We are almost at the end of the season and the summer holidays already beckon. However before the school term ends, the club has decided to end the year with the presentation of a new fencing award: The Tunnicliffe Technical Award. The Committee decided that it was necessary to make an award for the junior section for those aged 8-13 who may not always have the opportunity to compete.
The award does not necessarily go to the strongest club fencer in the junior section, nor the individual who has won the most medals in youth competitions. Rather what we are looking for is the young fencer who has shown the most consistent technical improvement in their fencing over the months, whose efforts not only raise their game but those of the club as a whole.
After much discussion amongst those who teach the youth section, half a dozen names were put forward. But the name that came up often was Max Jackson, who over the last 9 months has put a lot of effort in his fencing surprising the instructors with hi, s tenacity, developing excellent timing particularly with compound attacks, and general cheerful demeanor. Well done Max! You are SCFC’s first ever Tunnicliffe award winner!
The award was kindly presented by Martin Tunnicliffe, who was not only formerly the Vicar of Shard End , but also one of British Fencing’s earliest national coach scheme graduates under Bob Anderson’s Lilleshall course way back in 1955 alongside Sutton Coldfield’s first own instructor John Harding.
Lilleshall Course 1955 – Martin Tunnicliffe – 1st Left back row. John Harding – Back Row 2nd from right. Prof. Bob Anderson, Choreographer to the stars and Darth Vader(!) – 5th from left front row.
He was one of Keele University’s Fencing Club founder members and while studying in Paris took lessons from the great Professor Roger Crosnier, and went on to become the first Staffordshire County Men’s foil Champion in 1956. As you can see in the video link he was and adroit and technical fencer, the perfect person to present this award. Take note max!
(Incidentally the weird footwork at the start is a loose screw under his rear shoe he was trying to shake off! Not some ancient form of ballestra!)
When he followed in his fathers footsteps in the Church he still found time to become our club President in 1962 and provided the club with a new location to fence in when it lost its original venue when the club hit financial straights. Indeed if it wasn’t for Martin, today there may be no club.
Our warmest thanks to Martin for coming down and presenting the award and congratulations once again to Max for winning the trophy.
GFM