Alex receives Commonwealth squad call-up
A 17-year-old fencing starlet from Halifax has been picked for the England Commonwealth U20s team that will compete in this year’s Commonwealth Cadet and Junior Championships, in New Zealand.
The equivalent of fencing’s ‘Commonwealth Games’ only takes place every three years and for Alex Lister, from Triangle, selection is a milestone as he is the youngest member of England’s junior squad.
Alex was introduced to fencing by Heathfield Primary School, Rishworth, at the age of seven. He was ranked number one in the UK at the age of nine and subsequently became the British Youth champion.
Since then, he has been crowned England champion and British champion five times and, at the age of 13, clinched the Lancaster University Open title.
At the end of last season, he ranked number one in the UK U17s men’s sabre category. He represented Great Britain on the international circuit and was the only athlete in his group to attend the European Championships in Estonia and the World Championships in Bulgaria.
This season, he represented Great Britain in the World Cup series in Turkey and Hungary. In his most recent event, he was coached by Huddersfield born Olympian, James Williams, who represented Great Britain at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
Alex also finds time to study for A levels in the sixth form at Rishworth School, is also a qualified fencing referee and coaches pupils at Heathfield School.
What makes these achievements all the more remarkable is that at the age of four, Alex was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. He now uses an insulin pump to help stabilise the diabetes, which can be difficult when trying to balance food, exercise, and the demands of competition.
The Commonwealth tournament will be held in July, in Christchurch, New Zealand. Alex and his England teammates are now entering a programme of training camps and he is seeking sponsors to help fund the £4,250 costs that cover each athlete’s travel, training and competition kit.
Alex has set up a GoFundMe page to attract private and corporate sponsors from Calderdale who wish to support him in his bid to win a Commonwealth medal.