Sullivan Fencing Mid-Season Update
Victoria is Number One!
Congratulations to year 14 pupil Victoria Duxbury on reaching the number one spot in the Senior Irish Women’s Foil Rankings. Victoria is now a clear 50 points ahead of her nearest rival, Dublin based Portuguese fencer Joanna Ramahlo. This achievement is due to some remarkable 2013/14 competition results, including wins at the West of Ireland and North West Opens, 3rd place at the Scottish Open and 8th at the Welsh Open. On Saturday 25th January, Victoria won at the N Ireland Open in Belfast and became the first female NI fencer to win foil at our main home fencing event for 9 years.
These are deserved successes for Victoria whose remarkable dedication to her sport has set an excellent example for the younger fencers at Sullivan and has been an inspiration for young fencers across N Ireland. Victoria maintains a strict training regime including fencing and fitness training 4 days a week at Sullivan Upper Fencing Club, Belfast Fencing Club and in one-to-one training with her personal coach, ex Olympic fencer Johnny Davis. Victoria is also away numerous weekends from September to May, competing across the UK and Ireland, and most recently competing in World Junior (U20) International events in Slovakia, Poland and Croatia.
Rachel Philpott
Year 12 pupil Rachel Philpott has also set a superb example for junior fencers at Sullivan, having competed in every major Irish fencing event in the 2013/14 year so far, and having brought home either silver or bronze in every one. Bronze medals were won at the Irish Open in Dublin, NI Open in Belfast, South of Ireland in Cork and West of Ireland in Galway, and silver at the North West Open in Derry. These results have earned her 3rd place in the senior Irish women’s foil rankings, just 2 behind Victoria. She has also represented N Ireland at the 2013 Fencing Five Nations Tournament and at the Sainsbury UK School Games. Later this month she will be travelling to London to compete in the British U17 National Championships.
SU Junior Fencing
Sullivan fencers are also making an impression in junior competition. In the NI Junior Foil Series, with 3 rounds completed out of 5, Erin Maginn currently leads the U12 girls rankings, with Rosemary Adams holding 3rd. In the U12 boys Turlough Smyth also holds 3rd. In the U14 girls Ella Reid and Rachel Smyth are currently joint 3rd, while last year’s U14 girls champion Emily Maginn currently leads the U16 girls, with Iona O’Neill holding 2nd place.
David White SUFC Coach
3 February 2014