I have just come back from a lovely hour with the St.Peters Brownies. I had 24 really enthusiastic girls learning fencing. They were very interested in my fencing clothes, my foil and sabre and the history of the sport. We also managed to get quite a lot of individual matches going. They were very good at listening and Im going to try putting my hand up at home for some quiet! (I hope it works as well!)

Spent yesterday evening with the boys of 1st Tewkesbury. They were on parade when I arrived (long story , long detour!) – It was great to see their pride in their uniform and good drilling!

It was an enjoyable evening, lots of enthusiasm from the boys  and well disciplined. They showed some good salutes, fast parrys and by the end of the evening were beginning to get the idea of tactics. Good fun!

Ive just come back from a taster session I ran for Pete’s group in Hucclecote. Most of them had tried fencing before (PGL or school) and it showed.

They showed some memorable defensive manoeuvres and some of them had amazing speed for novices. It was great to watch them applying the moves and even beginning to employ some tactics.

I hope to see some of the footage that was taken during the evening although the ref’s word was final!

It is just 28 days to the 2nd CLIC Sargent 24Seven Challenge.

This year the event is in the lake district. 

This unique 24 hour journey covering the classic marathon distance on foot, bike and water will test your fitness levels as well as your patience and problem solving skills, as you are tasked with mental challenges at each and every turn.

I am aiming to raise more money for CLIC Sargent – the national charity for children with leukaemia and cancer.

I managed a respectable 3rd place in the individuals last year , raised over £1100 and would love to beat it this year.

Check out my training blog to see how Im doing! www.24sevenchallengeforliz.blogspot.com

Or sponsor me …………….. you stand the chance to win a months FREE membership for two at Reflections gym in The Chase Hotel, Shurdington Road, Cheltenham, or one of 24 FREE day passes.

Last night I was invited to do a taster session of fencing with the 5th Gloucester Company at their evening meeting. None of the boys had fenced before and it was great to see their attention and enthusiasm for the sport. We started with warm-ups that really checked their speed, ability to think on their feet and my nerves of steel!

After a few minutes of mask swopping to ensure all of them were correctly kitted out I took them through a few of the basics. They were soon all demonstrating a good salute and ear-splitting shouts of “en-guard”.

All the boys got the chance to fence against one another and it was good to see them cheering on their peers.

All in all, I hope they enjoyed the evening. They were a lovely group. Who knows some may even take up the sport (its a great one for Dof E with a number of Awards available to work towards).

I hope to add some of the “in action” shots that were taken throughout the evening.

Im hoping to start a Gloucester Junior club so maybe Hucclecote would be a good venue!

The Buccaneer Blades Wesite has been updated and relaunched in September 2009

http://buccaneerblades.co.uk