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Elgin Duellist Fencing Club ends 2020 on a high with double award nomination


By Jonathan Clark

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Elgin Duellist Fencing Club finished 2020 on a high, with two club members being shortlisted at the Scottish Fencing Awards.

Rebecca Gilchrist (17) and Callum Sutherland (22) were shortlisted for awards.

Elgin duellist Rebecca Gilchrist.
Elgin duellist Rebecca Gilchrist.

Rebecca was commended in the Roger Crosnier Best Performance Awards Category. Her nomination was in recognition of the multiple chronic illnesses she has overcome to fence and compete in the Highland Open for the first time in 2019.

Rebecca said: “Taking part in sports is difficult for me since my joints regularly dislocate, and my muscles do not work the way they should. I do indoor climbing at Team GB level, and have wanted to fence for a long time, so I am very happy that I have finally got to do it.

“Elgin Duellist Fencing Club is absolutely brilliant and everyone is so friendly. This was my first competition, and it was a terrific experience.

“Fencing has helped to strengthen my legs and uses different muscles to climbing. I absolutely love fencing and I’m so glad I started it.”

Winning the Roger Crosnier Quaich for Performance was Elgin duellist coach Callum Sutherland (22) who, as a member of the Senior Scottish Epee Team, helped his country beat England to win the Five Nation Trophy in 2019.

This was the first time in 20 years that Scotland had won the Men’s Epee Team title.

The awards provided a positive end to a demanding 2020 for the club, which has felt the effects of coronavirus as much as most local sports teams.

Head coach Robin Paterson said: “There has been a long-running joke that fencing is the perfect Covid sport, since we always have to wear masks and protective clothing, but this is far the from truth.

“Because we are a contact sport, similar to martial arts, there is a very small, but relatively higher risk than non-contact sports of cross-infection, and this has presented some particular challenges for our sport."

Luckily, he group have managed to meet outdoors, at Cooper Park, and have found a variety of other ways to overcome these challenges.

In November, after six-month break, Elgin Duellist Fencing Club was able to resume fencing by offering two weekly sessions.

On Thursday nights, under 18 fencers were able to return to Elgin High School, while fencers aged over 18 started outdoor sessions on Saturday mornings at Cooper Park.

Elgin Duellist Fencing Club in action outdoors at Cooper Park.
Elgin Duellist Fencing Club in action outdoors at Cooper Park.

Mr Paterson added: "Coaches were able to adapt our training sessions to meet our governing body requirements. We are amazed how resilient and adaptable our young fencers are to these new restrictions.

"We are grateful to the Moray Council’s Lands and Parks Section in allowing us to use the ground under the trees next to Grant Lodge and we are delighted with how well these sessions have gone with only one week being missed due to poor weather.

"After covid is beaten and normal life resumes, we would like to continue with these outdoor sessions.

"As we look forward to 2021, the good news is that the combined participant numbers for our indoor and outdoor sessions have largely remained at pre-covid levels.

"This will provide a good basis for welcoming new members to the club when we are in a position to do so in 2021."


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