Just a quick add on from my previous blog - I came 7th in the Nationals.
Although this was my worst result within the past five years of me entering the nationals, it was actually the best I'd fenced.
Despite getting a bi into the last 32 and winning 15-2 and 15-6 on the way to the quarter finals, I ended up getting knocked out by the overall winner, Mary Cohen, 15-11. I fought hard throughout the competition, and have no big regrets in risk taking during the fights.
I enjoyed it from beginning to end. And although I snapped at my boyfriend -a bit - the day after, my overall pleasure of performing well outbalanced my disappointment of getting knocked out in the quarterfinals.
So, you could say - result!
Thursday 15 December 2011
Saturday 10 December 2011
The angle of approach
This blog is a reflection on my approach to competitions and training. Right now I'm training hard, enjoying training and improving in training. They say that a competition is just a marker of how your training is going. If you relax and let your training come out, the result takes care of itself. Lance Armstrong said that his confidence came from approaching the start line knowing he'd had trained harder than everyone else there.
I've had a strange approach to competitions through my time in fencing. The first angle was when I first started competitions. I liked not knowing what round I was in, who I was about to fence or where I was ranked. I then enjoyed surprising myself when I was told where I'd come (or easily forgetting my result when I didn't like the answer). I just enjoyed beating the person in front of me. And it was with this light hearted approach that I climbed up the junior, then senior and finally world rankings. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't light hearted towards training and fighting, but the results and rankings were less important to me.
This is a fine attitude to have as you're making progress and improving all the time. It had been enjoyable exceeding expectations and the pressure was minimal. My motivation to continue to train was almost entirely intrinsic. But once reaching high up into the rankings the approach took a very different angle. Suddenly the results were everything to me. They were so much to me that I didn't dare take any risks, and I never let my training come out. As you'd expect my results stopped improving and instead, worsened. Training and competitions were fuelled by extrinsic motivation. And I slowly built up an almost phobia of competitions, international and domestic.
Then, last weekend, something interesting happened; I'd applied to a relatively local, relatively small open in Hereford and Worcester. But, very unprofessionally of me, I got the days mixed up and missed it. I would have almost expected a sense of relief that I didn't have to put myself through the harrowing experience that I find competitions, but instead I felt a definite sense of disappointment. Thus, perhaps my self image of someone terrified of competitions is incorrect. And instead, I hope I have managed to grasp a more relaxed but excited approach to competitions once more. More perceptive than I originally was, but more relaxed than my recent approach. Somewhere in between my two previous angles.
I have the national championships tomorrow. There would have been times throughout this year, that I'd have made myself ill with worry. But now, instead I have nerves of anticipation and excitement. And I feel confident in myself that I'll let my training come out and, more importantly, enjoy the challenge.
I've had a strange approach to competitions through my time in fencing. The first angle was when I first started competitions. I liked not knowing what round I was in, who I was about to fence or where I was ranked. I then enjoyed surprising myself when I was told where I'd come (or easily forgetting my result when I didn't like the answer). I just enjoyed beating the person in front of me. And it was with this light hearted approach that I climbed up the junior, then senior and finally world rankings. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't light hearted towards training and fighting, but the results and rankings were less important to me.
This is a fine attitude to have as you're making progress and improving all the time. It had been enjoyable exceeding expectations and the pressure was minimal. My motivation to continue to train was almost entirely intrinsic. But once reaching high up into the rankings the approach took a very different angle. Suddenly the results were everything to me. They were so much to me that I didn't dare take any risks, and I never let my training come out. As you'd expect my results stopped improving and instead, worsened. Training and competitions were fuelled by extrinsic motivation. And I slowly built up an almost phobia of competitions, international and domestic.
Then, last weekend, something interesting happened; I'd applied to a relatively local, relatively small open in Hereford and Worcester. But, very unprofessionally of me, I got the days mixed up and missed it. I would have almost expected a sense of relief that I didn't have to put myself through the harrowing experience that I find competitions, but instead I felt a definite sense of disappointment. Thus, perhaps my self image of someone terrified of competitions is incorrect. And instead, I hope I have managed to grasp a more relaxed but excited approach to competitions once more. More perceptive than I originally was, but more relaxed than my recent approach. Somewhere in between my two previous angles.
I have the national championships tomorrow. There would have been times throughout this year, that I'd have made myself ill with worry. But now, instead I have nerves of anticipation and excitement. And I feel confident in myself that I'll let my training come out and, more importantly, enjoy the challenge.
Tuesday 29 November 2011
Further Fencing Fun
I have been taking my plastic swords to unsuspecting victims in the name of o2 again this week. This time, instead of call centres and head offices, it was primary school children from Oldham that got the opportunity to test their swordsman skills and their musketeer career potential.
The primary school children who swapped football and basketball dribbling for fencing lunging yesterday, usually have 3StyleSports running their PE classes but yesterday had the opportunity to fence their classmates in the playground as part of Coppice Primary School’s preparation for the Olympics. 3 StyleSports (@3stylesports) is a youth project that is supported by Think Big and ran by Andy Williams who I met at a Think Big residential I attended a few months ago. He uses the financial and business support Think Big give, to increase sports participation amongst youngsters in the Oldham area, who are given little opportunities to go to after school clubs and other sports clubs because of their financial restrictions.
With the run up to the Olympics, Andy’s aim is to get children involved in lots of Olympic sports so, to fire up their anticipation of the games, I brought some fencing kit for them to try the alternative sport of fencing. One of the great things I saw from the fencing session was the lifting of normal sporting stereotypes. Because there aren’t strong gender associations attached to fencing, unlike dance and football (also covered by 3StyleSport,) all of the kids took it on with a fervour that Andy said he rarely sees from both girls and boys in the same session.
This picture shows some of the children who took part, along with their very own, home-made, paper-mache London 2012 Mascot.
The primary school children who swapped football and basketball dribbling for fencing lunging yesterday, usually have 3StyleSports running their PE classes but yesterday had the opportunity to fence their classmates in the playground as part of Coppice Primary School’s preparation for the Olympics. 3 StyleSports (@3stylesports) is a youth project that is supported by Think Big and ran by Andy Williams who I met at a Think Big residential I attended a few months ago. He uses the financial and business support Think Big give, to increase sports participation amongst youngsters in the Oldham area, who are given little opportunities to go to after school clubs and other sports clubs because of their financial restrictions.
