Linda’s interview with Pakiki Theatre as part of Newham’s Heritage Month

As part of her invite to visit 24 schools in Essex Linda visited Birchanger Primary School and Howe Green House School in Great Hallingbury to inspire pupils ahead of their area athletics competition this summer.

Full report and more pictures from the Bishop Stortford Independent

…so far this season

Newham Swords Fencing Club is extremely proud to announce that it has now gained one hundred medals, so far this season. These medals are all from top four placings in LPJS events, Newham Junior Series events, the British Youth Championships, the National Cadet, Junior and Senior Championships, the Public Schools Championships, numerous Cadet and Junior BRC competitions, and various Senior Opens. Well done to all of our fencers who have contributed to such an amazing achievement! The Newham Swords Family are extremely proud of each and everyone of you!!

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Gives Talk about Commonwealth Games and Her Fencing Career

A fun interactive game show celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the London 2012 Olympics will be performed during Newham Heritage Month in June at Libraries in the borough. Linda Strachan gets a mention and you can book free places using a QR Code.

Link to an article in The Newham Recorder

Well done to all of our Newham Swords fencers who, between them, took a total of twelve medals over seven categories, at Saturday’s second Newham Junior Foil Event.

Congratulations to:

Dominik Juras, Salahudeen Ahmed and James Hernon (in his first ever fencing competition) who took Gold, 5th and 6th place respectively in the U10B.

To Anita Abramenkova who took Gold in the U10G.

To Mohammed Belbouab, Maksim Vassiljev, Jagroop Shergill and Michael Malasenkovs (in his first ever fencing competition) who took Gold, Silver, Bronze and 11th place respectively in the U12B.

To Gabrielle Wallis-Hughes who took Bronze in the U12G.

To David Bishay, Khalam Contractor, Harry Kontakos and Brian Chyzowski who took Gold, Bronze, Bronze and 9th place respectively in the U14B.

To Isabella Manlangit, Amy Booth and Delia Cheta who came 8th, 10th and 11th place respectively in the U14G.

To Daniel Juras, Mikhel Archer and William Lauga who took Gold, Silver and Bronze respectively in the U16B.

Well done to all of you! Pierre and I are super proud of you all!!

Newham Swords, British Fencing’s Performance Club of the Year for 2020 and 2021, set a new record at the Newham Junior Foil Tournament (which took place at Sports Dock last week), by gaining a total of thirteen medals in seven of the eight categories. The Club were also the first fencing club in the country to successfully stage a fencing competition since the first lockdown in March last year.

In the U10 Boys Category, Dominik Juras took Gold after remaining undefeated throughout the competition whilst team-mates, Salahudeen Ahmed and Adam Khan, took Bronze and 6th place respectively.

In the U10 and U12 Girls, Anita Abremenkova and Gabrielle Wallis-Hughes each took Gold.

In the U12 Boys Category, Newham Swords took a clean sweep when Jagroop Shergill, Mohammed Belbouab and Maksim Vassiljev took Gold, Silver and Bronze.

In the U14 Girls and Boys Age Groups, Newham Swords took a total of four medals when England U15 Internationals, Isabella Manlangit and Khalam Contractor, each took Gold, whilst David Bishay, Harry Kontakos and Khari Peterkin took Silver, Bronze and 8th place respectively in the U14 Boys.

In the U16 Boys Category, England U15 Internationals, Mikhel Archer and Daniel Juras, took Gold and Bronze respectively, whilst William Lauga gained 6th place in the U16 Boys Age Group.

“I am very proud of the fact that this group of young fencers managed to win seven of the eight categories and finish the competition as top club”, said Head Coach and Olympian, Pierre Harper.

“This amazing achievement is down to the hard work put in by this talented group of fencers and the fantastic team spirit amongst them, added Club Manager, and fellow Olympian, Linda Strachan.

Newham Swords are very proud of the fact that it has just been awarded British Fencing Performance Club of the Year for 2019 – 2020.

This is the second time that the Club has received a Best Club Award, having won British Fencing’s Club of the Year Award for 2018 – 2019.

Newham Swords was also awarded British Fencing Young Athlete of the Year for 2019 – 2020 due to the success of our GB International and reigning National Senior Women’s Foil Champion, Teagan Williams-Stewart

A Club with Legacy at its Heart – An Article about Newham Swords
Extracted from The Sword January 2021

Well done to all the fencers who worked extremely hard at our Cadet Training Day, held at Sportsdock last Sunday.

The session was full with 30 fencers enrolled. A special mention also to our Newham Swords junior coaches, Teagan Williams-Stewart (reigning National Senior Women’s Foil Champion) and Emilija Lukaite (a former National U23 Women’s Foil Champion) who were fantastic with the kids! It was great to have these young female coaches on board.