The Challenge Update

Great news! I’ve just been told I've been put on to the World Class Programme for British Fencing!  This means that as well as the fantastic help I receive from the Royal British Legion’s Women’s Section, I will also have access to a range of support staff including physiotherapists and strength and conditioning coaches. It also confirms my prospects as a future candidate for the Olympic Games....!

I recently attended my first senior European Championships which were held in Sheffield. Although I wanted to get a good result, I also treated it as a learning experience for future major Championships and Olympic Games. The first round went well - I won four out my six poule fights beating top fencers such as Vergne (FRA) and Pundyk (UKR). I then had a bye through the Last 64 round and unfortunately drew my team mate Chrystall Nicoll in the Last 32. It was a close fight and we were trading hit for hit until her experience as a fencer just allowed her to pull through and win 15-13. I am hoping to build on this performance and think that it bodes well for future competitions.

I have also been selected for the Senior World Championships which are being held in Catania, Sicily, this October. It is a fantastic honour to be selected to compete for my country at such a high level and I just want to keep developing as a fencer and improving on these positive results.

As I write this, I am ranked third in the senior British women’s sabre rankings. I am back in Cornwall, training hard and we are currently working on building our fitness and strength before getting back into intense fencing training.