Club Successes

Some of the outstanding results of Ashton fencers:

Marilyn Holmes

Marilyn started fencing at Ashton when she was only eleven years old. At that time in the North West this was considered quite young to fence. She was the first club member to win a national championship. She worked very hard with her trainer Les. Jones and it paid off. In 1964, she won the National Junior Schoolgirl Championships. The following year, she set up a record that will never be repeated. She again won the Junior title, and, because she won it so easily, the LAFU agreed she could fence in the Senior Schoolgirls Championship. It was no surprise when she won that too, but to cap it all she went on the win the British Women's Under Twenty Championship. Three national championship successes in one season and including one she was really too young to enter. Marilyn was selected for three World Youth Championships and in two of them was joined by Susan Green. On several occasions, Ashton had two of the three women fencers selected for the World Youth Championships. After moving to Reading University, she won the university championships. However, it was disappointing for Marilyn not to be selected for the Olympic Games in Mexico in 1968. After University, Marilyn joined the WRAF.

Susan Green (Olympic Fencer)

Ashton's most successful fencer, her achievements are outstanding: British Senior Schoolgirl Champion in 1967; Won the British Under Twenty Championship twice; British Senior Women's Champion, in 1968, aged only seventeen; Won the British Open Women's event (Desprez) in 1969 and again in 1973; Won the C-L De Beaumont International event in 1973 and 1974; and many other honours. Susan was selected for the World Youth Championships three times and for the World Championships four times. At the Vienna World Championships, in 1971, Susan beat Belova-Novikova, a twice world champion! Susan won a team gold medal at the Commonwealth Games and was selected for three Olympics, the first in Mexico in 1968 when she was only eighteen.

Amanda Ferguson (Olympic Fencer)

Amanda another young Ashton fencer to make the Olympic team. Amanda only joined Ashton's beginners class because the badminton class was full. Little did she realise where the sport would take her. One of her first results was second place in the 1982 British Under Sixteen Championship. This was followed by second place in the 1983 British Under Twenties Championship, missing the first place by one hit. In 1984, she won the British Under Eighteen championship and retained her title in 1985. The following year Amanda won an international foil competition in Spain. Amanda was selected for the World Youth Championships three times, in 1985/6/7, and for the World Championships in 1991. The pinnacle of her fencing career was a place in the team for the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. She was the only member of the team to win any fights in the match against Russia.

Gary Fletcher (Olympic Fencer)

Gary and his friend Mark Booth were pupils at the local Grammar School who thought they would give fencing a try. The club had a beginners class running at sabre. Jim Philbin had been a member of Ashton in the mid seventies when he competed in the 1974 British sabre championships and only missed the title by one hit losing to Richard Cohen in a barrage having beaten him in the final. Jim moved to London the following year and joined the Polytechnic. This may have been the spur for Gary. He started by winning the North West Sabre Championships, and went on to win it a further twelve times. This record still stands today. Mark became accustomed to coming second. In 1980, Gary came third in the British Under Eighteen Championship and, in 1985, won the British Junior Championship. With no one in the region to raise his game, Gary had to work hard at his training sessions. So much so that when he went to Bradford University he travelled each week to Ashton to continue his training with Les. This dedication was rewarded in 1990 when he won the British Sabre Championship, and, even more so, when he was selected for the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. Ashton is the only club in the country, outside of London, to have two fencers at different weapons selected for the Olympic Games in the same year.

British Under Twenty Women's Foil Team Champions

Three Ashton teenagers, Shelagh Baines, Tina Connor and Vicky Green, were members of the Ashton Under Twenty Team that won the British Under Twenty Women's Foil Team Championship in 1988. The event was particularly memorable because the Ladies Amateur Fencing Union had invited Ashton Coach Les Jones to London as the guest of honour and to present the trophy and medals to the successful contestants. Seen in the picture, from left to right, are Kristin Payne (British Under Twenty Women's Team Manager), Vicky Green, Les Jones, Shelagh Baines and Tina Connor. It is also of interest that Shelagh came second in the individual under twenty championships in 1987, Tina was third in 1988 and won the championship in 1990.

