IT IS a new start for the season with Wellington Swords Fencing Club. After the departure of the last club coach, Keni Yamamoto, who was head hunted to lead one of the top fencing clubs in London, Joseph Pearce now joins the ever expanding Wellington Swords as their lead coach.

Joe has a raft of qualifications covering all the three weapon disciplines – foil, epee and sabre – gained over eight years of coaching and 15 years as an active fencer. He has trained a wide range of medal winning men and women from cadets to veterans up to and including World Championship level.

He carries on the unique mode of competitive coaching in the Hungarian style that has been a strength within the club for many years, having gained a coaching diploma in epee and sabre fencing at the FIE Coaching Academy in Budapest in 2016.

He will be coaching twice a week - on a Monday and Thursday night from 6.30pm to 10.00pm at the Princess Royal Sports Centre in Wellington. Joe is really looking forward to his future with the Swords and hopes to expand the club into being a real centre of excellence for the sport. Anyone is welcome whatever their age or experience and Beginners Classes will be commencing again next month. Contact Joe through the club website at www.wellingtonswords.club