With the run up to the Olympics, Andy’s aim is to get children involved in lots of Olympic sports so, to fire up their anticipation of the games, I brought some fencing kit for them to try the alternative sport of fencing. One of the great things I saw from the fencing session was the lifting of normal sporting stereotypes. Because there aren’t strong gender associations attached to fencing, unlike dance and football (also covered by 3StyleSport,) all of the kids took it on with a fervour that Andy said he rarely sees from both girls and boys in the same session.
This picture shows some of the children who took part, along with their very own, home-made, paper-mache London 2012 Mascot.
Wednesday 5 October 2011
Fencing in Call Centres
Last week saw a day which I approached with both tension and anticipation. As an athlete, I am used to controlling feelings of apprehension when a competition nears and I need to perform at my highest. All athletes have their own way of preparing for competitions, from training themselves into the ground to taking a relaxing holiday. I think I am somewhere in the middle. I like to feel like I’ve done the best training and then make sure I do something completely unrelated to fencing the day before. As an athlete, you spend as much time as possible keeping control of the controllable to gain confidence in your performance and ultimately, the outcome.
Last Friday, however, I had to deal with a new nervousness I had not yet felt. This came from a situation whereby I was so in control of the outcome that I completely lost confidence in my ability to perform. I am building this day into something quite significant, however, for many people it is something they do on a very regular basis: organising a day of fencing sessions - I did this at Bury Call Centre to raise money for charity. The week leading up to the event, I ‘encouraged’ people to sign up for sessions, but couldn’t shake the feeling that because I was in control of the event going well, it would go wrong. As it was, all the sessions filled up and were a great success. Over £200 was raised for the charities, enthusiastic feedback given and even a couple of emails asking for the nearest fencing club were received.
I thoroughly enjoyed the day, but I think it raised an interesting question – why spend all my time trying to gain control to perform at my best, when I panicked once all the control was in my hands? I think it’s important for anybody performing under pressure regularly, to be able to remain steady when under pressures out of their comfort zone (i.e. under different types of pressure). I think I need a bit of practice at this as I discovered the other day when I tried to reverse out of the (narrow!) drive in front of my family. One of my biggest learning points from the event was to embrace discomfort to build confidence.
Last Friday, however, I had to deal with a new nervousness I had not yet felt. This came from a situation whereby I was so in control of the outcome that I completely lost confidence in my ability to perform. I am building this day into something quite significant, however, for many people it is something they do on a very regular basis: organising a day of fencing sessions - I did this at Bury Call Centre to raise money for charity. The week leading up to the event, I ‘encouraged’ people to sign up for sessions, but couldn’t shake the feeling that because I was in control of the event going well, it would go wrong. As it was, all the sessions filled up and were a great success. Over £200 was raised for the charities, enthusiastic feedback given and even a couple of emails asking for the nearest fencing club were received.
I thoroughly enjoyed the day, but I think it raised an interesting question – why spend all my time trying to gain control to perform at my best, when I panicked once all the control was in my hands? I think it’s important for anybody performing under pressure regularly, to be able to remain steady when under pressures out of their comfort zone (i.e. under different types of pressure). I think I need a bit of practice at this as I discovered the other day when I tried to reverse out of the (narrow!) drive in front of my family. One of my biggest learning points from the event was to embrace discomfort to build confidence.
Sunday 18 September 2011
Sports-Psychology-Cliches come to the rescue
As ever there is good news and bad news and I'll start with the bad news as it usually seems to be the most popular choice:
The team for the World Championships has been selected and to my huge disappointment, I'm not in it. Infact, two out of the four fencers of the previous Senior Team over the past two years have been deselected for this competition, which is a suprising decision for the Worlds before an Olympic Games, but one which I can't dwell on. And so, must focus on the good news...
My move back to Manchester has been a brilliant decision for my fencing and my wellbeing overall.Thoroughly enjoying training again has motivated me to get back into an effective routine and and to pursue all the support that's here in Manchester and Chesterfield. I am back to fencing at Stockport Sword Club in the week, and getting lessons from my coach at Wingerworth Fencing Club at weekends. I have returned to DNA Sports Performance in the Power Room for strength and conditioning (You should have a look at the aptly named Power Room )and I continue to be sponsored by Steria Ltd. and Brampton Manor of Chesterfield and supported by o2's athlete development scheme.
Importantly, all of these have contributed to my feeling positive about fencing, and I believe this has been the cause of my improvement in performance and ultimately, competitions. Over the past few weeks I competed at Bristol Open coming 2nd (improvement of twenty places from last year)and Essex Open coming 3rd (an improvement of more places than I care to count from before).
Now my main focus is to stick to all of the sports psychologist's cliches (which honestly do help) ...control the controllables...focus on performance... results will take care of themselves etc etc.and these will make sure I train hard enough, and right enough to make it back on to the travelling team, and be there, at the Olympics.
The team for the World Championships has been selected and to my huge disappointment, I'm not in it. Infact, two out of the four fencers of the previous Senior Team over the past two years have been deselected for this competition, which is a suprising decision for the Worlds before an Olympic Games, but one which I can't dwell on. And so, must focus on the good news...
My move back to Manchester has been a brilliant decision for my fencing and my wellbeing overall.Thoroughly enjoying training again has motivated me to get back into an effective routine and and to pursue all the support that's here in Manchester and Chesterfield. I am back to fencing at Stockport Sword Club in the week, and getting lessons from my coach at Wingerworth Fencing Club at weekends. I have returned to DNA Sports Performance in the Power Room for strength and conditioning (You should have a look at the aptly named Power Room )and I continue to be sponsored by Steria Ltd. and Brampton Manor of Chesterfield and supported by o2's athlete development scheme.
Importantly, all of these have contributed to my feeling positive about fencing, and I believe this has been the cause of my improvement in performance and ultimately, competitions. Over the past few weeks I competed at Bristol Open coming 2nd (improvement of twenty places from last year)and Essex Open coming 3rd (an improvement of more places than I care to count from before).