Paraplegic Olympic Games

Three members of Ashton have fenced in the paraplegic Games: Howard Wardle, Margaret Bone and Deborah Mabbitt: Howard won a bronze medal at foil at the Paraplegic Games in 1976 in Montreal.

British Women's Foil Team Championships

In 1970, Ashton became the first club outside of London to win the event beating Thames Fencing Club in the final to win the women's foil team championship, only London clubs have won the event since the competition was first held in 1909. The team was Susan Green,Janet Yates, Janice Deakin and Colette Bailey all teenagers. It was stated that the event was captured at last by the classical training and physical fitness of the young Ashton quartet. Janet Yates played a major role winning all four of her fights in the final.. Ashton won the event again in 1973. The team was Susan Green, Janet Yates, Janet Jones and Caroline Hall who defeated London Fencing Club in the final.

Having qualified for the Coppa Europa in Turin, they beat Achi Tesi (Italy) 9-7 and USAC (France) 11-5 and reached the last eight by beating ZFKA Sofia, Bulgaria on hits, losing to a strong Romanian 4-9 - One of the best results by a British team.

The Following Members Of Ashton Fencing Club Have Won British Championships Or Have Represented Their Country

Leslie Jones

Les. came second in the British Novices in 1953 he won the Ashton Open several times at foil and sabre, he came second at the Liverpool Open. He also won the North West foil, epee and sabre championships several times and became the only fencer to win all three events in the same year. He fenced for England in 1956 and was a regular member of the Rest of Britain team. He took the World Professional Sabre Champion George Ganchev to the deciding hit in the final of the BAF Sabre Championships and at the gala opening of the deBeaumont Centre in London he was selected to fence the former World Foil Champion Allan Jay. Les stopped competitive fencing in the 1960's and became a successful amateur coach.

Janet Yates

Janet went to the same school as Sue Green and they joined Ashton at the same time. Following in Sue Green's footsteps was always a problem and whilst Susan made her mark as a very successful individual fencer Janet was supreme as a team fencer. Her contribution to Ashton winning the British Team Championship the first time can never be understated, beating London Fencing Club in the semi final and defeating Thames Fencing Club in the final, Sue Green only managed to win one fight in the final, a very important one to take the score to 8-7 and Janet won her last fight her fourth in the final to give Ashton the victory they so well deserved. Winning four of Ashton's nine wins in the final was a remarkable achievement. Aged only fifteen Janet was selected for the England senior team Janet came third in the Baptise Bertrand in 1967 and won the Ashton Open Janet also came third twice in the British Under Twenty Championship in 1969 and 1970 and came second in the Perigal International Under Twenty competition in 1970 after a barrage with the German fencer Villing. Janet was a member of the British youth team at the world championships in 1969; 1970 and 1971 Janet's best result was reaching the semi-final in America in 1970 at the World Under Twenty Championships the year in which Susan Wrigglesworth made the final and was placed fifth, both supported by Les Jones the women's under twenty coach.

Andrea Hill

Won the British Junior Schoolgirls Championship twice in 1966 and 1967 she followed this by winning the Senior Girls Championship in 1968. Andrea stopped fencing a sad loss to the club and to British Fencing

Colette Bailey

Won the British Junior Schoolgirl Championship in 1968 and came second in the Felix Cup a National Junior Competition in1969, she also reached the final of the British Under Twenty Championships in 1970. Colette was a member of the Ashton team that won the British Team Championships in 1970

Janice Deakin

Won the British Junior Schoolgirls Championship in 1969. In 1970 was placed third in the Perigal International Under Twenty competition. Janice was also a member of the Ashton Team that won the British Team Championships in 1970 . [1]It was stated that Janice always looked good and had seemed promising for many years, given a little more aggression she was expected to do even better, unfortunately she didn't carry on with her fencing.

Susan Blanchard

Sue won the British Junior Schoolgirls Championship in 1970 and came fifth in the British Under Twenty Championships in 1971. Sue along with Janet Yates fenced in a British under twenty 'A' team, against a strong German team, whilst Janice Deakin fenced in the 'B' team, Britain also fielded a 'C' team. Surprisingly the 'B' team beat the 'A' team and the 'C' team but lost to the German team. The 'A' team proceeded to beat the 'C' and beat the German team 5-4. The 'A' team and the German team finished equal with sixteen victories each and the German team came first by one less hits received.

