Club Project Fund - Dunedin Fencing Club

Pride Fencing Manual

As part of the last round of the Club Project Fund, Scottish Fencing provided funding to Dunedin Fencing Club for them to produce a Pride Fencing Manual. As a club, they have been organising and running a Pride focused fencing group and wanted to produce something that could be shared with the fencing community in Scotland and beyond. This manual aims to give a starter for ten for any clubs considering exploring reaching out to different groups in their community to try fencing.

“Dunedin Fencing Club, in Edinburgh, has been running a vibrant and enjoyable Pride focused fencing group for a number of years. With the benefit of funding from Scottish Fencing, some of the coaches and participants in that group were able to draw their experiences of organising the group and their beginners courses together into a manual so as to provide support and guidance to others. It draws on the Club's organisation of beginners courses aimed at the Pride community as well as the building of a longer-term sustainable community of fencers as a result of these courses.The manual provides helpful matters to think about when organising a Pride focused fencing group as well as a template for a beginners course if people want to start such a group for themselves. The Club, its coaches and the members of the Pride Fencing group hope this provides an inspiration for others to organise similar groups.” - Fergus White, Dunedin Fencing Club.

The Pride Fencing Manual is available on the Dunedin Fencing Club website here: Pride Fencing Manual. The manual is released under an open document licence so that others can freely share and adapt it.
Dunedin Fencing Club welcomes any further feedback on the manual and would love to hear from any groups who end up using it.

New Staff Announcement

Following a competitive recruitment process, Scottish Fencing are delighted to announce the appointment of Emma Bowman and Fiona Hetherington as Scottish Fencing’s new Operations Assistants.

Emma and Fiona succeed Liz Anderson on a job share basis, bringing rich administrative and operational experience from varied careers in the military, police, education, events and heritage sectors.

Upon appointment, Emma said: “I am delighted to have been successfully selected for this role alongside Fiona. I am excited to become part of the Scottish Fencing team as Operations Assistant and look forward to contributing to a sport my family is already deeply connected to.”

And Fiona said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be joining Scottish Fencing along with Emma. Having been part of this community as a parent, a volunteer, and a welfare officer, I know how much passion and dedication drives this sport in Scotland. I look forward to bringing the same care and commitment to the operations team and to supporting Scottish Fencing’s ambitions for the sport.”

Lorna Callan, Scottish Fencing’s Partnership Manager with Sportscotland, who was on the interview panel remarked: “I am delighted that Emma Bowman and Fiona Hetherington have been appointed to fulfil the Operations Assistant vacancy on a job share basis. This forward and inclusive way of working is giving Fencing Scotland two experienced individuals with extensive experience and knowledge. I see this as a win-win situation, as fencing is gaining from the experience of two very capable individuals. I am sure they will bring a lot to the fencing staffing team, and I look forward to working with them.”

Chair, Sam McLellan commented: “I am really pleased to welcome Fiona and Emma to their posts. They will play a critical role at an exciting time for our organisation, as we expand our events offering and outreach activities, as well as deepen the development opportunities available to our members and clubs. Welcome, Emma and Fiona!”

Emma and Fiona will start at Scottish Fencing in mid-July.

Scottish Schools Championships 2026

Congratulations to everyone who has taken part in the Scottish Schools Championships 2026! A huge thank you for all the volunteers, referees, DT, armourer, parents and young people for making this a successful event.

The full list of results are below:

Under 14 Girls

Master at Arms - Tiffany Luce

Foil

1st Penelope Viola Boroughmuir
2nd Isabelle Barnes Dollar
3rd Tiffany Luce

Sabre

1st Alannah Stanfield George Watsons
2nd Tiffany Luce
3rd Jess Small Alva Academy

Epee

1st Laura Monares
2nd Sarah Holwell
3rd Tiffany Luce

Under 16 Girls

Master at Arms -

Foil

1st Olivia Zhang George Heriot
2nd Alix Waugh

Sabre

1st Emily Oliver Geroge Watsons
2nd Maggie Cooper George Watsons
3rd Ainara Vaughan Perth HS
3rd Tabitha Lesso Geroge Watsons

Epee

1st Emily Oliver George Watsons
2nd Amelia Rodzoch
3rd Lottie Robertson
3rd Vlada Kyselov

Under 18 Girls

Master at Arms - Alexia Hardie St Georges School

Foil

1st Alexia Hardie St Georges School
2nd Penny McLearon Dunblane
3rd Isobel Cotton Balfron
3rd Lucy Sanders George Watsons

Sabre

1st Eva Richards Stirling High
2nd Alexia Hardie St Georges School

Epee

1st Alexia Hardie St Georges School
2nd Winsy Siu Wing
3rd Lucy Sanders George Watsons

