The Jaimie Cook Guide: How To Start Your Final Junior Season

Jaimie Cook on the podium at the Junior Foil World Cup in Fujairah biting his silver medal

Salle Holyrood’s Jaimie Cook had a pretty impressive 2023/24 season – bronze at the junior World Cup in Sabadell, Spain; 7th at the junior World Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; top 32 finishes in the senior World Cups in Tokoname, Japan and in Hong Kong and 9th place at the senior European Championships in Basel, Switzerland.

He finished the season ranked 8th in the world in the junior category (under 20) and 61st in seniors.

But with one final season in juniors and looking to make further progress at senior level, Jaimie has started the 2024/25 run in explosive and, arguably, historic fashion.

You can read more about his journey on this fantastic season in this article written by Sean Walton.

Jamie’s 204/25 season continues almost immediately after New Year with a junior World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, the Challenge International de Paris senior World Cup and another junior one in Heraklion, Greece taking up the first 3 weekends in 2025. Junior World Championships in Wuxi, China in April and senior World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia in July follow a hectic competition schedule in both categories (another dozen competitions). A long, hard season but one to remember for Jaimie Cook.

You can follow Jaimie’s progress in 2025 on Salle Holyrood’s facebook page.

Scottish Open Wrap Up 2024

The Scottish Open 2024 was held this year at a new venue - Alva Academy.

An event like this is not possible without all the people who play their part to make it happen: for transport and set up on the Friday evening, DT, Referees, Armourers, Medics and all the other volunteers.

Two days of fierce competition produced our winners and medallists for each of the competition categories. Well done to the winners and thank you to all the people who took part across the weekend.

Podium Results for Scottish Open 2024

Senior Men’s Foil

Winner - Alexandre Schlindwein (Edinburgh Fencing Club)

2nd Place - Jonathan Woollard (Edinburgh Fencing Club)

3rd Place - Maxim Piterbarg (St Andrews University Fencing Club) & Sam Holden (Salle Holyrood Fencing Club)

Senior Men’s Epee
Winner - Tobias Berry (Knightsbridge Fencing Club)

2nd Place - Calum Johnston (Edinburgh Fencing Club)

3rd Place - Jonathan Woollard (Edinburgh Fencing Club & Tom Hoffman (Edinburgh Fencing Club)

Senior Men’s Sabre

Winner - Quentin Geoffroy (Edinburgh University Fencing Club)

2nd Place - Jerome Gan (St Andrews University Fencing Club)

3rd Place - Callum Kettles (Salle Ossian Fencing Club) & Jack Geddes (Salle Ossian Fencing Club)

Senior Women’s Foil

Winner - Katie Smith (Edinburgh Fencing Club)

2nd Place - Ao Feng (Edinburgh University Fencing Club)

3rd Place - Mhairi McLaughlin (Edinburgh Fencing Club) & Alicia Watson (Salle Solas)

Senior Women’s Epee

Winner - Mhairi Gifford (Shetland Fencing Club)

2nd Place - Lydia Stanier (Edinburgh Fencing Club)

3rd Place - Lucinda Naughton (University of Liverpool Fencing Club) & Lucy Grant (West Fife Fencing Club)

Senior Women’s Sabre

Winner - Kate Daykin (Salle Ossian Fencing Club

2nd Place -Lucy Higham (Salle Ossian Fencing Club)

3rd Place - Jen Sancroft (Sancroft Blades Fencing Club) & Charlotte Wilson-Smith (Salle Ossian Fencing Club)

Men’s Seated Sabre

Winner - James Middlehurst

2nd Place - Stuart Gurney (West Lothian Fencing Club)

3rd Place - Gary Millar (Braveheart Fencing Club)

Women’s Seated Sabre

Winner - Susanne Seddon-Cowell (University of Bath Fencing Club)

2nd Place - Wiktoria Mucha (Salle Ossian Fencing Club)

If you could take the time to provide us with some feedback of the Scottish Open it would be greatly appreciated. Please complete the form using the link below:

Scottish Open Event Feedback

Equipment Safety Reminder

This is an equipment safety message. Please can all clubs check the safety of the fencing equipment they are using.  

At a recent competition a mask from a club failed and was condemned by the referee. It did not fail because the Scottish Open had higher standards for equipment checks; this mask was not fit for use under any circumstance, either training or competition.  