Janet Jones

Daughter of the club senior coach Janet was destined to be a successful fencer with a style many said to be similar to Susan Green. Her first national title was winning the British Junior Schoolgirl title in 1971 the eighth consecutive time the club had won the event , followed by third place in the Felix Cup in 1972 a junior invitation event. Janet came third in the Perigal International Under Twenty competition three times in 1972; 73 and 74. She was also third in the British Junior Championships in 1975 and 1978. Janet won the Senior Schoolgirl title. In 1975 she came second in the British Under Twenty Championship in 1975 after a barrage for first place loosing on a disputed last hit against London fencer Elizabeth Wood, with Ashton's Brenda Hewitt in fifth place. The following year Janet made no mistake, beating Liz. Wood to win the British Under Twenty Championship with Brenda in second place and Liz. Wood in third place. These three were selected for the World Under Twenty Championships in Poland, Brenda and Liz reached the direct elimination stage and Janet achieved the distinction of reaching the semifinal only missing the final by one hit 7-8 against Teraneck of Poland. Janet was selected for the England senior team and was receiving training along with Susan Wrigglesworth as Olympic potential fencers. Janet was also on the Ashton team in 1973 that won the British Women's Foil Team Championship for the second time. Janet won the Parker Trophy a national under twenty event in 1971 and again in 1977. In 1980 following a skiing accident to her knee, with her knee strapped up she was winning the event again on hits but was pulled out by her father by agreement with one of the officials because of the pain her knee was causing her, she was placed second. Following the problem with her knee Janet withdrew from fencing along with her hopes of fencing at the Olympic Games.

Brenda Hewitt

Brenda travelled from Fulwood in Preston to train at Ashton every week and this led to her becoming one of England's top young fencers. The British Under Twenty Championship always alluded Brenda, in 1975 she came fifth, in 1976 she came second behind Janet and in 1977 she was placed second behind Liz Wood. In 1974 Brenda won both the Parker Under Twenty event and the Felix Cup a Junior Invitation Competition In 1975 Brenda had her best result winning the Millfield Under Twenty International with Germans and Austrians in the final. She also came second in the Perigal International Under Twenty competition Two more championships fell to Brenda winning the Baptise Bertrand Junior Championship in 1976 and 1979 this event only excluded British Internationals or British Senior finalists. Brenda was selected for the World Under Twenty Championships in 1974 reaching the quarter finals and again in 1975 where she reached the direct elimination stage. Another excellent result was making the final of the British Senior Championship in 1978

Caroline Hall

Caroline a pupil of Paddy Power who had been fencing with the girls from Ashton decided to join Ashton Fencing Club in 1973 and travelled from York for lessons.. She had previously won the British under Twenty Championship in 1972 and won it again in 1973 and made the final again in 1974. She came second in the Baptise Bertrand in 1972 came second twice in the Perigal International Under Twenty in 1973 and 74. Caroline was the only girl in the British Under Twenty team in 1972 held in Buenos Aires she went out in the second round. * It was stated Caroline fenced with distinction, if limited footwork and defence. Caroline also competed in the World Youth Championships in 1973 loosing a crucial fight that meant she failed to make the second round.

Jane Popland

Jane won the British Junior Schoolgirls Championship in !973 the ninth time by a fencer from Ashton Fencing Club. The girls would also have won it it 1972 only they were asked to go to a foreign under twenty event in Germany by the LAFU. Jane came third in the British Under Twenty Championships in 1973 and came 5th in the British Junior Championship the Baptise Bertrand. In 1974.

Hilary Jones

Hilary was a British Under Twenty finalist and came second in the British Junior Championship in 1980 and third the following year, she won the Liverpool Open, and went on to captain and fence for the England Women's team and the Rest of Britain Team.