Under 14 Boys

Master at Arms - Ruban Day Crieff

Foil

1st Hector MacDonald Dunblane
2nd Eleftherios Papanicolopulos Boroughmuir
3rd Euan Shaw Craigmount
3rd Ruban Day Crieff

Sabre

1st Harry Bowman Bertha Park
2nd Adam Broad Auchterader
3rd Jack Denyer
3rd Barnaby Grimm-Vicze

Epee

1st Lucas Cerny
2nd Danylo Kyselov
3rd Ruben Day Crieff
3rd Jack Bailey

Under 16 Boys

Master at Arms - Daniel Kelly Woodmill

Foil

1st Daniel Kelly Woodmill 
2nd Alex Pearson Trinity
3rd Adrian Costas Royal High 3rd 
Thomas Pepper Broughton High

Sabre

1st Veer Champaneria Strathallan
2nd Charlie Furness-Smith Gordonstoun
3rd Archie Graham Perth HS
3rd Daniel Kelly Woodmill

Epee

1st Elliot Weir
2nd Jonathan Macdonald
3rd Evan Romans
3rd Daniel Kelly Woodmill

Under 18 Boys

Master at Arms - Rio Wan Stewart Melville

Foil

1st Rio Wan Stewart Melville

Sabre

1st Miller Sutherland Stirling High School
2nd Rio Wan Stewart Melville

Epee

1st Cailean Stewart
2nd Rio Wan Stewart Melville
3rd Pantelimon Ladas

Schools Championship - George Watsons

Staff Vacancy - Operations Assistant

We are seeking a highly organised and proactive Administrator to provide essential support across our operations. This role is central to ensuring the smooth running of day‑to‑day activities, maintaining accurate records, and enabling colleagues to work efficiently. The ideal candidate will be detail‑focused, confident communicating with a range of stakeholders, and comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.

The job description for the Operations Assistant role at Scottish Fencing can be found using the link below.

2026 OA JD

If your interested in applying for this job, please download and complete the following forms below:

SF Application Form
Equality Monitoring Form

Please send your your SF Application Form and Equality Monitoring Form marked PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL - OPERATIONS ASSISTANT to admin@scottish-fencing.com

The closing date for applications is Friday 8th May 2026 at 1800.

Election of Directors 2026

Scottish Fencing needs nominations from the membership for two positions on its Board as Elected Directors. One of the positions will be Director of Finance.   If you want to contribute and make a difference to the leadership of Scottish Fencing, please step forward now. 

In order to stand please return a completed Proposal Form, with the support of at least five members of Scottish Fencing, by 1800 Friday 8th May 2026.  Nominees must be current members. 

Click here for the Proposal Form. 

Submitted Proposal Forms will be published on the Scottish Fencing website as soon as they are validated.  An election will be held if more than two valid nominations are received by the deadline. 

The Board comprises Elected and Independent Directors.  Elected Directors serve a four-year term.  Its role is to provide strategic leadership for fencing in Scotland, to oversee the activities of Scottish Fencing's staff and volunteers, to maintain its ethical standards and legal obligations, and to safeguard the mental and physical well-being of everyone fencing here.   

If you would like to find out more you can speak to Scottish Fencing’s current Chair, Sam McLellan, the Vice Chair, Gregor MacCallum, or any of the current Board – email gregor.maccallum@scottish-fencing.com to arrange a call back.

You can read a description of the directors’ roles here https://www.scottish-fencing.com/s/20221201-Directors-roles-and-portfolios-updated.pdf. 

You can also find Scottish Fencing’s Articles of Association, Bye-Laws and other key documents about the Board's work here https://www.scottish-fencing.com/meeting-minutes-strategies. 

Ruadh Drummond

Electoral Officer

Referees for Events in 2026

Scottish Fencing are looking for people to referee at our upcoming events over the summer months. There are three events scheduled that we require referees for, and are as follows:

Summer of Sport Open
Saturday 13th June 2026
Stirling University
All weapons

Scottish Schools Championships
Saturday 20th June & Sunday 21st June 2026
St Modens HS, Stirling
All Weapons

Scottish Veterans Championships
Sunday 30th August 2026
Albert Hall, Stirling
All Weapons

For referees interested, we are offering the following rates for your level.
Day rate:

EFC C +: £60
Level 3: £50
Level 2: £40
Level 1 / Unqualified: £30

For travel expenses: Public transport is fully covered. 30p per mile by car up to a max of £30 per day.

Please let us know if your available to referee at any (or all!) of the events above. You can do this by emailing admin@scottish-fencing.com or complete this form Referee at Events 2026

Any other questions please email admin@scottish-fencing.com!

2026 BYC Regional Qualifier - Scotland East

What are the BYC Regional Qualifiers? The BYC Regional Qualifiers determine who will be invited to the British Youth Championships Finals, which run from the 2 to 4 May 2026 at the English Institute of Sport. As yet, British Fencing have not released a schedule of events.

