Fencers pushing for Paris Olympics spot Perth’s Salle Ossian set to continue their success story
Three female members of Perth’s Salle Ossian Fencing Club are in with a “realistic chance” of competing at the Olympic Games in 2024.
That was the message from proud head coach professor Phil Carson who admits he often requires to pinch himself such has been the success of Fair City-trained athletes.
He is confident talented fencers Kate Daykin, Jess Corby and SJ Hampson can continue to progress and line-up for Great Britain in Paris four years from now.
While this year’s competition calendar has been wiped due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the hardworking trio have been training outdoors in order to remain sharp.
“The week before lockdown they were all fencing for the British team in Athens,” explained Salle Ossian head coach Phil.
“SJ pulled probably one of the best results Britain has had for a long time. We felt we were making phenomenal progress.
“But they all have their eyes set on the Paris Olympics - and they are that good. They are absolutely that good.
“They are doing daytime training, having a break, doing some fitness work and then bouting in the evening. It’s about six hours a day.
“They are three of six ladies in Great Britain who have got a really good, realistic chance of making a team to go to Paris. I’m still pinching myself. We’re obviously doing something right at Salle Ossian.”
There, too, is great hope for Salle Ossian’s Rory McLellan.
Phil added: “Rory was the number one in Britain for under-17s the last two years and he is back training.
“He had a great result at the European Championships but the World Championships in Salt Lake City was cancelled.
“He is keeping fit, keeping his hand in and will be coming in three or four times a week.
“I can’t actually see competition getting up and running until next year. So we’re just recreating what we can in Perth.”
Salle Ossian, who have been busy refurbishing their Friarton Road-based club in recent weeks, are preparing to fully reopen on September 14.
“It’s all been outdoors and I’ve actually managed to get myself quite a tan over the summer,” laughed Phil.
“We got the rubber pistes set up outside our centre and then, last week, our wee ones got back in.
“The primary school classes are up and running.
“With the wee ones, you can see the absolute delight in their faces.
“It’s getting back to something that is a bit normal, while being active. The refurbishment means we can run a lot more going forward.”
Phil concluded: “We’re a grassroots club, a wee club which suddenly seems to have done well.
“It’s all homegrown talent. The ethos is that I don’t care if you are number one in Britain or sitting in a wheelchair, everyone fences everyone in the room.
“We’ve created a really positive learning culture. You see how the kids flourish very quickly.
“If you get the culture right, my job is quite easy. They turn up, put the quality of work in and then the magic starts happening.”