It failed because it flexed when thumb pressure was put on the mesh grill at the front of the mask.  

Masks that are soft means the metal is seriously weakened and any masks like this are extremely dangerous and should never be used. 

As a matter of urgency and for the safety of club members please can all clubs check the condition of their masks. This is what to look out for: 

• Masks should not flex when the mesh grill at the front is pushed. Holding the side of the mask put two thumbs on the grill/mesh that covers the face and add pressure by moving your thumbs down and inwards. Even the slightest movement on the grill area which covers the face means the mask is unsafe and should never be used. 

• Masks should be free of rust. Any rust means the metal is weakened so rusty masks are not fit for use. 

• Masks with dents, any dent bigger than a 2p piece and the mask is not fit for use. 

• Holes in the mesh, any hole no matter what size means this mask is dangerous and cannot be used. 

• Bibs, check for holes and signs of wear. 

If you are unsure of a mask’s safety put it aside and get it checked. Do not let anyone use it, even for training or if they are beginners. 

There are qualified armourers who are happy to come and check your equipment. If this is something your club would like to do please email us at admin@scottish-fencing.com  

AGM 2024

This is a reminder for Scottish Fencing's Annual General Meeting (AGM) taking place on Tuesday 10 December at 6pm online. As part of the AGM process members can vote on any changes to Articles of Association or Bye Laws; this year there are no proposed changes for voting on.

During the meeting members will confirm if the minutes from AGM 2023 are accurate via proposer and seconder. The 2023 AGM minutes are available here.

Staff and board will give a short report based on the content of the annual report. You can view the Annual Report here

If you have any questions you would like to ask you can submit these in advance, this will allow the Board to give a full answer. Attendees can also ask questions on the night but we may need to get back to you depending on what information we have to hand.

You can submit questions using the sign up form below.

To sign up and attend the AGM, or to note your apologies, please use the link below. Please note that all members are welcome to attend but only members over the age of 16 can vote.

To attend sign up here

The agenda is available here

SF Club Project Fund

Clubs are now able to submit applications to Scottish Fencing’s Club Project Fund.

The project will be focused on Girls & Women, but clubs can be creative and innovative in how they plan to explore this space. Clubs can consider how their project can link to the Active Scotland Outcomes - more information here.

As part of this fund, there is money to fund two clubs with £1000 each to deliver a project in the early part of 2025. Further funds will also be available to support continuation of club projects and open up further funding of other club projects throughout 2025 - 2029.

If any clubs have questions or would like to have a further discussion around their project idea before submitting their application then get in touch with Daniel at daniel.baker@scottish-fencing.com to arrange a chat.

The deadline for applications is end of November 2024.

SF Club Project Fund Application

A timeline is shown also below for information, but this can be flexible to suit the club’s needs and their projects. It is provided to give a rough timeline for information.

A timeline image that is showing the different stages with dates for project milestones.

Please direct all questions and queries to Daniel Baker, Club & Community Development Manager, daniel.baker@scottish-fencing.com

Pathways Squad 2024-25 - Sign Up

This years Pathways Squad is going to begin in November and will have a specific focus of preparing fencers for a qualifying event for the British Youth Championships (BYC) and for those that qualify/choose to attend it will also assist with preparation for the BYC as well.

The dates for this years programme are:

• 17 November

• 26 January

• 23 February

• 16 March

• 13 April

The programme is open to any fencers U16 that are keen to develop in a supportive environment.

• U16 born in 2009 or 2010

• U14 born in 2011 or 2012

• U12 born in 2013 or 2014

Venues are likely to be in Stirling or Perth.

The sessions will focus on scenario based games and situations specific to the level of the fencers. There will also be support from services like sport psychology, nutrition, strength and conditioning integrated into the days.

Coach support will be available at the qualifying event, full details of this will be available soon but we expect it to take place before the end of March.

If the costs to attend are prohibitive to anyone and they would benefit from a subsidised place on pathways squad please contact alan.martin@scottish-fencing.com

Sign up for Pathways Squad

Coach Education Weekend

Our next coach education weekend will be taking place on 7/8 December at Easterhouse Phoenix in Glasgow.