Now my main focus is to stick to all of the sports psychologist's cliches (which honestly do help) ...control the controllables...focus on performance... results will take care of themselves etc etc.and these will make sure I train hard enough, and right enough to make it back on to the travelling team, and be there, at the Olympics.
Saturday 10 September 2011
How o2 is helping me to pursue the best sport of them all.
Below is an article I wrote for an internal magazine at o2. It's a little bit about why Fencing is great and how my work placement with o2 has helped me stay motivated. I've edited it a bit for this blog to avoid too much repitition and it was also written specifically for o2 colleagues and so sings o2's praises, but everything I've written is genuine:
I started fencing at a small local club in Derbyshire when a friend asked if I would go with them. At the time I was competing in athletics and netball for my county and when I tried fencing, my first impressions were that it was a bit of an odd activity which, in my view, was hard pushed to call itself a “sport”. As I continued to go (partly for the social side and partly because I am competitive and there were people there I hadn’t yet beaten) I gradually realised that it is the most endearing sport of them all. The more you discover of fencing, the more fascinating it becomes. In running, and even netball, there is a limit to the creativity involved. Your aim is to be faster, more accurate, more powerful, but the creativity is restricted. In fencing, your power, strength and speed are important, but they can only get you so far. If someone can predict what you’re going to do, it doesn’t matter how fast your attack is, you’re doomed. For this reason the progression in fencing is infinite-a challenging feat for someone who likes to reach goals, but luckily I also like a challenge...
So this is my sport, and this is why I chose to pursue it as a full time occupation. When I moved to london in order to do this, I also applied for the o2 scheme to gain some extra work experience along with working towards London 2012. So far my fencing had gone from strength to strength and the transition from a 14 year old girl going to a small club of beginners to full-time athlete had been smoother than I thought possible. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to last as I didn’t enjoy living in London and although I was training hard, I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to compete, which resulted in a poor season in the international individual events.
Although the team event was looking more positive for us with regards to going to the Olympics, this wasn’t to go smoothly either. Soon after gaining our highest ever world ranking following reaching the quarter finals in Rio, British Fencing went through some changes resulting in our national coach ending his time with us and a new Performance Manager being appointed. Due to the uncertainty of the team and my feelings towards living in London, I moved back up to Manchester to find steadier and more familiar ground.
This would have a been pretty tough if it hadn’t been for another aspect of my life which was becoming increasingly more positive and exciting, and here I am referring, of course, to my work placement with o2. This new opportunity was providing me with the perfect antidote towards feelings that I’d wasted my time and efforts training so hard for the past 4 years. I had been given the chance to learn and work for a stimulating business who wanted me, as an athlete, to become involved in their journey through HR. With o2’s flexibility, I was able to very easily transfer from the Slough Office to a Bury site and over the past few months, the stability I‘ve gained from working with the Policy Team has allowed me to build up a training regime here, in Manchester. I’m now training hard and positively again and started the domestic season well, coming 3rd at Essex Open at the weekend, despite driving down at 4am and feeling sick with nerves after “bouncing back” from my time in London. Any day now I will hear the team selection for the World Championships and as a squad, we are all working hard to qualify for the Olympics over this coming season.
I started fencing at a small local club in Derbyshire when a friend asked if I would go with them. At the time I was competing in athletics and netball for my county and when I tried fencing, my first impressions were that it was a bit of an odd activity which, in my view, was hard pushed to call itself a “sport”. As I continued to go (partly for the social side and partly because I am competitive and there were people there I hadn’t yet beaten) I gradually realised that it is the most endearing sport of them all. The more you discover of fencing, the more fascinating it becomes. In running, and even netball, there is a limit to the creativity involved. Your aim is to be faster, more accurate, more powerful, but the creativity is restricted. In fencing, your power, strength and speed are important, but they can only get you so far. If someone can predict what you’re going to do, it doesn’t matter how fast your attack is, you’re doomed. For this reason the progression in fencing is infinite-a challenging feat for someone who likes to reach goals, but luckily I also like a challenge...
So this is my sport, and this is why I chose to pursue it as a full time occupation. When I moved to london in order to do this, I also applied for the o2 scheme to gain some extra work experience along with working towards London 2012. So far my fencing had gone from strength to strength and the transition from a 14 year old girl going to a small club of beginners to full-time athlete had been smoother than I thought possible. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to last as I didn’t enjoy living in London and although I was training hard, I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to compete, which resulted in a poor season in the international individual events.
Although the team event was looking more positive for us with regards to going to the Olympics, this wasn’t to go smoothly either. Soon after gaining our highest ever world ranking following reaching the quarter finals in Rio, British Fencing went through some changes resulting in our national coach ending his time with us and a new Performance Manager being appointed. Due to the uncertainty of the team and my feelings towards living in London, I moved back up to Manchester to find steadier and more familiar ground.
This would have a been pretty tough if it hadn’t been for another aspect of my life which was becoming increasingly more positive and exciting, and here I am referring, of course, to my work placement with o2. This new opportunity was providing me with the perfect antidote towards feelings that I’d wasted my time and efforts training so hard for the past 4 years. I had been given the chance to learn and work for a stimulating business who wanted me, as an athlete, to become involved in their journey through HR. With o2’s flexibility, I was able to very easily transfer from the Slough Office to a Bury site and over the past few months, the stability I‘ve gained from working with the Policy Team has allowed me to build up a training regime here, in Manchester. I’m now training hard and positively again and started the domestic season well, coming 3rd at Essex Open at the weekend, despite driving down at 4am and feeling sick with nerves after “bouncing back” from my time in London. Any day now I will hear the team selection for the World Championships and as a squad, we are all working hard to qualify for the Olympics over this coming season.
Monday 18 July 2011
Brampton Manor
I am really pleased to say that I have started a new sponsorship with Brampton Manor, as an addition to the support I receive from Steria Ltd. Brampton Manor kindly allow me access to their facilities and so I will be visiting it frequently to use their squash courts for fencing lessons, their gym and the swimming pool (and probably the sauna and jacuzzi - for performance reasons only!). I am really pleased to become a member of Brampton Manor, not just because it is a central hub of the community, but also because Brampton Manor was the first business who supported me as part of the Going for Gold Scheme for school children in the area in 2005/06.
