School gives students the chance to take part in fencing lessons
An army of fencing masters are set to emerge from the Fylde coast after scores of children took part in new lessons.
Children at Our Lady Star of the Sea, Mayfield and Clifton in St Annes, have been given the chance to raise a foil in the Olympic sport.
Fencing Education has brought classes to the schools – and soon to Hall Park in Lytham – in a bid to get more young people interested in the sport, one of just three to have appeared at every modern Olympics.
And the sport has proved popular with pupils at Clifton Primary.
Charlie Cash, seven, said: “I’ve never done fencing in my life before.
“It’s really good because it gets you nice and strong and helps you balance.
“I think more people should do it then they get fit and healthy.”
Corey Johnson, seven, added: “I really like it. And I like trying out new fencing moves.
“I train for it at home before my lesson.”
Clifton Primary headteacher Rachel Legge said the little ones had taken the sport to their hearts.
She added: “We are trying to provide our children with a wide range of sporting opportunities in order to ignite excitement and enjoyment so that our children will have a passion for sport and healthy lifestyles.
“The fencing club is well run and the children have learned so much already including discipline, motivation and various techniques.
“The company we are using are starting a club within the local community and we are hoping that now our children have had a taste of fencing that they will pursue it further outside of school.”
Antony Pemberton from Fencing Education, running the sessions, said: “Olympic fencing increases concentration, confidence, discipline, respect and general health and fitness.
“The children are learning the basics of foil fencing.
“It’s great because often, if a child isn’t good at the likes of rugby or football, it can put them off all sport, but when they pick up a fencing foil they really enjoy it.
“We have started an evening club in the area and hopefully these sessions in the schools will also help act as feeder sessions for it.
“We’ve gone from having none to around 30 per week and we ae looking to expand the club to older children and adults as well.
The weekly fencing session takes place at Mayfield School, St Leonard’s Road East, St Annes, on Tuesday nights from 5.45 to 7.15pm. Call antonyu on 07738408731 for details.