Easterhouse Phoenix Community Centre

5 Shandwick Street

G34 9BN

This will be the first opportunity for candidates to go through our new Level 1 assistant course. We are currently working with sportscotland and the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) to have all our coaching qualifications recognised by the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). Our new Level 1 course sits at stage 5 on the SCQF framework.

Our new qualifications will have some online coursework to complete prior to attending a coach education weekend, the deadline for completing the online content is 2 weeks prior to the weekend so tutors have adequate time to review what each candidate has submitted. When you sign up and indicate you want to complete the new Level 1 full information will sent to you on how to complete all the online coursework.

The new Level 1 is aimed at those who are less experienced in leading fencing activity or are aged 16 or 17. (To complete Level 2 you need to be 18).

We have also recently received support from sportscotland that will allow us to cost our coach eduaction programme in a more innovative way. If you belong to one or more of the following groups, then coach education could be free for you to complete:

• Women and girls

• Under 25

• Disability

• Rural community

• Low SIMD

If you feel you belong to one or more of the above categories then please indicate this on the sign up form (for SIMD we will check your postcode against the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation). You will then have the option to pay a discounted amount of £50 or you can pay £0 if you log 10 hours voluntary coaching within your club and local community, ideally engaging with the highlighted groups above.

If you do not belong to one of the groups above you have the option to pay £150 for the weekend or you can also choose to log 10 hours voluntary coaching ideally with the groups above and pay a discounted rate of £50.

Sign up for the coach education weekend on 7/8 December

2024 Scottish Open - Request for referees

The 2024 Scottish Open is on 30 November and 1 December in our new venue Alva Academy (10 minutes drive from last year’s venue in Stirling).

We are currently asking for referees - ideally those qualified at Level 2 or above but we are also interested to hear from experienced fencers.

If an invited referee comes to the Scottish Open for both days and ONLY to referee we will pay a day rate plus expenses including travel. The pay rate is dependent on qualifications:

FIE/Level 4          £60

Level 3                 £50

Level 2                 £40

The Scottish Open will only pay accommodation expenses where the invited referee is covering both days and when the accommodation is booked by the organisers. Accommodation is booked on a twin room basis. If referees require accommodation on the Friday night please contact us (admin@scottish-fencing.com)  to arrange this.

The organisers will pay the following travel expenses:

• Standard class rail travel at cost. We expect referees to book in advance to minimise costs.

• Fuel costs are recompensed at 35 p per mile.

• We will provide lunch on the day.

If a fencer stays and referees the next day or prior day we will refund their entry fee and pay a day rate but not cover their accommodation / travel expenses. Any competitor wishing to do this should get agreement first by contacting admin@scottish-fencing.com  

On the day if a fencer makes themselves available to referee in an event they are no longer fencing in they can have a refund of their entry fee once approved by the organisers. No travel expenses will be paid and only once agreed by the organisers.

Scottish Open timetable:

Saturday 30 November Check In times

Mens Epee 8.45 - 9.00

Womens Foil 9.45 - 10.00

Mens Sabre 12.45 - 13.00

Sunday 1 December 2024 Check In times

Mens Foil 8.45 - 9.00

Seated Sabre 9.15 – 9.30

 Womens Epee 9.45 - 10.00

Womens Sabre 12.30 -12.45

If you are interested in refereeing please email us at admin@scottish-fencing.com

Highland Open 2024 Results Round up

Elgin seemed like the fencing epicentre of the world when Elgin Duellist Fencing Club hosted the Highland Open Fencing Tournament at the end of last month (28 &  29 September).

A tournament record of 150 fencers from 32 clubs, from as far afield as the USA and  China, gathered at Elgin High School to compete in the most northernly nationally ranked fencing competition in the UK over the weekend.

A record number of 18 fencers from Elgin Duellist Fencing Club -ranging in age from 13 to 72- also took the brave step to compete in the Men’s and Women’s Epee,  Sabre and Foil categories and to fight against ex-Olympian, Commonwealth and national pentathlon champions.

There is a summary of results below but please read the full account in Elgin Duellists Highland Open Write Up here.

