Salle Lawrence Fencing Club have just celebrated their first birthday and are going from strength to strength. At the end of each school term coach Rhiannon Lawrence runs a team event for the schools she teaches in. Over the last few terms Rhiannon has only taught the weapon Epee at schools but this term due to the increased demand of fencing within the city she has taken on 4 new classes and these new groups have been learning to fence foil. So this term there has been a Salle Lawrence Inter-school Foil event and a Salle Lawrence Inter-school Epee Event.
Foil is a lighter weapon which makes it easier for younger children to wield, however only the torso is a target and fencers have to gain ‘priority’ in order to score a hit. Epee is a much heavier weapon so Rhiannon aims it older children. The rules are much simpler for epee though, the target area is anywhere on your opponent and whoever hits first scores the hit. Both weapons at top national and international level are as complex and difficult to master. Rhiannon has only decided which class will do which weapon based on either the class numbers or the age of the youngest child in the class.
The school foil event was held on Monday 29th March at Compton C.E Primary School. There were 4 schools who took part: Goosewell Primary school, Marlborough Primary School, Kings School + Nursery and Compton C.E Primary School. The children’s ages ranged from year 3’s to year 6’s and all children fenced extremely hard. They were brilliant team players and supported each other both when they were fencing and getting onto and off the electrics. Rhiannon was particularly pleased at the grasp of knowledge of foil rules and was delighted to hear the children explaining to their parents who got the hit and why using fencing terminology. Marlborough Primary School beat all 3 of the schools in the team matches to finish first, King’s School + Nursery lost only to Marlborough to place 2nd which left Goosewell Primary School and Compton C.E Primary School finishing in joint third. Fencing for Marlborough were Tristan, Aidan, Luke and Jacob. For Kings School were Brandon, Finn, Charlie, Nick and Ben. For Goosewell were Emma, Robert, Alex and Jacob and for Compton were Nicola, Finn, Alfie and Nyah.
On Wednesday 31st March the Epee event was held also at Compton C.E Primary School. 3 schools had to fight it out and they were Compton, Goosewell and Kings School + Nursery. Compton C.E are the reigning champions and have held the title over both the previous two events. This time was no exception as they first defeated Kings School and Nursery and then narrowly Goosewell Primary School to take the title and trophy again. Goosewell finished second by beating Kings School + Nursery and pushing them into 3rd. The children had a brilliant time and were all very pleased to be representing their school at such an exciting event. Fencing for Compton C.E Primary were Euan, Giles, Olivia and Mide. For Goosewell Primary were Jerome, James, Amelia and Tom and for Kings School + Nursery Sophie, Hannah and Eleanor.
All the children received medals at both events and the winning school for each get to take a trophy back to school which they will hold on to until the end of the Summer term when they will be fought for again. Rhiannon was really pleased with the effort all fencers showed throughout the 2 days in the support for each other and from parents and teaching staff that accompanied their schools. A big thank you to Compton C.E School for being wonderful hosts at both events! The events have been a huge success and all the children are eager to start their fencing lessons next term in the hope that they qualify to fence for their school in the Summer tournament.
For more photos of the team match's please visit Album 12 on our Gallery page under the News tab or alternatively click here.
