News

August 30, 2023

Selection for Senior 5 Nations, 2023

by Matt Russell

Welsh Fencing are pleased to announce the following team selections for the Senior Five Nations event being held in Largs, Scotland, on 18th November, 2023.

August 06, 2023

Welsh Veterans National Championships 2023

by Mike Robinson

This year we are pleased to announce that the 2023 Welsh Veterans Championship is being held at Llantwit Major Leisure Centre. We are also pleased to announce that the event is being generously sponsored by Chris Davies Estate Agents.

Llantwit Major is a small town located on the coast in the Vale of Glamorgan, it boasts a small beach which is good for surfing. There is plenty of accommodation, food and drink in the surrounding area to suit all tastes and budgets. The leisure centre has a free carpark and has showers, changing facilities WiFi, Water refill station. Catering is limited and competitors are advised to bring their own food and drink, a small first aid kit and personal medication.

Details of any formal/casual social event will be released at a later date.

August 04, 2023

Notice of Selection Process for Senior 5 Nations, Largs, 18th November 2023

by Matt Russell

The invitation to the Senior 5 Nations competition has been received by Welsh Fencing. The event is taking place on Saturday 18^th November.

Selection for this event falls under the recently updated selection policy, and this announcement will confirm the details of the process.

The selection point (date at which future events results will not be included in the rankings) for this event will align with the start of the 2023/24 season which is 1^st August 2023.
As per the policy, selection will be performed in a 2-stage process, with the aim for selections to be announced within 2 weeks of the selection point to allow sufficient time for logistical and financial planning for fencers and Welsh Fencing.
1. Fencers will be recommended to the selectors by the ADP coaches: Fran Whalley, Mike Evans-Jones, John Rees, Dan Robinson
2. Selection will be done by the remainder of the board members not involved in the first stage: Matt Russell, Lyn Robinson, Caroline Wheeler, Tania Craig, Elaine Corcoran, Marc Burkhalter

An independent observer will also be invited to the selection meeting. They will review the nominations and check that the selection policy has been correctly followed. Ellen Todd from Sport Wales has kindly agreed to fulfil this role.

The approach to this team event is to send the strongest team available.

Please note that travel to the event is required on Friday 17^th and return travel is planned for Sunday 19^th. Welsh Fencing are looking at options to minimise travel costs. Rooms will be booked on behalf of the team for 2 nights, and our intention is for a team manager to support the team with a coach for each weapon.

Please address any queries to matthew.russell@fencing.cymru

June 04, 2023

BVF Veteran Winton Cup Team 2023

by Matt Russell

The confirmed Welsh regional veterans teams for the BVF Veteran Winton Cup to be held on the weekend of 23rd and 24th September at Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Newport, Shropshire are:

May 28, 2023

2023 Senior Winton Cup - Update

by Matt Russell

The board of Welsh Fencing would like to thank those fencers that sent in their expression of interest to represent the Welsh region in the upcoming Senior Winton Cup. The board very much appreciate your commitment and desire to fence at this event.

Unfortunately, we have only had enough responses to field 3 of the 6 teams required, and it is with regret that we are therefore not able to enter this year’s event.

The board looked at a range of options to try and fill the teams, but we understand that there were many other commitments that weekend for fencers across Wales which has led to the unavailability of many of our fencers. To enter only half a team does not align with the character and values of the Winton Cup.

We hope that this is a unique set of circumstances in 2023, and we will endeavour to send full teams to compete for this Cup in future years.

March 17, 2023

SPC (Safeguarding and Protecting Children) Course

by Matt Russell

For any coach, TM or Welfare Officer that requires a renewal of this course, British Fencing have introduced an online course specifically for this purpose.

This is a much more convenient and flexible way of ensuring you are up to date on this important requirement as you can access the course at a time of your choosing. More information is available on BF ONLINE RENEWAL SAFEGUARDING & PROTECTING CHILDREN COURSE (FENCING SPECIFIC) - BRITISH FENCING

Welsh Fencing will reimburse the £20 cost of this course to any current coach, TM or Welfare Officer with Wales as their Home Nation. Please complete the expenses form on https://fencing.cymru/expense-form and send it with a valid receipt and copy of the completed course certificate to matthew.russell@fencing.cymru

For any new coach, TM or Welfare Officer needing to do the SPC course, please read the article on SPC IN SPORT COURSE - BRITISH FENCING. Again, Welsh Fencing will reimburse the cost of this course with a completed expense form, receipt and copy of the course certificate.

For any queries on this, please contact matthew.russell@fencing.cymru

March 16, 2023

David Mort

by Matt Russell

We have learned with regret that David Mort, former fencer, and WF Honorary Life Member has passed away. He had been unwell in recent months. Older members may remember David as one of the founder members of the old ‘Excalibur’ club from the ‘60s, along with other notables such as Mike Lee & Fred Suller. As WAFU Chairman 1970-80, David and his wife Yvonne were the instigators of the Welsh Open in 1971, or possibly earlier, and in recognition of his efforts, he was made an Honorary Member of WAFU in May 1999, and its Life President.

He will be sadly missed.

March 11, 2023

ADPC & BYC Qualifiers 2023

by Matt Russell

Sunday 5^th March saw over 40 fencers join our ADPC (Athlete Development Programme Cymru) training and BYC Qualifiers Day.

Welsh Fencing would like to thank all the fencers and parents that made the journey to this event, some from far-flung parts of the country.

February 24, 2023

Para-Fencing Update

by Matt Russell

Welsh Fencing are pleased to announce 2 major updates regarding para-fencing in Wales.