A bit of a change
"Here is a little update as I have neglected my blogging duties somewhat recently. My past year in London has seen a huge improvement in my technical and tactical aspects of my game along with a deeper understanding of fencing as a whole. I have been selected for all the competitions over the season and having more time since finishing my degree has allowed me to become stronger, fitter and faster. It has however, come to the end of the season which has been disappointing with regards to my individual results. Whilst I have fenced with increasing confidence in the team matches, my individual performances are not yet reflecting my training, as anxiety has obstructed my way.
British Fencing has also gone through some structural changes this season which has seen a few changes in training schedules and coaching leading up to the European Championships. One of the decisions was to change the women's epee team a little, meaning that I was reserve for the GB team. Although this was a huge disappointment, it can also provide many reasons with which to look upon the experience in a positive light. Firstly, it changes the anxiety of not 'making-it' into a hunger to make it: I have less to lose. Secondly, it allowed me to attend the Championships as a spectator (16th July) and have an objective view of those nervous fencers and the successful fencers without having my own nerves and thoughts of my own performance, as I usually do when I am at the competitions. Thirdly, it has provided me with a little respite to gather myself and get my thoughts clear without a looming Championship during a time when my confidence in my ability is not at an all-time high."
With this time to review my performance and attitude, I have decided with the support of my team, and of friends and family, that I will return to the North. London provided me with the skills and the volumes of training I needed and now I need to focus on the mental side and return to the familiarity and the comfort and happiness I will gain from home to perform at my true standard - when it matters.
There is still the Women's Epee Team Event tomorrow (Tuesday, 19th)and I am certainly looking forward to supporting GB at the Institute of Sport (Sheffield). If you are free, it "kicks off" at 9.30 am and we would really love as much support as possible for a full home-advantage effect.
British Fencing has also gone through some structural changes this season which has seen a few changes in training schedules and coaching leading up to the European Championships. One of the decisions was to change the women's epee team a little, meaning that I was reserve for the GB team. Although this was a huge disappointment, it can also provide many reasons with which to look upon the experience in a positive light. Firstly, it changes the anxiety of not 'making-it' into a hunger to make it: I have less to lose. Secondly, it allowed me to attend the Championships as a spectator (16th July) and have an objective view of those nervous fencers and the successful fencers without having my own nerves and thoughts of my own performance, as I usually do when I am at the competitions. Thirdly, it has provided me with a little respite to gather myself and get my thoughts clear without a looming Championship during a time when my confidence in my ability is not at an all-time high."
With this time to review my performance and attitude, I have decided with the support of my team, and of friends and family, that I will return to the North. London provided me with the skills and the volumes of training I needed and now I need to focus on the mental side and return to the familiarity and the comfort and happiness I will gain from home to perform at my true standard - when it matters.
There is still the Women's Epee Team Event tomorrow (Tuesday, 19th)and I am certainly looking forward to supporting GB at the Institute of Sport (Sheffield). If you are free, it "kicks off" at 9.30 am and we would really love as much support as possible for a full home-advantage effect.
Wednesday 18 May 2011
The Europeans are in Sheffield!!
The European Fencing Championships are in Sheffield this year (14th-19th of July) which is very exciting for me because Sheffield is close to Chesterfield and I am a fencer. Although the teams have not been selected yet I am pretty excited at the concept of having top world class fencing (the Europeans are the best in the world)so close to my house whether I am supporting or fencing.
As I am so local and on the British Team I was asked to write a little something to advise European supporters and fencers as well as British visitors and fencers what to do with their time in Sheffield. This is what I said:
I live in Chesterfield, which is just outside Sheffield and so was delighted when I found that the Fencing European Championships were coming to Sheffield. I have many links with Sheffield…my family come from here, I was a junior season ticket holder for Sheffield United, I fenced at various Sheffield fencing clubs… and so I would like to enlighten you with some local knowledge of the area to make your ‘Sheffield time’ as good as it should be.
I’m a female epeeist and so appreciate that the best shops are of high interest to fencers and females alike. In Sheffield these can most definitely be found in Meadowhall, a very large shopping centre with a large variety of restaurants, easily accessible from the Europeans venue (EIS) - simply get the tram from the Institute of Sport directly to Meadowhall.
Kelham Island is the old location of some of Sheffield’s steel works and is now the best place in England for true English pubs, local music, beers and food. Fact. During the day, Kelham Island Museum is a small but really interesting place to learn about Sheffield’s Steel works and see the monster machines of the past at work. Again, the tram is probably the best transport to use as Kelham Island is a short walk from Shalesmoor tram stop.
Sheffield has a nice city centre, but its brightest aspect is the countryside it sits amongst. Very easily accessible by train, the Peak District is one of the biggest things I miss being stuck in smokey London. Edale is a typical Peak District village and where I’ve spent many of my summers. It is also the start of the Pennine Way and so has clear signposts for great walks in the heathery moors. Grindleford is also a brilliant place to see the best of the Peak District from Sheffield and includes an authentic and very famous (in the area) greasy spoons café within the old railway station building.
Finally, I can’t write this without suggesting you take the train into Chesterfield to see the Crooked Spire and visit the market and Jacksons Bakery for a true North-Derbyshire/ South Yorkshire experience.
For more information about things to do or travel phone the Sheffield Tourist Information on 0114 221 1900.
I really hope you enjoy your stay, and if you’re about to leave Sheffield with a negative view of the place- find me (I’ll be there fencing or supporting) and I’ll head you in the right direction so as to change your opinion.
So this is my advice to them. And my advice to you ( for those of you reading this through the Derbyshire Times) is to GO and see some world class fencing. Its a really great opportunity not to be missed.
