Young East Cape fencers show their mettle

THREE Excelsior Fencing Eastern Cape fencers were placed in the top 10 at the Cape Open Fencing competition in Cape Town.

Alexander Road High School pupil and left-handed fencer Tristan Lasevicius, 17 came fourth at the weekend, with Ockert Fourie seventh and Jon-Paul Raper 10th.

Both Raper and Lasevicius have been fencing for more than three years while Fourie only started a year ago.

The fencers have had the benefit of being coached by two Russians who now live in Pretoria.

Both foreigners were commissioned by the national fencing association to upgrade the skills in coaching and refereeing in this region and assist the fast-developing club.

Alex Raizman and Andrei Kovrijnykh have both been coaching national and international fencers. Kovrijnykh is a professional fencing coach who coached South African fencers for the Olympics in 2004 and 2008.

Raizman has been a member of the FIE (International Fencing Federation) referee committee. Both were pleased with the quality and growth of the sport in this region.