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Fencing Success
The Wirral Globe reports on the success of The Mosslands School fencing club
Article from the Wirral Globe 22/01/14 by Craig Manning
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YOUNG fencers from Mosslands School in Wallasey have proved their sabre-rattling prowess with success in national competitions.
Wirral Globe: Pictured from left: Nathan Jones, Jack Roberts, Thomas Kitto and Charlie Campbell
Pictured from left: Nathan Jones, Jack Roberts, Thomas Kitto and Charlie Campbell
The school, which launched a fencing club six years ago, has its first nationally-ranked senior fencer in Charlie Campbell, who at the age of 15 has broken into the UK men’s sabre rankings.
Charlie – a specialist sabre fencer who competes across the UK – is in good company at The Mosslands School, which is one of the only state schools in the region to run a fencing club.
Students Thomas Kitto, 17, and Jack Roberts, 15, came first and fifth respectively at the British Fencing Association’s Northwich U17s 'Epee' competition recently and both have had a number of open competition finishes just outside of ranking position.
Jack has also been selected for the North West team for the cadet Winton Cup in Somerset in April – a competition involving fencers from nine regions.
The Mosslands School teacher Paul Woodward, who runs the fencing club, said: "Although it's quite an unusual sport, fencing has really taken off here.
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"Charlie’s achievement to be ranked in the seniors is fantastic and we have a number of other very talented students who are just outside national rankings at the moment.
"When we started the club there were only eight fencers, but now there are more than 50 students who get involved.
"We run both epee and sabre classes and have just finished the school open fencing competitions, which were won by Jack Roberts (epee) and Charlie Campbell (sabre).
"Thomas, Jack and Charlie will also be representing The Mosslands at the British Schools Team Championships in Kent in March.
"We have a very good foil fencer in Nathan Jones, who practices at Wirral Fencing Club, and one of our former students and school champions, Elliott Kenny, has been selected for the UCLAN first team.
"Fencing is such an easily accessible sport and we supply most of the equipment for the students.
"We have students of every age, from year seven up to the Sixth Form, and the more experienced fencers enjoy coaching the younger ones.
"It has proved so popular that we are now linking up with coaches from the University of Liverpool Fencing Club to launch evening classes.
"These will be accessible for the local community as well as our students and we would encourage anyone who is interested to come along and give it a try."
Open fencing classes are taking place at The Mosslands School each Thursday from 8pm to 10pm. For more information email Paul Woodward at paulwoodward@mosslands.wirral.sch.uk