As I am so local and on the British Team I was asked to write a little something to advise European supporters and fencers as well as British visitors and fencers what to do with their time in Sheffield. This is what I said:
I live in Chesterfield, which is just outside Sheffield and so was delighted when I found that the Fencing European Championships were coming to Sheffield. I have many links with Sheffield…my family come from here, I was a junior season ticket holder for Sheffield United, I fenced at various Sheffield fencing clubs… and so I would like to enlighten you with some local knowledge of the area to make your ‘Sheffield time’ as good as it should be.
I’m a female epeeist and so appreciate that the best shops are of high interest to fencers and females alike. In Sheffield these can most definitely be found in Meadowhall, a very large shopping centre with a large variety of restaurants, easily accessible from the Europeans venue (EIS) - simply get the tram from the Institute of Sport directly to Meadowhall.
Kelham Island is the old location of some of Sheffield’s steel works and is now the best place in England for true English pubs, local music, beers and food. Fact. During the day, Kelham Island Museum is a small but really interesting place to learn about Sheffield’s Steel works and see the monster machines of the past at work. Again, the tram is probably the best transport to use as Kelham Island is a short walk from Shalesmoor tram stop.
Sheffield has a nice city centre, but its brightest aspect is the countryside it sits amongst. Very easily accessible by train, the Peak District is one of the biggest things I miss being stuck in smokey London. Edale is a typical Peak District village and where I’ve spent many of my summers. It is also the start of the Pennine Way and so has clear signposts for great walks in the heathery moors. Grindleford is also a brilliant place to see the best of the Peak District from Sheffield and includes an authentic and very famous (in the area) greasy spoons café within the old railway station building.
Finally, I can’t write this without suggesting you take the train into Chesterfield to see the Crooked Spire and visit the market and Jacksons Bakery for a true North-Derbyshire/ South Yorkshire experience.
For more information about things to do or travel phone the Sheffield Tourist Information on 0114 221 1900.
I really hope you enjoy your stay, and if you’re about to leave Sheffield with a negative view of the place- find me (I’ll be there fencing or supporting) and I’ll head you in the right direction so as to change your opinion.
So this is my advice to them. And my advice to you ( for those of you reading this through the Derbyshire Times) is to GO and see some world class fencing. Its a really great opportunity not to be missed.
Monday 25 April 2011
500 days and counting
First of all I’m sorry for not updating my blog sooner, and it is only because of a push from Derbyshire Times that I am writing this one.
To be brutally honest and nakedly truthful I have been too exhausted to attempt to sit and write this blog. I’ve started to work two days a week and continue to train hard, but this is not the cause. Instead, I feel emotionally and psychologically drained and weary. The stress that has come with less than 500 days to the Olympics is almost more than I have found that I can bear.
This stress is mainly manifested by not performing, with the pressure to perform twisting my fencing style into a terrified rabbit-in-the-headlights style: a frustrating cycle. The stress is also magnified by the inescapable Olympic theme running through London and the UK.
The encouragement, passion and interest on the radio, TV, billboards, is absolutely what I would hope for (and what my sponsorship relies on) but I can’t deny it's not stressful to experience constant questioning along the lines of “Do you know if you are in the Olympics yet? Should I bother getting tickets? Should I get a ticket for the early rounds or the finals?”.
After a particularly stressful day of funding meetings and goal setting, I sat down to watch Coronation Street, eat some Chocolate and forget about fencing and the ‘O’ word before I had to go to evening training. Sounds like a solution eh? But aaargh, there, on my Wispa, smirking up at me, were those damn Olympic Rings teasing me and laughing at my thought that I might be able to avoid the Olympics for half an hour of my life.
The stress to perform is becoming ever more public as the excitement for the Olympics heightens. Today I got a text from my friend saying she got a leaflet through her door in Chesterfield with the words ‘meet and greet the amazing Olympic athlete, Hannah Lawrence’ at a Brampton Manor function. (I think the Advertising Agency might have something to say about that). All these moments cause a voice to scream in my head “WHAT'S going to happen if I don’t get in”.
But then I remember that all athletes who have ever made it would have gone through similar thought processes and that I’m pretty sure I am not the first person to have ever stressed out about having pressure to perform as an athlete. And now I feel silly for writing this whole post where I have moaned and felt sorry for myself, and not written about the last competitions
So - in a nut shell: have had ups and downs, with Leipzig A-Grade fencing my best yet and very narrowly losing to a Korean in extra time to make the Last 64, and getting knocked out of the team event by the overall winners, Estonia. Barcelona A-Grade: fencing terribly in individuals and not making it on to the team who then did badly losing to Japan. Finally, to Naples at the European Club Competition fencing for London Thames Fencing Club where, with the pressure dropped, I fenced like a praying mantis(patient and explosive) and loved every minute of it.
For a general update, I am 125th in the World which is currently not enough to qualify but I am moving ever further to the top, second ranked Brit in the World Rankings, and third ranked in National
Rankings. (for more stats
http://www.fie.ch/Competitions/FencerDetail.aspx?param=FEC61CE5E2D2DF9195E37082079DB6E )
To be brutally honest and nakedly truthful I have been too exhausted to attempt to sit and write this blog. I’ve started to work two days a week and continue to train hard, but this is not the cause. Instead, I feel emotionally and psychologically drained and weary. The stress that has come with less than 500 days to the Olympics is almost more than I have found that I can bear.
This stress is mainly manifested by not performing, with the pressure to perform twisting my fencing style into a terrified rabbit-in-the-headlights style: a frustrating cycle. The stress is also magnified by the inescapable Olympic theme running through London and the UK.
The encouragement, passion and interest on the radio, TV, billboards, is absolutely what I would hope for (and what my sponsorship relies on) but I can’t deny it's not stressful to experience constant questioning along the lines of “Do you know if you are in the Olympics yet? Should I bother getting tickets? Should I get a ticket for the early rounds or the finals?”.
After a particularly stressful day of funding meetings and goal setting, I sat down to watch Coronation Street, eat some Chocolate and forget about fencing and the ‘O’ word before I had to go to evening training. Sounds like a solution eh? But aaargh, there, on my Wispa, smirking up at me, were those damn Olympic Rings teasing me and laughing at my thought that I might be able to avoid the Olympics for half an hour of my life.
