Sam McLellan wins Sportscotland Young Official of the Year award

Sam McLellan has won the Sportscotland Young Official of the Year award. The award is part of the annual Sportscotland Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering awards which aim to celebrate the incredible coaches, officials and volunteers who are making a difference across all sports in Scotland.

In 2022 Sam became, at 22, the youngest FIE certified sabre fencing referee in the world. One of only four current referees at this level in the UK, in his first season as a full international referee Sam was selected to referee the final bouts at U20 and U17 World Cup events in Germany, Spain and Hungary, and at the 2022 Senior Commonwealth Championships and European Veterans Championships. He was invited to join the senior officials team at the 2023 USA National Championships, the biggest fencing event in the world, refereeing across all events for ten days. He has refereed finals at all the major Open events in the UK and at the Senior British Championships.

Sam also volunteers his time as a referee at age group events, working long days to support young fencers. He runs referee education to support the development of officials in Scotland and has been a key member of the Scottish Fencing Referees Advisory Group. Sam joined the Scottish Fencing Board of Directors in 2023.  

Sam's dedication to continuous improvement led to his success in gaining FIE certification, passing a rigorous written and practical exam after multiple assessments at international events. The opportunity to sit this exam is limited to a handful of candidates per year, and only open to those identified by NGBs as high potential officials. Sam is now working towards a second FIE certification in Foil.

The award winners received their awards at an evening in Glasgow City Chambers on Thursday 2nd November. This was the first time that fencing has been recognised at the awards. Scottish Fencing would like to congratulate Sam on this fantastic achievement. Across the various categories, Fencing received ten nominations. Scottish Fencing would like to thank the community for their engagement

Scottish Fencing 2023 AGM - Awards

As part of Scottish Fencing’s annual tradition we are inviting the fencing community to nominate Scottish Fencing members for each of the awards presented at the Scottish Fencing AGM. The three awards are:

 Crosnier Quaich - Performance in competition.

Nominations for this award are welcome for all age groups and events including veteran, senior, junior cadet and para.

Crosnier Coaching Award - Services to coaching.

All nominated coaches need to be on the British Fencing Coaches Register so please check before nominating the coach you think deserves this award.

Sword of merit
To recognise any individual, club or organisation who has made an outstanding and inspirational contribution to the sport of fencing in Scotland.

You may nominate an individual, a team, a club or an organisation.

Please send your nominations explaining the reasons for each (100 words max per nominee) to admin@scottish-fencing.com

Nominations close noon Monday the 30 October 2023.

We will then publish what the Board consider to be the top three nominees in each category.

A public vote will then take place to determine the recipients of the Crosnier Quaich and Crosnier Coaching Award.

The Scottish Fencing Board will vote to determine the recipient of the Sword of Merit.

We will announce the recipients at the forthcoming Scottish Fencing AGM which will take place on 11 December 2023. To attend the AGM you need a valid membership or be attending on behalf of someone who has a current membership.

I look forward to receiving your nominations.

Your sincerely

Stan Stoodley

Scottish Fencing President

On behalf of the board of Scottish Fencing.

 

Highland Open 2023 - Results

Congratulations to Elgin Duellists Fencing Club and all their helpers for another successful Highland Open fencing competition.

The Highland Open is the most northernly nationally ranked fencing competition in the UK. There was a total entry of 112 fencers representing 25 clubs. Competitors travelled from as far afield as Shetland to London and with fencers aged from 13 to 71 the competition is a great event for all.

Click here for the full Highland Open press release and below is a summary of the medal winners.

Here’s to another successful tournament next year.

Men’s Epee

1. Callum Sutherland, Elgin Duellist Fencing Club

2. Tobias Berry, Knightsbridge Fencing Club

3T. Rob Blackburne, Forth Valley Fencing Club

3T. Hugh Kernohan, Culloden Fencing Club

Women’s Epee

1. Mhairi Gifford, Shetland Fencing Club

2. Kirsty Urquhart, Culloden Fencing Club

3T.Hannah MacKenzie, Culloden Fencing Club

3T. Hannah Marshall, Unaffiliated

Men’s Sabre

1.Quentin Geoffroy, Edinburgh University Fencing Club

2. Ethan Llewellyn, Sancroft Blades Fencing Club

3T. Jack Geddes, Salle Ossian

3T. Brodie MacDonald, West Lothian Fencing Club

Women’s Sabre

1. Elsie Llewellyn, Sancroft Blades Fencing Club

2. Jennifer Sancroft, Sancroft Blades Fencing Club

3T. Morgane Chavaneau, Forth Valley Fencing Club

3T.Sophia Milne, Salle Ossian

Men’s Foil

1. Charlie Broughton, Salle Holyrood

2. Abdulaziz Alawadh, University of Glasgow Fencing Club

3T. Joseph Cox, Salle Holyrood

3T. Joe Joyce, Culloden Fencing Club

Women’s Foil

1.     Chloe Campbell, Forth Valley Fencing Club

2.     Mhairi Gifford, Shetland Fencing Club

3T. Kirsty Urquhart, Culloden Fencing Club

3T. Alexia Hardie, Salle Holyrood

 

