After over twelve months of national lockdown, Sutton Coldfield Fencing Club eventually returned! The National pandemic was the only time since it’s formation in 1957 that the club had to close its doors, nonetheless despite some issues we managed to keep the same venue we have been fencing since 1974 and since we emerged from the final lockdown we have been very busy indeed. Old faces returned to the fencing strips (Sorry Ian…pistes!!) and new faces have been seen taking lessons in the art of fencing.
In December 2023, the British Academy of Fencing President, Peter Northam came to examine some of the younger fencers taking their BAF proficiency awards, and we are pleased to acknowledge that the following fencers passed their Bronze Foil Award:
Henry Cooper, Xavier Bell, Caleb Bell, Bowen Hu, Alfie Coleman, Max Jackson, Merryn Hendrick, Alex Ashby, Cuan Dhanda, Clark Harris, Nathan Ensell, Daniel Monteiro, James Cooper, Aamir Mohammed.
Also in December a long-time member was examined for the Level 1 Epee coaching award by Peter Northam and as some of you may have noticed Oliver Bradley has now joined our coaching cadre, and from now on will be in charge of teaching beginners the rudiments of Epee. So if any of you get tired of Priority rules or fancy trying Epee for the first time please see Olly!
Despite no training in since march 2021 and much of 2022 we have managed to win some podiums over the last two few years, at County, Regional and at National Opens.
Warwickshire Age Groups:
2022 U12Women’s Foil – Bronze – Kinga Pawlowicz
2023 U14 Women’s Foil – Silver – Kinga Pawlowicz
U19 Women’s Foil – Silver – Eleanor Locke
U19 Men’s Foil – Silver – Ben Hadley
U19 Men’s Epee – Silver – Giovanni Boyvadaoglu
West Midlands Regionals:
2022 Men’s Epee – Gold – Tomas Kazik
2024 Men’s Epee – Gold – Tomas Kazik
Men’s Epee – Bronze – Charles Benke
West Midlands BYC’s:
2023 U14 Women’s Foil – Bronze – Kinga Pawlowicz
U16 Men’s Foil – Silver – Alex Laight
U16 Men’s Foil – Bronze – Ben Hadley
U16 Men’s Epee – Bronze – Giovanni Boyvadaoglu
2024 U18 Men’s Epee – Bronze – Giovanni Boyvadaoglu
U18 Men’s Foil – Bronze – Ben Hadley
U16 Women’s Foil – Bronze – Eleanor Lock
Mercia Novice Open:
2024 Men’s Foil – Gold – Ben Hadley
Shropshire Open:
2022 Men’s Epee – Bronze – Tomas Kazik
Leicester Open:
2023 Men’s Epee Gold – Tomas Kazik
Bards Bash Veteran’s Open
2023 Men’s Epee – Gold – Tomas Kazik
RAF Open
2023 Men’s Epee – Gold – Tomas Kazik
Warwick Open
2023 Men’s Epee – Silver – Tomas Kazik
Northern Youth Challenge
2023 Men’s Foil – Gold – Ben Hadley
2024 Men’s Foil – Silver – Ben Hadley
Women’s Foil – Silver – Kinga Pawlowicz