The stress to perform is becoming ever more public as the excitement for the Olympics heightens. Today I got a text from my friend saying she got a leaflet through her door in Chesterfield with the words ‘meet and greet the amazing Olympic athlete, Hannah Lawrence’ at a Brampton Manor function. (I think the Advertising Agency might have something to say about that). All these moments cause a voice to scream in my head “WHAT'S going to happen if I don’t get in”.
But then I remember that all athletes who have ever made it would have gone through similar thought processes and that I’m pretty sure I am not the first person to have ever stressed out about having pressure to perform as an athlete. And now I feel silly for writing this whole post where I have moaned and felt sorry for myself, and not written about the last competitions
So - in a nut shell: have had ups and downs, with Leipzig A-Grade fencing my best yet and very narrowly losing to a Korean in extra time to make the Last 64, and getting knocked out of the team event by the overall winners, Estonia. Barcelona A-Grade: fencing terribly in individuals and not making it on to the team who then did badly losing to Japan. Finally, to Naples at the European Club Competition fencing for London Thames Fencing Club where, with the pressure dropped, I fenced like a praying mantis(patient and explosive) and loved every minute of it.
For a general update, I am 125th in the World which is currently not enough to qualify but I am moving ever further to the top, second ranked Brit in the World Rankings, and third ranked in National
Rankings. (for more stats
http://www.fie.ch/Competitions/FencerDetail.aspx?param=FEC61CE5E2D2DF9195E37082079DB6E )
Thursday 7 April 2011
CHESTERFIELD
This week I was asked to be an honorary Chesterfield Champion and a promoter of Chesterfield.
Although this is a repeat of my first blog already, this is what I wrote for my profile on their website:
My name is Hannah and I am a fencer, currently living in London, and training full-time in the hope of competing in the 2012 Olympics. This is quite an unusual situation to be in considering that I grew up in Chesterfield, went to Brookfield Community School and loved playing netball and doing athletics at Queens Park Annex. Although my occupation is not typical of a Chesterfieldian, I have no doubt in my mind that it is my upbringing in Chesterfield that got me where I am today.
I started fencing around 14 years old at Wingerworth Fencing Club, who welcome, encourage and nurture everyone who comes through the Sharley Park doors, to embody and love fencing as much as they do. Their love of the sport (and their lifts to various national competitions) inspired me to keep fencing despite GCSE’s, A Levels, Pizza Hut shifts and the bright lights of “chez vegas”.
Brookfield also supported me, finding funding from Derbyshire Sports Council and giving me free use of Brampton Manor for fitness and the Sports Hall for lessons during lunch time.
As I moved to Manchester to Study Sociology at University, despite representing Great Britain on the International Junior Circuit, my funds began to run out - but Chesterfield provided for me once again. My friend’s sister’s friend (in true Chesterfield style) who worked at Steria Ltd (behind the new NHS Centre) offered me sponsorship after I became Senior National Champion, and opened the door to a whole host of new opportunities. I was then able to compete at the Australian Youth Olympics 2009 winning a bronze and gold medal, the Junior Commonwealths 2009, winning a gold medal, and The World Student Games 2010. I was then put on the senior national team and have competed at two World Championships and one European Championship where GBR quarter-finalled in the team event. I am now half way through my second senior international season, am ranked 2nd Nationally and have a world ranking.
With my move down to London in October 2010 and seeing the high standard of Fencing clubs in the South, instead of feeling deprived and disadvantaged growing up away from the centre of fencing, I have realised that without the community spirit of Chesterfield I would never have had the drive to achieve what I have, nor to keep striving to achieve, and I hope to promote my home town further in the run up to our own Olympic Games, London 2012.
Although this is a repeat of my first blog already, this is what I wrote for my profile on their website:
My name is Hannah and I am a fencer, currently living in London, and training full-time in the hope of competing in the 2012 Olympics. This is quite an unusual situation to be in considering that I grew up in Chesterfield, went to Brookfield Community School and loved playing netball and doing athletics at Queens Park Annex. Although my occupation is not typical of a Chesterfieldian, I have no doubt in my mind that it is my upbringing in Chesterfield that got me where I am today.
I started fencing around 14 years old at Wingerworth Fencing Club, who welcome, encourage and nurture everyone who comes through the Sharley Park doors, to embody and love fencing as much as they do. Their love of the sport (and their lifts to various national competitions) inspired me to keep fencing despite GCSE’s, A Levels, Pizza Hut shifts and the bright lights of “chez vegas”.
Brookfield also supported me, finding funding from Derbyshire Sports Council and giving me free use of Brampton Manor for fitness and the Sports Hall for lessons during lunch time.
As I moved to Manchester to Study Sociology at University, despite representing Great Britain on the International Junior Circuit, my funds began to run out - but Chesterfield provided for me once again. My friend’s sister’s friend (in true Chesterfield style) who worked at Steria Ltd (behind the new NHS Centre) offered me sponsorship after I became Senior National Champion, and opened the door to a whole host of new opportunities. I was then able to compete at the Australian Youth Olympics 2009 winning a bronze and gold medal, the Junior Commonwealths 2009, winning a gold medal, and The World Student Games 2010. I was then put on the senior national team and have competed at two World Championships and one European Championship where GBR quarter-finalled in the team event. I am now half way through my second senior international season, am ranked 2nd Nationally and have a world ranking.
With my move down to London in October 2010 and seeing the high standard of Fencing clubs in the South, instead of feeling deprived and disadvantaged growing up away from the centre of fencing, I have realised that without the community spirit of Chesterfield I would never have had the drive to achieve what I have, nor to keep striving to achieve, and I hope to promote my home town further in the run up to our own Olympic Games, London 2012.
Sunday 27 February 2011
Trials and Tribulations
I said I would write about my trials and tribulations and the start of this season has already provided me with the opportunity to write about them.
Doha A-Grade (Qatar) was our first competition and with preparation beginning from the end of the Worlds (Nov) I was well trained, rested and psyched. On our arrival in Doha sprirts were high, swords were working and legs were fresh. Unfortunately the food at the hotel buffet was not so fresh and 3/5 funded team members were hit with food poisoning.