 What are the BYCs? The British Youth Championships are competitions at under 12, 14, 16 and 18 held every year in Sheffield (English Institute of Sport, S9 5DA), to identify British Champions.

 Who can compete? Eligibility is through Regional Qualifying Events (RQEs) – typically, each region is invited send a minimum of 8 for each event.

 What is our region and how does qualification work? Fencers who train in Edinburgh Fencing Club, Edinburgh Sabre Club, Dunedin Fencing Club, George Watsons Fencing Club, Livingston Fencing Club, Salle Holyrood, Sancroft Blades and West Lothian Fencing Club are in Scotland East (this list is not exhaustive). There will not be an actual event because running a competition is expensive (venue, referees and so on.) and there are not usually enough entrants for each event to justify a competition. Previously, regions could send a minimum of 8 fencers for each event so it’s usually automatic qualification if you enter. Should a category have more entrants than usual, we can organise an event in one of the clubs.

British Fencing impose a levy on regions for everyone who enters the qualification event, so we have to charge £12.50 entry fee even though there is no competition – British Fencing will take most or all of this! It is also possible that the BF levy will be higher, and an addition charged for qualification.

 What happens if I qualify? The organiser sends the contact details of all the Scotland East qualifiers to British Fencing, and at some stage British Fencing invite the qualifiers to enter the National Finals (there is another entry fee). The event involves travel to the venue and probably a night in a hotel.

 What will the event be like? It’s a huge collection of 24 competitions (boys (mixed)/girls, foil/epée/sabre, U12/U14/U16/U18), there are many entries and the standard varies from near beginner to some very experienced athletes!

 What should I do if I want to take part? It’s easy! Contact Don McKenzie and pay the £12.50 entry fee then wait until British Fencing get in touch with an invitation to enter the finals on Sport80.

The closing date for entries is Midnight on Saturday 28th February.

Then you go to the event, fence your best and have fun!

 Enter/Any questions? Contact Don on 07732 781464 or don.a.mckenzie@btinternet.com

Free Fencing Classes - Salle Holyrood

A group of young children, boys and girls demonstrating a fencing stance, a lunge, with coaches in the background

Salle Holyrood are delighted to be offering some new classes for 2026.

Starting from mid January they are offering 4-week blocks of FREE taster sessions for their local community.

These will be at their new venue at 1 West Bowling Green Street, Edinburgh, EH6 5NX

Sign up to these classes here

Friday 16th January, 1.15-2.15pm for 4 weeks:

FREE Community Session for 8-12 year olds completely new to fencing.

and

Monday, 19th January, 5.45-7pm for 4 weeks:

FREE Girls Only Session for 8-14 year olds for all abilities.

2026 Hot Top Calls - Safeguarding and Welfare

Scottish Fencing is hosting new, essential hot topic calls in the coming months. These are short informal sessions on-line and will cover important guidelines on keeping young people safe and how clubs can uphold young people's rights.

One topic is how to communicate with members, particularly younger fencers, safely. Are you using WhatsApp? Spond? Teamstack? if so, how are you keeping your younger members safe from issues such as bullying or inappropriate contact from adults and your coaches safe from allegations? This call is also about clubs sharing their good practice and what they have found works. Welfare Officers and anyone contacting club members regularly should attend this essential session, but is open to anyone with an interest.

The second topic is on the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child (UNCRC), which was incorporated into Scottish law in 2024. Does your club know what rights are enshrined in this convention? For example, does your club uphold the right of a child to choose the club and coach they train with? And to train at multiple clubs and with different coaches if they choose? What other practices does your club have that upholds the UNCRC? Please join these calls to learn not only how to improve your club's culture for young people and to share your club's good practice, but also how to keep your club’s practices compliant with the law. This session is essential for Welfare Officers and should be of interest to committee members as well. 

Dates:
16 February 6pm - UNCRC
21 February 10am - Good communication
8 March 10am - UNCRC
10 March 6pm - Good Communication

All Welcome, sign up to hot topic calls here

2026 Scottish Fencing AGM

The Annual General Meeting of Scottish Fencing Ltd will take place on 20 January 2026 via Zoom. All paid members aged over the age of 16 are entitled to attend and vote.

Papers for this meeting are listed below with links to each document.

Agenda

Minutes of 2024 AGM - for approval

Accounts to 31 March 2025 - to follow

Special Resolution - Recruitment of Directors

Please register attendance in advance of the meeting. We will send a meeting link to all members who register to attend on the afternoon of the 20 January. Please register by noon 19 January 2026.

Attendance register for SF AGM 2026.

If you are unable to attend but would like a representative or proxy to vote on your behalf you must complete the Proxy Voting Form. You must submit this form must by 6.30pm on 18 January 2026.