Fencing Festival challenges children to try a new sport

More than 140 children got to experience a totally new sport on Wednesday, March 6, as they took part in a fencing festival with experts the Little Musketeers.

Founder and four-time British fencing champion James Beevers and his team put the children through their paces on the day supported by young mentors from Newlands Girls’ School.

The Olympian designed a fun skills course followed by ‘fencing bouts’ which challenged the children from seven primary schools to develop core cognitive skills and increase overall fitness whilst embracing the new sport.

Using adapted swords, the children learnt the basic fencing stance and how to control the ‘foils’ as well as clocking-up points in teams which meant that every child got a certificate.

The event was created by the Ascot & Maidenhead School Sport Partnership whose core aim is to introduce new and alternative sports to primary schools and to ensure that children stay active for at least 30 minutes a day.

An ‘alternative’ sport was chosen to draw-out sports skills from children who don’t normally engage in regular PE classes at school.

Emma Fitzgerald, partnership development manager for the School Sport Partnership, said that it's important to introduce new sports and activities to schools.

“If we keep doing the same things in the same way we will achieve the same outcomes and for us that means engaging the same children to be active.

“Trying new things will hopefully attract new children to enjoy being active.

“I was amazed at how much this age group enjoyed this.

"They stayed really focused and engaged and had so much fun.

"These guys make fencing so accessible – anyone can do it, and the guys at Little Musketeers have created a brilliant format and variety of activities for schools to follow.

"The personal challenge aspect is addictive and so much fun. I can’t believe they even got them fencing against others in such a short time. The children loved it."