Fencing trio in top form
THE Buffalo Fencing Club's Paola Signorile won her first bronze medal in the U15 division at the South African Junior Fencing National Championships in Cape Town last weekend.
Taking third place nationally, the14-year-old Clarendon High School pupil, now qualifies for the Limpopo Open competition in March.
“A highlight of this trip was definitely seeing Paola being congratulated by the South African President of Fencing,” Buffalo Fencing Club coach, Pearl Signorile, said.
Newbie Club fencer and Stirling Primary School head boy, Matthew Malan, who attended his first National Fencing competition last weekend, achieved third place in the first round in the U13 division.
After only a year of training, Matthew bagged 12th place nationally in the U13 division.
“Matthew has not been fencing for long, but he is such a strong fighter and he has potential,” Signorile said.
Also joining them at the nationals for her first time, was Clarendon High School grade 9 pupil, Kayleigh Hiscock, who, in spite of a sprained left hand, was able to make it to the top 20 nationally in the U17 division.
“Kayleigh sprained her hand a while ago and it started hurting again before we left for nationals. We strapped it, but she really needs to rest it now. I am proud of her for still going out there and doing her best ,” Signorile said.
The fencers competed against fencers from all over South Africa, with just over 200 entrants across the various age groups.
The club, which has grown since its inception in February last year, now has nine members.