An award-winning Perth fencing club has scored a hit by becoming the best in Scotland in just four years.
Salle Ossian Perth, which was set-up with charitable status by head coach and former policeman Professor Phil Carson, will have its status confirmed when the national squads are announced for the Commonwealth Fencing Federation championships being held in Canberra in November.
It is likely Fair City fencers will dominate the Scotland squads.
Phil said: “Our success has exceeded all expectations.
“We are providing the majority of the Scotland and Great Britain seniors team and also have kids going onto the teams at junior and under-20 levels. It is just fantastic.
“There are five-strong male and female teams being announced for Canberra and we are hopeful we will enjoy a strong representation.”
That has presented Salle Ossian, based in the city’s Friarton Business Park, with a major fundraising task.
With support from parents and local businesses, Phil is confident of reaching the £20,000 target to fund the Australian trip.
Among key supporters is The Loft, and the South Street nightclub has laid on a fundraising night on Saturday, June 30, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets, priced £11.25, are available from the venue and from on-line ticket agency Skiddle.
“We have live music from up and coming Edinburgh Indie band Gypsy Circus, a great live auction for weekends away and some amazing donations, including an original Victorian Wilkinson Sword fencing mask and two sabres. We have enjoyed great support from the team at The Loft and it will be a good fun night.”
The Scots will be up against 20 countries, including medal hopefuls Malaysia, Canada, South Africa, Singapore, England and the host nation.
“I worked setting up coaching and performance programmes with one of the biggest and most influential clubs on the planet, Sydney Sabre, and we have the opportunity to go there for a week’s training before heading on to Canberra,” said Phil.
“We are victims of our own success I suppose because we are anticipating having seven or eight Perth members in the Scotland squad.
“It has proved a great decision to locate in Perth. I wanted to create a facility here that would provide any kid from any background with access to the sport and take it to whatever level they wanted, whether that was training a couple of nights a week or taking it further. We have certainly raised the bar.
“We have around 500 kids a year coming through the schools programme across Perth and Kinross and have been running after-school classes for the keenest. We now have more than 60 active competitors across the age groups and were named British Fencing Club of the Year 2017.”
