Latest News

  • NI Junior Foil Series Rankings Announcement

    NI Junior Foil Series Rankings Announcement

    As you all know the year end NIJFS awards in each age group are given on the basis of the best 5 out of 6 results in the series. This year it has become problematic, looking at the Calendar we are unable to reschedule the 5th Competition which was cancelled due to snow.

     

    The NIF board has considered the different options available with the primary rationale to award the trophies in as fair a way as possible. As is always the way with these things there is no totally fair way to have an alternate scoring system after competitions have started, but we have taken the decision that the best and fairest way to allocate the prizes will be on the results from all 5 competitions that will run this year.

     

    Can I thank you for your understanding, I can assure you that considerable time and discussion went into making this final decision and as always fairness to the children was the final arbiter.

    Davy

    David Connery

    Managing Director

  • Johnny Davis: Foil Weapon Manager Role

    Johnny Davis: Foil Weapon Manager Role

    On top of his appointment as a selector for the British Senior Men’s and Women’s Foil Teams for the 2017/18 season, Johnny Davis will also be taking on a role as one of two Foil Weapon Managers for British Fencing.  The Weapons Manager is a key role in the development of performance strategy and welfare of the national squads and NI Fencing would like to take this opportinity to congratulate Johnny on this addition to his impressive Fencing resume!

    Johnny had this to say on his new role;

    I am very pleased and honoured to have been asked to take on this role of Foil Weapon Manager for British Fencing. As well as continuing my role as a Selector I will be working with the coaches and athletes in order to maximise the potential of both Men’s and Women’s  Foil  across the Cadet, Junior and Senior categories and exploring how we can best help to develop a World Class environment which will yield International results

     

    You can read the British Fencing announcement here

  • Competitions Criteria

    Competitions Criteria

    NI Fencing Ltd have updated the Criteria for hosting NIF Competions.  This criteria covers all official NIF Competitions including Senior competitions and the Junior Foil Series.  Please read the Hosting Criteria here to ensure that your club meets all the requirements for hosting competitions from now on.

  • Johnny Davis: British Senior Foil Team Selector

    Johnny Davis: British Senior Foil Team Selector

    Johnny Davis, who has represented Team GB at 2 Olympic Games and 5 World Championships, has been appointed by British Fencing as a selector for the British Senior Men’s and Women’s Foil Teams for the 2017 / 18 season. He will be involved in the selection of fencers for all levels of Senior International Competition including the European and World Championships.

     Johnny commented “ I am honoured to have been asked to be a selector by British Fencing and I look forward to working with the fencers and coaches to help them achieve International success. I hope to be able to use my experience from representing GB over 15 years to help the fencers achieve their ambitions”

    NI Fencing would like to congratulate Johnny on this appointment and welcome it a great acknowledgement of his contribution to British fencing generally and the work he’s done for fencing in NI

  • Mike Westgate: BFA Lifetime Achievement award

    Mike Westgate: BFA Lifetime Achievement award

    On Saturday 1st July NI Fencing Performance Director Mike Westgate was awarded the Lifetime Achievement at the British Fencing Awards Dinner held at the University of Nottingham.

    Mike started fencing when still at school in Great Yarmouth in 1954. He fenced in a number of competitions in England but had a serious knee injury playing football which finished his competitive career. In 1966 he gained his first coaching award and coached at his school and in the evenings at clubs. Mike coached the England Schools team and later the British Junior Epee team. He also helped the Foil National Coach with the Senior squad weekly training sessions.

    In 1977 he was invited to help with the training of Northern Ireland fencers and coaches. This involved traveling to Northern Ireland at least for six weekends a year. Later he became part-time National Coach. In 2000 Mike moved over to Northern Ireland and now lives in Drumahoe. He coaches at Foyle Fencing Club, Queens University, Ulster University as well as visiting clubs throughout the Province.

    The award was given for the work done and his achievements over the years. He has attended European and World Championships at both Junior and Senior level since 1980 as a coach to Great Britain and to Ireland. In 1980 he attended the Moscow Olympic Games as a coach to the Irish Modern Pentathlon team.

    It is difficult to point out the highlights of my coaching career. There have been so many and I have been fortunate to have the pleasure of working with so many talented people. Perhaps in Northern Ireland seeing the first fencer to qualify for the Olympics, the first home-based fencer to qualify for a World Championship, win a British title or a medal in a Junior World Cup.

    I feel that I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach and work with so many talented people. To be presented with this award is the highlight of my career which makes me feel both humble and proud.

     

    NI Fencing would like to extend their congratulations to Mike on this great achievement and thank him for all his hard work over the years.

  • 2017 School Games

    2017 School Games

    The team for this year’s School Games is as follows:

    Women’s Foil Men’s Foil Women’s Epee Men’s Epee Women’s Sabre Men’s Sabre
    Sarah Shaw Robbie Cockburn Charlotte Slater Paul Verdon Beth Taylor Kieran Dowse
    Catherine McConvey Daniel Sigurdsson Eve Megaw Michael Thompson Ciara Cormican Ross Patton
    Orla McGinnity Luke Wallace Zoe Peden William Girvin Emma Jane McLaughlin Christian Hegarty
    Team Officials: Andy Murphy. Brian Murray. Rachel Philpott. Lydia Roets

    Congratulations to everyone!

     

    To find out more information about the School Games the website is:
    http://schoolgamesfinals.org/home

    Or to follow the action on Social Media:

    Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/_SchoolGames

  • New Selectors Board

    New Selectors Board

    As of May 2017 there is a new Board of Selectors for NI Fencing:

     

    The new selectors are:

     

    David Burnside (Epee)

    David Downey (Sabre)

    Peter Brown (Foil)

     

    With Sandra Martin and Mike Westgate as Joint Co-ordinators

     

    Congratulations everyone on your new Positions!

     

     

  • Northern Ireland Fencing Selectors Board

    Northern Ireland Fencing Selectors Board

    NI Fencing Ltd. would like an expression of interest from anyone wishing to be considered for a position on the Northern Ireland Fencing Selectors Board, for full information on how to apply please see the Positions Vacant page

  • Historical Abuse Cases

    Historical Abuse Cases

    While NI Fencing ltd, in its current iteration, has no connection with the previous entity’s which existed in its place, the board, the coaches and clubs take all allegations of abuse very seriously.   In light of the recent revelations in football around historical abuse claims NIF would like to re-iterate its commitment to the safeguarding of all children and vulnerable young people who participate in our sport. 

    To that end, we would like to draw attention to the child protection policies and disclosure procedures available on the NIF website. 

    Any disclosures which may predate the existence of NI Fencing Ltd can still be made via these procedures, and will be handled in line with policy, and in connection with the PSNI, as allegations of abuse are an operational police matter. 

    We advise all clubs to ensure that there are no outstanding/unexamined disclosures and to seek assistance from NIF, Sport NI, or the NSPCC to complete all necessary due diligence on any outstanding case.  It is the duty of every club, and the right of every disclosing child, to have their claims taken seriously and duly examined. 

    The NSPCC has set up a hotline, which anyone can call if they want to talk to someone in confidence. The number is 0800 023 2642.