WELSH FENCING AND SCOTTISH FENCING INCLUDE WHEELCHAIR FENCING AT 2023 OPEN EVENTS

British Fencing are excited to support Welsh Fencing and Scottish Fencing to include Wheelchair Fencing at their Open events in November 2023.

As part of Welsh Fencing and Scottish Fencing’s commitment to provide opportunities for wheelchair fencing competitions, they will be including an Open wheelchair competition, meaning no classification is required.

The Home Nations are aware that not everyone who wants to fence sitting down is currently classified or is interested or able to be classified under the Paralympics system and they don’t want that to stop people from being able to take part in the sport.

If you have always been fascinated by wheelchair fencing, but you aren’t a wheelchair user day to day, these events are also for you.

Matt Russell, Chair of Welsh Fencing said “we are really looking forward to including wheelchair fencing for the first time at the Open in November and with the support of Sport Wales and Disability Sport Wales, we now have the equipment needed to make this happen. We also hope this will generate excitement around the upcoming Wheelchair Fencing World Cup being held here in Cardiff in January.”

Clare Queen, COO of Scottish Fencing said “We are excited to include wheelchair fencing in this year’s Scottish Open and hope that this opportunity will contribute to attracting  more people to the sport. We are grateful for the support and guidance we have received from the team at British Fencing and look forward to continuing this work to develop wheelchair fencing in Scotland.”

To find out more information on the work that is taking place in the wheelchair fencing space, please come along to our Community Discussion event on Tuesday 10th October. The session will be running at midday as well as 6pm and is open to anyone wanting to find out more.

Further information on the events can be found below:

Welsh Open – 11th -12th November 2023, Sport Wales National Centre, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff CF11 9SW

Scottish Open – 26th November 2023, The PeakStirling Sports Village, Forthside Way, Stirling FK8 1QZ

 

Strathclyde University Exhibition

On 13th September 2023, University of Strathclyde fencers took to the piste at Rottenrow Gardens, for a 5 hour outdoor exhibition of all three weapons, braving the fickle Glasglow weather.

The event was introduced to the Freshers Fair calendar to promote the sport of fencing amongst the student body at Strathclyde University. Crowds gathered, freshers were intrigued, and (luckily) no blades were broken.

This year, Strathclyde Fencing Club will drive to exhibit the club, and the sport of fencing to a wider audience than ever before. As a sport that is often misunderstood by non-particpants, this event marked an important shift in accessibility and availability at a University level. Strathclyde Fencing Club will continue to work hard to provide the opportunity to anyone bold enough to give it a go.

This is a venture steeped in history and tradition. Francois Foucart, Professor of Fencing at Andersonian University (now Strathclyde University) has historically held fencing exhibitions within the city of Glasgow. For more details, follow the link below:

https://www.glasgownecropolis.org/profiles/francois-foucart/

For more information of University of Strathclyde Fencing Club, please see the link below:

https://linktr.ee/strathclydefencing?fbclid=PAAaZWqk85tMWo2qODA_zVVGhQoc1y4zDD4EB93C4zFaOltZYBIFgu7tpNViE_aem_ATw3ueOwaF0gSCMouFjTGrtdO4lDVwkqW9wYDTGhtBJN1qXtgII5tIdIDUmnARHbzrE

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Scottish Fencing Pathways Squad 2023/24

Applications are now open to join the 2023/24 Scottish Fencing Pathways Squad!

 

What is the Scottish Fencing Pathways Squad?

 

The Scottish Fencing Pathways Squad brings together the most committed young fencers from across Scotland to practice together regularly, as well as providing educational opportunities for the athletes and their parents.

 

Click here, for more information on the programme and how to register.

Scottish Fencing Pathways Squad 2023/24

Applications are now open to join the 2023/24 Scottish Fencing Pathways Squad!

 

What is the Scottish Fencing Pathways Squad?

 

The Scottish Fencing Pathways Squad brings together the most committed young fencers from across Scotland to practice together regularly, as well as providing educational opportunities for the athletes and their parents.

 

Click here, for more information on the programme and how to register.

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