Olympic fencing arrives at Packwood

23rd November, 2011

Following the successful fundraising efforts of parents and pupils, Packwood fencing club now has a state-of-the-art fencing piste. The 14 metre long aluminium piste is the strip on which the fencing bout takes place and is identical to those that will be used at the London Olympics next year.

Fencing continues to be very popular and the club sessions are always fully subscribed with 50 children taking part regularly. We have recently learnt that former pupil, Keishi O, has been selected to fence for Japan and so becomes the club alumni’s first international fencer. Three other former pupils aiming high are all now Captains of Fencing at their senior schools – Moreton Hall, Shrewsbury School and Millfield in Somerset.

The piste was officially unveiled on Tuesday evening by Old Packwoodian and last year’s Captain of Fencing, Fran H, who was the driving force behind fundraising to buy the new equipment.

This Sunday (27th November) Packwood hosts a national junior fencing tournament. There are currently over 150 entries from schools and clubs as far afield as Plymouth and Newcastle-upon-Tyne and it will be the biggest Under 9 and Under 11 event of its kind in the UK, and the third biggest Under 13 and Under 15 after the Nationals and a similar competition in Warwick.

Fencing coach, Nick Weston said “We are looking forward to hosting the Leon Paul Junior Series event this weekend and to using our brand new piste in competition. All current – and future, Packwood fencers will benefit greatly from having this outstanding new piece of equipment enabling us to train for national and international level competitions. On their behalf I would like to thank everyone – and especially Fran – for their generous donations.”

When the piste arrived at Packwood, Mr Weston asked the delivery lorry if Packwood was his only delivery of the day and he replied, “I dropped five off at the Olympic Test venue this morning and you are the sixth!”