We recently secured capital funding from Sport Wales to purchase 2 wheelchair fencing frames and several wheelchairs suitable for fencing.

One of the significant barriers for disabled people to participate in sports and physical activity is the additional equipment needed and its higher cost than equivalent equipment for non-disabled participants. Welsh Fencing is working to reduce that barrier by loaning these frames to strategically placed clubs, initially in Cardiff & Wrexham, enabling more opportunities for wheelchair users across Wales.

February 16, 2023

Cadet Championships 2023

by Matt Russell

Welsh Fencing held their second Cadet Championships on 11^th February. It was encouraging to see several new fencers competing, and the commitment shown by some by travelling a long way to come the event.

There was a high standard of fencing on show, and many congratulations to all fencers, and particularly the medallists as follows:

February 12, 2023

John Ellis Jones (1929-2023)

by Gethin ap Phylip

It is with sadness we would like to inform that John, a Welsh Veteran fencer, and a member of Bangor University Fencing Club for about 20 years, passed away on Saturday 28th of January. He joined the club in his late 60s shortly before his retirement as a Senior Lecturer. Despite being a complete novice, he showed such natural aptitude.

February 12, 2023

Veteran Home Nations 2023 Selection

by Matt Russell

Welsh Fencing are pleased to announce selection for the upcoming Veterans Home Nations event, being held in Dublin on 25^th March.

January 28, 2023

U20 ADP & BYC Qualifiers

by Matt Russell

Welsh Fencing are pleased to announce that on Sunday March 5^th we will be running an Athlete Development Programme (ADP) training day combined with the British Youth Championships (BYC) Qualifiers. The events have been combined to minimise costs for travel and weekends away.

We would encourage all fencers wishing to engage in more competitive fencing to attend the day and compete in the qualifiers to enable you to go to the BYC’s.

The ADP is a Welsh Fencing programme to further develop and support our fencers. More information is available on ADP (fencing.cymru). We are intending to run a brief session with parents and fencers to introduce the programme and answer any questions.

December 04, 2022

Board Announcement

by Matt Russell

On behalf of the membership, the Board would like to thank Mark Ridsdale and Fran Whalley for their contribution to Welsh Fencing.

Both are standing down from their Director and Secretary roles respectively, with Mark also having previously undertaken the role of Chair.

During their tenures, they have both worked tirelessly to improve access to everything associated with fencing across the whole of Wales. Their passion, and focus on participants has improved support for coaches, referees, and fencers. They have also worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that Welsh Fencing is in the strong position that it is from a governance and finance point of view.

On a personal note, I would like to thank Mark for all the support and patience he has shown me in my first 2 years as Chair. His knowledge and wisdom has helped me enormously in understanding the role of Chair, and developing relationships with our stakeholders at Sport Wales and beyond.

Fran continually inspires a focus on our members. Fencers, coaches, referees, clubs etc are the lifeblood of our sport, and she ensured that this was always at the forefront of board discussions.

A huge thank you to you both.

Matt Russell
Chair – Welsh Fencing

November 20, 2022

Cadet Winton 2022 Selection

by Matt Russell

We are pleased to announce that the Cadet Winton event has returned to its traditional format of fencing over 2 days with an overnight stay for the fencers at Millfield School. It will take place over the weekend of 17/18 December, and Welsh Fencing have selected the following fencers for this event:

November 08, 2022

Senior Winton Cup 2022 Report

by Matt Russell

In a very hot Nottingham there was real excitement in the room as old friends were reacquainted, faced each other on the piste, danced the night away in Nottingham night clubs, and came to slightly regret it in the morning!

October 16, 2022

Commonwealth Fencing Championships 2022 Report - Cadets

by Matt Russell

Day 9 saw the start of the cadets events, and what a start it was! After some mixed results in the poules, Sameer Sunder-Rajan knocked out the no.1 seed in the L16 and then proceeded to dispatch yet more higher ranked fencers to eventually meet the GBR no.1 in the final. This was going to be a tough ask; Sameer acquitted himself admirably and came away with a well-deserved Silver medal after losing the final 6-15.

October 14, 2022

Congratulations to Euan Deamer

by Matt Russell

Congratulations to BF Referee Euan Deamer (Foil), who has passed the 2022 FIE refereeing exams held in Budapest this week.

See the British Fencing website for full details: Read More

September 29, 2022

Commonwealth Fencing Championship 2022 Reports

by Mark Ridsdale

Please follow the links below to the various Commonwealth Fencing Championship Results and Reports:

The full results are available on Engarde - Commonwealth Championships 2022

The summary report is here: Commonwealth Fencing Championships 2022 Report

The Seniors & Para report can be found here: Commonwealth Fencing Championships 2022 Report - Seniors & Para

The Junior report can be found here: Commonwealth Fencing Championships 2022 Report - Juniors

The Cadet report can be found here: Commonwealth Fencing Championships 2022 Report - Cadets

The Veteran report can be found here: Commonwealth Fencing Championships 2022 Report - Veterans

September 19, 2022

Commonwealth Fencing Championships 2022 Report - Juniors

by Matt Russell

The junior fencers arrived with a palpable sense of excitement and keenness to get going. Having seen the successes of the senior fencers, they were keen to emulate their older (& wiser?) counterparts but found a number of very talented fencers from across the Commonwealth waiting for them. Bearing in mind that there were several of our cadet fencers competing an age-group up, it was very encouraging to see so many strong performances.

In individual events, there were creditable L16 places for Erin Corcoran and Georgia Howes (JWS), Bobby Childs (JMS) and Amelie Russell (JWE).

However, in the team events, this is where Team Wales showed what we could do………

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