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| Date | News Item |
| 18th October 2009 |
Junior Results
 Three of Crawley Sword Club Juniors were in action over the weekend. Tim Innes, Luke Deamer & Connell Davis. They all competed in the National Camden Leon Paul Junior Series, and they all came home with medals. All these Juniors Fence Foil and had to work very hard for their honours. All three of them had more than 10 fights over the course of the day. Tim won a silver in the Under 17 age group, only being beaten in the final by a Swedish competitor. Tim was pleased with his success , which came on the back of the winning the Sussex Open Junior foil competition last week. Crawley Sword Club was also represented in the Under 15 category as Luke Deamer gained a silver. It was a long day having to fight some of the best fencers in the country at the moment. The semi final fight was particularly nail biting as Luke fought back to win from being 9 /13 down to win 15/13. He was then only narrowly piped to the post in a close final that ended 15-11. Luke proved that he is currently on form as this added to his Bronze medal recently gaining in Leicester. Connell Davis completed the hat tick in the Under 9 age group by fencing his way to a bronze medal position. Connell also had a nail biting semi-final which could have gone either way until extra time was called & he just missed out on the final hit. Connell also had a bronze medal in Leicester to add to his collection. Chiara McDermott had unfortunately had to pull out of the competition due to injury - but had proved that the girls of Crawley Sword Club also have medal winning ways as she gained a bronze at the British Cadet Championships in early October. October has been a busy month for many of the competitive fencers at Crawley Sword Club. Oliver Plumb although a Junior took on the adults in the Sussex Open and came very impressive 14th
The adults of the club have also been busy on the medal front at the Open - Mike Questier (3rd Foil), Dudley Tredger (5th Epee) and Sarah Steacy (3rd Foil).
Coach Geoff Griffin said he was proud of them all and puts their success down to hard work and commitment - the medal winners said that Geoff is the another big reason for their continuing achievements. |
| 13th January 2005 |
The British Academy of Fencing Awards Geoff Griffin
 The British Academy of Fencing has awarded Geoff Griffin, coach of Crawley Sword Club, the Brian Pitman Trophy for services and achievement in the coaching of fencing. Geoff is the first recipient of this new award that was presented to him at the Academy’s annual dinner.
The late Brian Pitman, a Master and Vice President of The British Academy of Fencing, at one time held the position of National Coach and was very much respected and admired by all, his coaching techniques were unique. Geoff Griffin was fortunate and privileged to work with Brian whilst working towards his own coaching qualification and feels that much of the success of Crawley Sword Club is due to the knowledge he acquired whilst working and studying as a student of Brian. Geoff’s fencing activities started in 1949 whilst serving in H.M. Forces and when he left, in 1952, he became involved with three fencing clubs in South London. He moved to Crawley in 1954 and founded Crawley Sword Club in June of that year. Unable to obtain the services of a fencing coach he took it upon himself to take on this responsibility and venues were found through Evening Institutes and the Youth Service.
When the Leisure Centre opened on Hazlett Avenue, Crawley Sword Club took the opportunity to make it a permanent venue and has made use of part of the main hall on two evenings each week. When the “Sports Centre”, as it was then classified, was officially opened by the then Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, the Club almost had another member when he spent time to discuss his interest.
Under the direction of Geoff, Crawley Sword Club has produced and catered for all types of fencers from social up towards competitive fencers of National and International level. The trophies and medals won by the Club’s members over the years are in excess of 1,000. Two juniors were ranked Number 1 in the British Junior Epée and fencers from Crawley Sword Club have represented their country in Europe, America and Australia, where in the latter a Bronze and Silver medals were won by Dudley Tredger of Crawley Sword Club in the Commonwealth Fencing Championships in 2002. Crawley has also hosted Modern Pentathlon competitors who have practiced their fencing discipline with Club members. The Club also has a very strong contingent of fencers in the Under 12 and Under 14 age groups who have already claimed medals and trophies at County, Section and National levels. Geoff is convinced there are future champions among these youngsters who are hungry for medals. |
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