Alex Rawlings

Won the British Junior Schoolboys Foil Championship in 1985, he was selected twice for the England Schools Team and was also selected for the World Cadet Foil Championships. Alex also came third in the British Under Eighteen Championship

Austin Royle

Austin won the British Under Eighteen Foil Championship in 1988 and followed this in the same year by wining the British Under Twenty Championship, he won the Under Twenty Championship again in 1991. He was selected for the World Cadet Championships twice and for the World Youth Championships three times in 1988, 1889 and 1990 and was selected for the England team at the Commonwealth Games. Like Janet Jones, Austin was a contender for the Olympic Games but a lower back problem eventually caused him to withdraw from fencing.

Tina Connor

Tina won the Perigal International Under Twenty Championship in 1988, she also won the Wilkinson Invitation Under Twenty Foil and the British Under Twenty Foil Championship. Tina was selected for the World Youth Championships and was a member of the Ashton team that won the British Under Twenty Team Championships in 1988. Tina younger sister Lisa also fenced on the England Schools team

Shela Anderson

Won the Scottish Women's Foil Championship in 1983 and was a member of the Scottish Women's team in 1981, 82 and 83. She was selected for the Scottish team at the Commonwealth Games and was also selected for the Rest of Britain Team.

Shelaugh Baines

Won the British Women's Individual Sabre event in 1992 and won the Scottish Women's Foil Championship. Shelaugh was selected for the Scottish Team at the Commonwealth Games and was a member of the British Under Twenty Team and the Senior Women's Foil Team also the Ashton Team that won the British Under Twenty Team Championships in 1988. Shelaugh also fenced for the England Schools Team twice.

Vicky Green

Won the British Women's Novices Foil Championship in 1987 and was a member of the Ashton team that won the British Under Twenty Team Championships in 1988

Madalaine Hopwood

In 1989 Mads. made the final of the Under Fourteen Home International and the following year won the British Women's Novices, she was also a member of the Ashton Team that won the British Under Twenty Team Championship for the second time in 1992.

Gavin Hopwood

Came third in the British Cadet Sabre Championships and was selected for the World Cadet Championships. Gavin also fenced on the England Schools team.

Yvonne Wall

Yvonne won the British Veterans Women's Sabre Championship in 2000 without loosing a fight throughout the competition. This success led to her being selected for the British Team in the European Championships.

Giselle Cullinane

Giselle represented Ireland in the European Coup du Nord and the Dutch Sista Tournament fenced in Amsterdam.. She won the Irish Open Sabre Tournament held in Dublin competing against the cream of Southern and Northern Ireland fencers, she also won the York Women's Sabre Tournament and came third in the Ashton Open. In 2000.

Louise Walls

A member of the British Cadet Fencing Squad, Louise competed in an international sabre in Pisa.

Elnaz Azough

Also a member of the British Fencing Squad Elnaz joined Louise and also competed at the international sabre event in Pisa

Megan Lomas

Megan a member of the British Junior Epee Squad came third in the 2005 British Under Eighteen Epee Championship. She came fifth in the International Satellite Epee competition held in Gateshead, twelve countries took part in the event. In the semi-final of the British Women's Epee Championships in 2009 Megan lost on the deciding hit to the eventual winner. If the hit had gone in Megan's favour she would have been British Champion because Megan knew she could beat the loosing finalist. Megan was selected a number of times for the British Women's Epee team, however it was selection for the Commonwealth Games held in Australia that confirmed her as one of Britain's top epee fencers.

Team Selection

Louise Meeks was selected for both the British Under Twenty Team and the England Schools Team. Susan Mitchell; Zoya Royle and Lisa Connor were also selected for the England Schools Team.

Paraplegic Results

Howard Wardle won a Bronze medal at the 1976 Paraplegic Olympic Game Margaret Bone and Deborah Mabbett fenced at the World Championships and Olympic Paraplegic Games. Deborah also won the National foil and epee championships and came third in the European foil and epee championships and the Paris International.

NOTES

An Ashton fencer was selected for the British Women's World Youth Team every year from 1964 to 1976 and from 1985 to 1987. On three occasions two of the three members of the British team were Ashton fencers

[1] Comments made by Edmund Gray in Modern British Fencing