is on the upFencing
012 was a huge year for fencing in Jersey… the task now is to build upon the momentum that we have gained and take it forward through 2013 and beyond.
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By ALASTAIR CHRISTIE President, Jersey Fencing & Regent Fencing Club
Contact Details: W:
www.fencinginjersey.com E:
jerseyfencing@hotmail.co.uk T: 07797 732009
In late 2011, we were fortunate to attract the services of a fully qualified, professional coach – Gianpaolo Marini. Without a dedicated coach, it is nigh on impossible to build the base that a sport needs to develop. That means having a qualified representative to go into schools, do ‘taster sessions’ and run novice classes. Gianpaolo has been able to get that work well underway, offering fencing as an activity in primary schools and also running beginner’s courses up at Fort Regent on Wednesday evenings. Gianpaolo has also been busy with the coaching of our more experienced fencers and putting into place their training and competition schedules.
Also, in February 2012 we were proud to host the Commonwealth Junior Fencing Championships, organised by the Secretary of Jersey Fencing (the governing body of our sport in Jersey), Martha Bernstein. Over two hundred competitors from fourteen nations, such as
Malaysia, India, Australia, South Africa, as well as our home nations, gathered at Fort Regent to fight with the three modern fencing weapons - the foil, sabre and epee. The standard of
competition was world class, with future Olympians undoubtedly amongst the participants. The event certainly served to showcase our sport and created plenty of interest.
The year 2013 is one of building upon the foundations of the previous year. We have an active club in Regent Fencing Club that meets most Tuesdays and many fencers train additionally at school or through private lessons. Through simply communicating with our fencers we are building much more of a fencing ‘community’ and with that a solid team of fencers of varying ages that we are assisting to identify and attend relevant training camps and competitions. Most of the competitions are in the UK, but if you look to the south you find a nation almost obsessed with fencing, and plenty of clubs and competitions taking place within an hour or so of St. Malo. In late 2014 we have the Commonwealth Fencing Championships being held in Glasgow. A good number of
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fencers have expressed an interest in competing at this event, but in order to be selected to represent Jersey, fencers have to commit to training and competing regularly.
Drawing up selection criteria for the Commonwealths has been the first step towards formalising a general development structure that we can take forward. In this process we are talking to such organisations as the One Foundation and looking at long term athlete development programs such as that drawn up by the Canadian Fencing Federation to see what we can learn and use here in Jersey. Guernsey Fencing can also provide significant inspiration since they have had an enviable fencing infrastructure in place for some time now.
Like most sports in Jersey, fencing has had its ups and downs. One thing that is clear is that fencing in Jersey is very much on the up at the moment. There is much to do, but, who knows, maybe we have a future fencing champion amongst us now.
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