On April 25th we took part in our first ever fencing fixture when we travelled to Godolphin & Latymer for a friendly match. NHEHS was represented by two teams, each with three fencers each – one consisting of three Year 7s, and one of Year 8, Year 9 and a Year 10.  

We asked Year 9 and team member Anna J about this NHEHS first and about why fencing is a great sport:

How long have you been fencing for?

I have been fencing consistently for around three years but I first ever started fencing when I was seven.

Do you practise outside of school?

There is a lunchtime Fencing club every Tuesday  at school. I also train with St. Benedict’s on Saturdays but I also play for a local fencing club called Saxons Fencing Club, running Thursdays 7pm-10pm at Twyford. All are welcome but there is a small guest fee to pay.

How many fencers were there in the team? And which year groups?

We had 2 teams, each with 3 fencers each. We had a team of 3 Year 7s, and my team which consisted of a Year 8, Year 9 (me) and a Year 10.

How did your matches go?

We lost both matches (22-27 and 20-27), but they were played in a specific way, called team matches, where all point are accumulated and one person can end up winning the entire match for their team.

How does fencing differ from other sports you do?

It requires a lot of stamina and technique in order to be able to move the blade quickly and efficiently. There are A LOT of different attacks and defensive moves and predicting your opponent’s next move is a key feature in my eyes.

Why do you enjoy it?

You definitely get a rush of adrenaline when fighting and there are some REALLY good players and it can give a huge sense of accomplishment when you win or score a point. Every single player has their own style and technique, so you really need to pay close attention and closely apply certain moves if you know that’s going to throw them off, or successfully block their move.

What’s the hardest and most fun thing about it?

Probably the hardest part of fencing is maybe learning that you will get hurt (and it really can!) but also overcoming that mental block of the fear of the blade, or getting hurt is one I’ve experienced and had to help others overcome. There is also a lot of frustration when it seems you are trying everything, but nothing is actually working while fighting and knowing that you probably should have won can be one of the worst parts of fencing. One thing I love, especially among girls, is that everyone can relate to each other in terms of training, fighting and I often see kids helping each other with warm-ups, tips or just cheering each other on during matches.

What would you say to someone who might be thinking about giving fencing a try?

Give it a go! The people are great and often SUPER helpful and nice. You will hardly ever be the ONLY beginner and usually at clubs, everyone will be really supportive and helpful when you start out, giving you quick lessons, just sparring with you so you get in experience, etc