Gauteng women fencers were the biggest winners at the Eastern Cape National Fencing Open, which took place at Tramways building in Gqeberha.
A total of 116 fencers from all over the country made their way to Nelson Mandela Bay to take part in the event.
The Open was a qualification competition, attracting the best senior and junior fencers in the country.
The event was critical in their efforts to qualify for the Commonwealth Fencing Championships, which will be held in London in August.
Gauteng’s Janali van der Berg took the epee senior women’s title, while Sarha Ghabrial won both the junior and the under 17 cadets crown.
In the foil senior field, Western Cape’s Giselle Vicatos came out top, while Gauteng’s Imaan Cassim won both the junior and the U/17 title.
Free State’s Berne Beukes came first in the sabre women’s senior category.
Fencing Federation of SA President and member of the Women in Fencing Council of the International Fencing Federation, Mike Stafford, applauded the EC for hosting a spectacular event.
“I think it has been a really good tournament,” Stafford said.
“It was well organized, good atmosphere, very few incidences. I am have been running the referee side making sure that we have all the right referee on parade quickly, so I think its run really well.
“I think there is quite a mixed talent, I think we have got some very good people as the results have shown,” he added.
“We have a lot of people coming up from grassroots level, we were complimented by the president of SASCOC who came to the tournament in Cape Town on our diversity in the sport.
“So that tells you something. I believe we have a long way to go, but we have some good talent coming through and we need to work on it.”
Photo 1 Caption: Gauteng women fencers were the biggest winners at the Eastern Cape National Fencing Open which was hosted by the Excelsior EC Fencing Club. Photo: Supplied
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