referees are looking for during matches and why safety and rules of behaviour are so important for fencers, spectators and coaches alike.

Whilst Level 1 is no longer classed as a referee qualification, this is still a useful and helpful introduction for parents, new fencers and coaches into understanding how referees score hits, awards penalty cards and what a fencers needs to be aware of during their first few competitions.

To register please click the link below.

Register for Introduction to Refereeing Level 1

Vacancy - Scottish Student Fencing Chair

Scottish Student Sport (SSS), the governing body for student sport in Scotland, is seeking an energetic and committed individual to act as the lead volunteer within Scottish Student Fencing.

The Chair will enjoy an excellent opportunity to contribute towards growing the sport and building a strong relationship with Scottish Fencing. The selected individual will be a key figure in the drive towards improving and strengthening student fencing in Scotland.

The Chair will work with SSS staff to coordinate event delivery, budget management, strategic planning, communicating with the student participants and SGB engagement.

For more information on the role description and application details, please click here.

Derek Titheradge

Derek was born in Oakham in Rutland but it was whilst at school in London that he met Prof Simmonds. After attending an introduction session Derek decided fencing was for him and went on to represent England on a number of occasions. 

 He later came to Scotland to take up post of Assistant National Coach. Derek regularly coached Scotland Schools  and senior squads in Home International matches and on weekend training camps in Largs. 

As part of that role he also established several clubs outside the Edinburgh area though a number of schools based initiatives.

 

One such scheme was in Fife - which provided opportunities for primary school children who had never experienced fencing before to come along during school time - much like Derek himself had done. This lead to the establishment of Glenrothes Fencing Club - where Derek went on to  produced a number of British Youth medalists.

 

Living  in Menstrie at the time he also coached at the Stirling club and Strathallan school (amongst others).

In the late 1980s SAFU underwent a significant governance restructure  - which saw Derek move into a new post of National Development Officer. In this role he unexpectedly became a driving force behind the creation of the first Scotland Ladies Epee team (a Sabruer at heart he therefore had a dislike for Epee - particularly ladies Epee!)

It was following the first Commonwealth Championships to feature  individual Ladies Epee in 1986, that Annette managed to convince him to train the squad and form the team for the introduction of the team event in 1990 in Manchester - this certainly paid off and Scotland went on to win the silver medal. 

In the same year Derek also coached two members of the team who represented GB in the World Youth Championships. 

Derek and Annette married in 1994 and shortly after they moved to Shetland where he continued to coach at Shetland Fencing Club.

I remember he was a keen angler - Shetland it seems was the perfect place and Derek regularly fished and competed as part of the Shetland Angling Association. 

He always had a great love of music. In his earlier days his record collection and stereo system where his pride and joy - once having to reinforce the floor of his Menstrie home to support the weight of some new speakers.

Derek travelled extensively with fencers around the country and beyond, Tyneside being probably his favourite annual trip. Whilst we were always very grateful for the lift - we did often complain to him about having to listen to his classical music all the way there and back.

 Latterly Derek also took up many instruments including the mandolin and was a regular on the Shetland music scene  playing in groups and sessions.

It was Derek who introduced me to fencing all these years ago and encouraged me to take up Epee just in time for the 1990 Commonwealths and the World Student games the following year.

I am forever grateful for all his coaching, support and driving (I would probably appreciate his music choice more now though).

Thoughts and love to his wife Annette, Louise, Steve, Kevin and his 2 grandsons.

 Val Cramb

Derek Titheradge Funeral Details

Scottish Fencing received the sad news that Derek Titheradge had passed away after a short illness. Derek was assistant National Coach for many years.

The funeral will take place on Tuesday 11th at 2pm in Lerwick Methodist Church. For the live stream go to YouTube and search for Lerwick Methodist Church.

All our thoughts are with Derek’s friends and family at this sad time.

Level 2 Sabre Referee Course

Salle Ossian are running a Level 2 Sabre Refereeing course this summer. The details are below. 

Wednesday 19th July, 10am: Theory Seminar and Exam

Thursday 20th July, 10am: Practical Seminar and Exam at the Salle Ossian competition. 

The cost for Scottish Fencing members is £15 per person. 

Both will be held in-person at Salle Ossian: Unit 4, Riverview Business Park, Friarton Road, Perth, PH2 8DF.

For more information and to register, please click here.

Derek Titheradge

Scottish Fencing has just received the sad news that Derek Titheradge has passed away after a short illness. Derek was assistant National Coach for many years. We will share more news when we can.

In the meantime Scottish Fencing sends condolences to Derek’s friends and family.

Sportscotland Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering Awards 2023

Sportscotland have just opened nominations for their annual Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering Awards.

This is a fantastic opportunity to recognise and thank the incredible Coaches, Officials and Volunteers who are involved in fencing. If you know someone who's made a positive impact in fencing through a club, school or community in one of these roles, the COV Awards are a chance to recognise their invaluable contribution.

All nominees will be contacted by Sportscotland and thanked for their contribution. The winners will be recognised within their local setting and will also receive an invite to the COV awards ceremony in November.

There are 12 award categories, listed below.

Categories

  • Young Coach of the Year

  • School Sport Volunteer of the Year

  • Community Coach of the Year

  • Disability Sport Coach of the Year

  • Performance Pathway Coach of the Year

  • Coach Developer of the Year

  • High Performance Coach of the Year

  • Young Official of the Year

  • Official of the Year

  • Young Volunteer of the Year

  • Volunteer of the Year​

  • Lifetime Contribution Award

Click the links below for further information and to nominate.

More information on the categories and criteria.

Nomination form.

Scottish Schools Championship 2023

The Scottish Schools Championship took place last weekend at Salle Holyrood Fencing Club. Over the weekend 80 fencers took part across the three weapons with 31 schools represented.

The Best School overall for 2023 was Erskine Stewart's Melville School.

Many of the fencers joined in the fun element of the event and took part in the three weapon trophy. The winners of the three weapon trophies were:

U14 Men - Rio Wan

U14 Women - Alexia Hardie

U16 Men - David Kelly

U16 Women - Abigael McVinnie

O16 Women - Zoe Wagstaff

For full individual results from the event, please click here.

Scottish Fencing would like to thank all of the volunteers who helped out in a variety of roles and helped to make the event a success for the fencers. We really appreciate the support. Congratulations to all of the fencers who took part over the two days and to the families and friends who were there to support.

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