Olympic dreams for national fencing champion

February 5, 2018

Niamh (right) and Ailsa with their national fencing medals.

A Monmouth fencer, with dreams of competing for Great Britain at the Olympics, is celebrating after winning a national title in London.

Niamh triumphed in the Under 11 Girls’ Foil section at The Independent Schools Association (ISA) National Fencing Tournament.

Niamh, a Year 6 pupil at Monmouth School Girls’ Prep, topped her pool in the round-robin stages.

She then progressed to the knockout rounds and eventually won the final 10-4 to clinch a deserved gold medal at the impressive Leon Paul Fencing Centre.

The 10-year-old took up fencing at Monmouth School Girls’ Prep three years ago and also enjoys a host of other sports, including gymnastics, trampolining, lacrosse, hockey and netball.

She said: “Fencing is a lot of fun and I would quite like to compete at a future Olympics and be involved in sports coaching when I am older. My dad, Simon, was a very good fencer when he was a teenager.”

It was also a memorable day for another promising 10-year-old fencer, Ailsa, who secured a bronze medal in the Under 11 Girls’ Foil.

Ailsa is a pupil in Year 5 and took up the sport just 12 months ago.

Elizabeth and Bethan also represented Monmouth School Girls’ Prep with pride, finishing seventh and eighth respectively, also in the Under 11 Girls’ Foil.

Niamh used to be the only pupil who fenced at Monmouth School Girls’ Prep, but the club has grown and more girls have seized the opportunity to take up the sport.

Niamh won the Under 11 Girls’ Foil at the national championships.