ZFW FENCERS CLAIM SENIOR AND YOUTH BRITISH TITLES
PRESS RELEASE: ATHLETES FROM ZFW FENCING CLUB CLAIM SENIOR AND YOUTH BRITISH NATIONAL TITLES
Date: May 9, 2018 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fencers from North London club ZFW marked major milestones in April and May with victories at some of Britain’s most significant domestic competitions.
Four-time Olympian Richard Kruse claimed the champion’s title at the 2018 Senior National Championships at the University of East London in April. Kruse, who is a foilist, is one of GB’s most successful fencers both at home and abroad.
Kruse, 34, who has represented Great Britain in foil at the summer Olympic Games on four consecutive occasions, was senior national champion in 2017 and has held the title in previous years. Kruse was joined at the senior national competition by 11 of his ZFW club mates, who battled it out among a field of 95 fencers. Two other ZFW fencers were notable for their finish in the top eight; James-Andrew Davies and Cameron Evans.
“Richard is a real master of a manoeuvring-defensive style,” said Ziemek Wojciechowski, founder of ZFW and longtime Olympic coach. Wojciechowski has coached Kruse from the age of nine. “Richard has a sharp eye and an ability to anticipate early changes from his opponent. He considers fencing, first of all, as a mental game.”
Kruse will next come en garde later this month, on May 18 at the International Fencing Federation’s Shanghai Grand Prix in China. He is currently ranked fourth in the world among senior foilists.
Turning to ZFW’s cadre of younger athletes, David Sosnov, age 11, became the British Youth Champion in the under-12 age category, earning gold. Club mate Ben Turner, also age 11, claimed the bronze medal in the same category.
Sosnov said his most challenging fight came in the last-16 round against a speedy and awkward opponent. Sosnov prevailed to carry on to the finals piste. “I went to the British Youth Championships with a goal – to win,” said Sosnov. Job done.
Among other notable ZFW performances at the British Youth Championships, which took place at Sheffield’s English Institute of Sport, were Amelie Tsang, who placed fifth among girls under the age of 12, and Joe Donaghue, securing a seventh-place finish among boys under the age of 16.
“Our young fencers have unlimited energy,” said Wojciechowski, who puts an emphasis on development. “Even at our intensive training camps, where they are fencing twice a day. It is a challenge to keep them still.”
These ZFW up-and-comers will be on-piste again in June at the England Youth Championships in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. This is the next major domestic event for the youngsters, many of whom will also attend an August training camp in Poland where Wojciechowski will coach.
ZFW is run by Olympic Coach Ziemek Wojciechowski with a team of dedicated experts. The club aims to boost the standard of fencing in Britain by providing a centre of excellence for elite fencers training for Olympic, international and national teams. It also provides a learning programme with an emphasis on youngsters. ZFW operates from various venues in North London and elsewhere around the capital. For further details, please visit https://www.zfwfencing.co.uk
