A Grand Day Out.
Shown here "relaxing" between bouts are Touché Fencing clubs coaching staff. Jacques, on the left was competing in the Age group qualifiers for the World Veterans Fencing Championship. Jacques said: "It was fantastic to have two great coaches encouraging me from the side of the piste. It really helped me concentrate, and gave me confidence in my ability".
Hilary and Baldip are the founders of Touché Fencing Club and currently are national squad coaches for the British Wheelchair Fencing Squad.
Time for a competition round-up!It has been a busy Summer for some of Touché's fencers.
Jacques Portal competed for Great Britain in the European Veterans Championships
held in Hénin-Beaumont, France; knocked out in the DE by the current World No2. More recently in the Crystal and Shropshire Opens and, once again,
wheezed to a Bronze medal in The Northamptonshire County Championships.
Meanwhile Gaby Down has had great success with a Gold Medal at the Sainsbury's Student Games.
A press release gives the gist of the event.
Sainsbury’s
UK School Games 2011
English
Institute of Sport, Sheffield
Day
1: Friday 2nd September
It’s been a very successful first day
at the Sainsbury’s UK School Games. This has been the first year in which
wheelchair fencing has featured at the Games, with six fencers from England
competing in a mixed foil event. It is not only fantastic to see the Games
expanding in such a way, but it has also been a very beneficial experience for
everyone else involved in the Games, many of whom have never seen wheelchair
fencing before. The poule results saw Gabby Down ranked first with 5/5
victories, and Piers Gilliver ranked second with 4/5.
Day 2
It’s been a day full of drama and excitement at the Sainsbury’s
UK School Games. In the mixed wheelchair foil, 3rd seed Dmitri
Coutya (England) was narrowly edged out by 2nd seed Piers Gilliver
(England), 15-14 in the semi-final. However, 1st seed Gaby Down
(England) was in fine form all day, overcoming 4th seed Justine
Moore (England) 15-7 in the other semi-final before defeating Gilliver 15-2 to
take the gold medal and thus become the first ever UK School Games wheelchair
fencing champion.
Well done Gaby!Gaby is now at the Wheelchair Fencing World Championships accompanied by
Coaches Hilary and Baldip. More news as it becomes available...
More medals for Touché at East Midlands Team competitionAnother good year for the club saw the last competition of the season bring some good performances from our A team, Touché Titans.
Finishing second with a silver medal Touché Titans
(left to right Nick Ashminal, Sam Ward and Ollie Smith)
Touché Fencers Bag Brace of Bronzes!Forgive the alliteration but Touché Fencing Club are delighted to announce the fantastic results at this years Northamptonshire County Fencing Championship.
Both Jacques Portal and Ollie Smith fought well against strong opposition to gain 3rd place and bronze medals, Ollie missing out on a final place by just one hit.
Jacques who fenced in the Foil competition said "I am really pleased to get a medal after several years of trying, I put my success down to the patience and effort of our club coaches
Hilary and Baldip."
Ollie had a tough competition with 2 Nationally ranked Sabreurs taking first and second spot but fought well to achieve his bronze.
Touché's Dynamic Duo!
Jacques Portal (left) and Ollie Smith.
TOUCHÉ FENCER DOES IT AGAIN!
In form fencer Ollie Smith triumphed at the Bedfordshire County Championships. Following on from his success in the East Midlands Team Competition where he won the Sabre, Ollie put together a series of fantastic fights to grab the trophies.
The competition organised and run by Luton Sword saw Ollie comfortably dispose of past champion Darren Tee from Bedford FC in the Sabre to win the gold medal. In addition he won Bronze in the foil and finished fourth in the Epée.
This meant that he was tied for the Master at Arms title with Adam Hislop also from Bedford FC. The Master at Arms shield is awarded to the fencer who performs best at all three weapons on the day. An Epée fence off decided the outcome with Ollie the victor by a single point.
Touché FC would like to thank Luton Sword for their friendly welcome and hospitality, we look forward to more fight nights in the coming team matches.
Touché Fencing Club scoop medals at East Midlands Team Competition
Above are the victorious teams from Touché Fencing Club
Left to right: James Hume, Adrian Webb, Jacques Portal, Ollie Smith, George Watkins and Nick Ashminall