Although I didn't get through to the second day of individuals and was in no fit state to fence in the team event, there were some victories during the trip. Sissi Albini came 23rd out of 145. We came 13th in the team event and although this was a place lower than last year it was our most consistant performance yet. We beat Mexico, Japan and Canada and narrowly lost to Germany 42-45 and Sweden 41-45.
The second comp was in Budpest and again has provided us with more trials. Although our flight was on time and the hostel was UNbelievably plush for 15 euros a night (this comp, not including a team event was self funded), our fencing bags were not brought from Heathrow until 2am meaning that we had to go the venue early to put our weapons through security and safety tests and went to sleep unsure of whether we would actually be able to compete at all the next day.
Although I felt I fenced more relaxed and confidently than I had yet in an international comp we all did bitterly badly and none of us made it through to the second day (a dismal result not yet encountered by us).
Of course I can lay on the excuses thicker and faster than the Swedish snow but that is not my intention. Instead I mean to portray the psychological strengths we are building as an individual and as a team. Despite the setbacks we are not beaten in spirit and I can honestly say I cant wait to return to London tommorow morning and start the weeks training again this time probably with more fire to prove myself (although could probably do without the 6am flight!).
Doha A-Grade (Qatar) was our first competition and with preparation beginning from the end of the Worlds (Nov) I was well trained, rested and psyched. On our arrival in Doha sprirts were high, swords were working and legs were fresh. Unfortunately the food at the hotel buffet was not so fresh and 3/5 funded team members were hit with food poisoning.
Although I didn't get through to the second day of individuals and was in no fit state to fence in the team event, there were some victories during the trip. Sissi Albini came 23rd out of 145. We came 13th in the team event and although this was a place lower than last year it was our most consistant performance yet. We beat Mexico, Japan and Canada and narrowly lost to Germany 42-45 and Sweden 41-45.
The second comp was in Budpest and again has provided us with more trials. Although our flight was on time and the hostel was UNbelievably plush for 15 euros a night (this comp, not including a team event was self funded), our fencing bags were not brought from Heathrow until 2am meaning that we had to go the venue early to put our weapons through security and safety tests and went to sleep unsure of whether we would actually be able to compete at all the next day.
Although I felt I fenced more relaxed and confidently than I had yet in an international comp we all did bitterly badly and none of us made it through to the second day (a dismal result not yet encountered by us).
Of course I can lay on the excuses thicker and faster than the Swedish snow but that is not my intention. Instead I mean to portray the psychological strengths we are building as an individual and as a team. Despite the setbacks we are not beaten in spirit and I can honestly say I cant wait to return to London tommorow morning and start the weeks training again this time probably with more fire to prove myself (although could probably do without the 6am flight!).
Tuesday 8 February 2011
When in Rome
Like Julius Caesar, I came and I saw, but the question is: did I conquer?
Just had a brilliant week of great fencing and even greater pasta in Rome, together with my team mate, Mary Cohen, (@fencingmary). Decided to go there to conquer the tensions and stiffness I get whenever my opponent is wearing a national kit NOT containing the union flag. Italy are currently ranked sixth in the world, and Rome being one of the best clubs in Italy, was a great place to train, focus on the season ahead and conquer my unjustified nervousness when fencing other nations.
Unlike British clubs, Rome fencing club has it’s own building within an Olympic sports venue and so is open throughout the day for training and fitness. Because of these “office hours” it certainly has more of an air of professionality about it. Both the fitness and the fencing is in one area, unlike my training which is split between various fencing clubs and Fitness First, and so the atmosphere they create is relaxed but meaningful and, more importantly, their own. Although it has provided me with some new ideas for training, in a paradoxical manner my greatest surprise was what I had really known all along: there is no magic formula to their fencing skills.
In between morning and evening training we got several opportunities to have a look around, and the hospitality of our host allowed us to gain true Roman experiences such as a midnight drive to the pastry factory and a real home-cooked Roman meal with friends.
When asking a twitter friend (@BudgetTraveller) –I have those now, you see- what there was to see when in Rome, I was told it was an open air museum so it would be best to walk around and stumble upon its history.
First impression was the contrast of modern graffiti scrawled upon ancient buildings, which suggested a lack of respect and a run down environment. However, the longer I was there, and the more awe-inspiring the monuments and churches I accidently came across, the more I realised the reason for the lack of red-tape and protection: all of Rome is still very much lived in, acknowledged and understood by its citizens in a very real way. The people of York are no more like Vikings than I am, but the Romans are still as Roman as Julius Caeser himself. Indeed, graffiti is Latin for “scratching” and refers to rude words scratched by Roman soldiers, so the graffiti merely confirms their roots.
So did I conquer?
They train hard, as do we, and perform well, as can we. Whilst this meant I did not leave Rome with The Answer, it has also revealed to me that, in the wise words of B.O.B (feat. Bruno Mars) “they got nothin’ on you babe”.
So Doha – bring it on!
Just had a brilliant week of great fencing and even greater pasta in Rome, together with my team mate, Mary Cohen, (@fencingmary). Decided to go there to conquer the tensions and stiffness I get whenever my opponent is wearing a national kit NOT containing the union flag. Italy are currently ranked sixth in the world, and Rome being one of the best clubs in Italy, was a great place to train, focus on the season ahead and conquer my unjustified nervousness when fencing other nations.
Unlike British clubs, Rome fencing club has it’s own building within an Olympic sports venue and so is open throughout the day for training and fitness. Because of these “office hours” it certainly has more of an air of professionality about it. Both the fitness and the fencing is in one area, unlike my training which is split between various fencing clubs and Fitness First, and so the atmosphere they create is relaxed but meaningful and, more importantly, their own. Although it has provided me with some new ideas for training, in a paradoxical manner my greatest surprise was what I had really known all along: there is no magic formula to their fencing skills.
In between morning and evening training we got several opportunities to have a look around, and the hospitality of our host allowed us to gain true Roman experiences such as a midnight drive to the pastry factory and a real home-cooked Roman meal with friends.
When asking a twitter friend (@BudgetTraveller) –I have those now, you see- what there was to see when in Rome, I was told it was an open air museum so it would be best to walk around and stumble upon its history.