Summary of results:

Men’s Epee

1. Tristen Bell, Forth Valley Fencing Club

2. Alasdair Baker, Unaffiliated

3T. Will Miller, Eastbourne Fencing Club

3T. Duncan Readle, Dundee University Fencing Club

Women’s Epee

1.Ying Ki Lee, Braveheart Fencing Club

2. Laura Jamieson, Braveheart Fencing Club

3T.Mhairi Gifford, Shetland Fencing Club

3T. Avi Jaffe Tsang, St Andrews University Fencing Club

Men’s Sabre

1. Jack Geddes, Salle Ossian

2. Callum Kettles, Salle Ossian

3T. Gellert Neiszer, University of Glasgow Fencing Club

3T. Adrien Catte, Edinburgh Fencing Club

Women’s Sabre

1. Lucy Higham, Salle Ossian

2. Sophia Milne, Salle Ossian

3T. Rosalind Graham, Sancroft Blades Fencing Club

3T.Yue Shao, University of Glasgow Fencing Club

Men’s Foil

1. Lachlan Grant, St Andrews University Fencing Club

2. Gleb Iakovlev, Edinburgh University Fencing Club

3T. David Moody, Salle Solas

3T. Joe Joyce, Culloden Fencing Club

Women’s Foil

1.Chloe Campbell, Forth Valley Fencing Club

2. Ao Feng, Edinburgh University Fencing Club

3T. Lily Graham, Edinburgh Fencing Club

3T. Mhairi Gifford, Shetland Fencing Club

For Elgin Duellist club members, this may be the only time that they have an opportunity to compete against some of the top-ranking fencers in Scotland and further afield. With the nearest fencing tournaments usually held in the central belt of Scotland, we are delighted that so many of our club members competed and did so well. This is the highest proportion of Elgin Duellists that we have ever managed to get beyond the first direct elimination stage. We look forward to doing even better next year.

Pathways Squad - Coach Vacancy

Scottish Fencing is recruiting a Lead Weapons Coache – Sabre – on a consultancy basis as maternity cover, to our Pathways Squad for athletes looking to attend a qualifying event and the BYC in 2025.

The main goal of the Lead Weapons Coach (LWC) is to assist the Pathways group to create a positive learning environment that best prepares young athletes to perform to the best of their abilities whilst upholding Scottish Fencing’s culture, values and relevant policies. The Lead Weapons Coach will work with Pathways Squad members to ensure they are best prepared to perform at the qualifying event and BYC’s in 2025. The LWC will take responsibility for designing and delivering engaging scenario based fencing sessions for those athletes who specialise in their chosen weapon.

Lead Weapons Coach (LWC) Duties:

At Pathways sessions:

·         To design and deliver fencing training that nurture and develop young fencers.

·         Attend staff meeting, prior to Session 1, to work with other LWC, and the pathways group to design a fencing programme for Pathways athletes.

·         To work with other LWC, and the pathways group to create a positive, “development-first” learning environment for athletes, staff and parents.

At BYC qualifiers:

·         Provide coaching advice and support to individuals and other coaches as required. This may include providing warm ups and lessons to unaccompanied athletes.

·         Work with any club coaches attending to ensure the young person is put first and they are not made to feel conflicted between club and pathways coaches.

·         Promote and adhere to Scottish Fencing’s best practice guidance/code of ethics and behaviour including anti-discriminatory practice.

·         Assist Scottish Fencing to fulfil its responsibilities to safeguard young people including maintaining confidentiality,

Essential requirements:

·         Commitment to attend all Pathways sessions and qualifying event for BYC.

o   10th November

o   26th January

o   23rd February

o   17th March

o   13th April

·         Have a minimum Level 2 – preferably Level 3 (or working towards) - qualification in sabre.

·         Evidence of Continual Professional Development.

·         Understanding of Long-Term Athlete Development and Growth Mindset.

·         Great communication skills.

·         On the British Fencing Coaches Register. (Completed PVG, CWPS course and first aid)

·         Knowledge of Scottish Fencing’s role and responsibilities to safeguard the welfare of children.

What the LWC can expect:

·       £700 to cover all sessions and qualifying event

·       Scottish Fencing branded clothing.

·       Free CPD

·       The opportunity to support and develop young athletes.

How to Apply:

To apply, complete the jotform.

Please direct any questions to alan.martin@scottish-fencing.com.Deadline for applications is Wednesday, 2nd October at 12pm.