First impression was the contrast of modern graffiti scrawled upon ancient buildings, which suggested a lack of respect and a run down environment. However, the longer I was there, and the more awe-inspiring the monuments and churches I accidently came across, the more I realised the reason for the lack of red-tape and protection: all of Rome is still very much lived in, acknowledged and understood by its citizens in a very real way. The people of York are no more like Vikings than I am, but the Romans are still as Roman as Julius Caeser himself. Indeed, graffiti is Latin for “scratching” and refers to rude words scratched by Roman soldiers, so the graffiti merely confirms their roots.
So did I conquer?
They train hard, as do we, and perform well, as can we. Whilst this meant I did not leave Rome with The Answer, it has also revealed to me that, in the wise words of B.O.B (feat. Bruno Mars) “they got nothin’ on you babe”.
So Doha – bring it on!
Tuesday 1 February 2011
Swedish Camp
This is a brief account of my recent trip to Sweden consisting of a satellite one-day competition which we took as a light start to the season followed by a five day camp with the Swedish and Estonian national teams. The competition was a bit of a disappointment with inconsistency in my performance resulting in my coming 31st out of 55, but also gaining good competition practice .
We arrived at the camp at what felt like midnight due to the early Scandinavian sunset and, seven Chinese buffet plates later (I had reason to commiserate), the five of us piled into our week's accommodation in the form of a log cabin made for three. Training with the Swedes (Estonians, a Kirghizstani and a Norwegian) was a fun affair of doing footwork drills to the rhythm of Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" and fencing to Metallica and Linkin Park.
Our free time was often spent in a (possibly, no I'm going to say highly likely) neo-Nazi cafe about a kilometre’s cold walk from the camp, in Uppsala as this was seemingly the only place for wifi and cheap hot chocolate. We also visited Uppsala Cathedral whose only significant feature to me was the St Lawrence door located in the East Wing.
All in all, the Swedish trip was a success, providing competition practise and increasing my confidence and fight for next time I come up against the six foot, blonde, gorgeous Swedish team.
P.S I am writing this in a Roman cafe and look forward to telling you aall about that too!
We arrived at the camp at what felt like midnight due to the early Scandinavian sunset and, seven Chinese buffet plates later (I had reason to commiserate), the five of us piled into our week's accommodation in the form of a log cabin made for three. Training with the Swedes (Estonians, a Kirghizstani and a Norwegian) was a fun affair of doing footwork drills to the rhythm of Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" and fencing to Metallica and Linkin Park.
Our free time was often spent in a (possibly, no I'm going to say highly likely) neo-Nazi cafe about a kilometre’s cold walk from the camp, in Uppsala as this was seemingly the only place for wifi and cheap hot chocolate. We also visited Uppsala Cathedral whose only significant feature to me was the St Lawrence door located in the East Wing.
All in all, the Swedish trip was a success, providing competition practise and increasing my confidence and fight for next time I come up against the six foot, blonde, gorgeous Swedish team.
P.S I am writing this in a Roman cafe and look forward to telling you aall about that too!
Monday 3 January 2011
Christmas
So this was my first Christmas as a full-time fencer. No exam revision, no essays and no working Christmas Eve and Boxing Day shifts at Pizza Hut. What a blissful prospect ... but not reality. Christmas as an athlete has actually been one of my biggest challenges yet and has demanded all the self-discipline I could muster.
The festive season is largely about the excessive and unnecessary consumption of food and drink. Mince pies, bread pudding and mulled wine aren’t really required, but they do seem to be a vital element of the celebrations and boycotting them opens one to accusations of party pooping. Finding the willpower to avoid these things, together with the requirement to train throughout, is enough to make one reach for the sloe gin.
I won’t pretend I didn’t enjoy a massive sense of smugness sitting down to Christmas dinner after running 3k. However, my satisfaction was challenged when I realised the public weren’t impressed by my dedication. Instead, the few dog walkers looked at me with wariness, confusion and humour as I slid and gasped my way across the frozen grass and mud of Holmebrook Valley Park.
I did have a particular story to inspire me though - not only through Christmas, but over the next few years. Lance Armstrong went on a ride on Christmas morning and another one later in the afternoon. Then, on hearing a fellow cyclist was planning on training that day, he undertook a third ride in the evening, to ensure he had done the most training that day. Armed with this knowledge, he came to the start line of the next competition, confident that he was the strongest.
One thing is certain about “professional” fencing – it consumes your life in a different way from an average graduate job. True, it does allow for afternoon naps, but every other rest moment is devoted to either sponsorship and promotional ideas, or psychology and equipment checks. On the few occasions I have a chance to socialise, I have to watch what I eat and drink before retiring to bed early to ensure I’m well rested.
And Christmas is no exception.
The festive season is largely about the excessive and unnecessary consumption of food and drink. Mince pies, bread pudding and mulled wine aren’t really required, but they do seem to be a vital element of the celebrations and boycotting them opens one to accusations of party pooping. Finding the willpower to avoid these things, together with the requirement to train throughout, is enough to make one reach for the sloe gin.
I won’t pretend I didn’t enjoy a massive sense of smugness sitting down to Christmas dinner after running 3k. However, my satisfaction was challenged when I realised the public weren’t impressed by my dedication. Instead, the few dog walkers looked at me with wariness, confusion and humour as I slid and gasped my way across the frozen grass and mud of Holmebrook Valley Park.
I did have a particular story to inspire me though - not only through Christmas, but over the next few years. Lance Armstrong went on a ride on Christmas morning and another one later in the afternoon. Then, on hearing a fellow cyclist was planning on training that day, he undertook a third ride in the evening, to ensure he had done the most training that day. Armed with this knowledge, he came to the start line of the next competition, confident that he was the strongest.
One thing is certain about “professional” fencing – it consumes your life in a different way from an average graduate job. True, it does allow for afternoon naps, but every other rest moment is devoted to either sponsorship and promotional ideas, or psychology and equipment checks. On the few occasions I have a chance to socialise, I have to watch what I eat and drink before retiring to bed early to ensure I’m well rested.
And Christmas is no exception.
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