Husayn Makes ‘Cookie Crumble’ and Wins the British Foil Championships!!!!

Posted on 14 December 2011 Updated on 14 December 2011

On Sunday 12^th December 2011 Sheffield Buccaneers favorite fencer Husayn Rosowsky won the British Men’s Foil Championships at the EIS in Sheffield.

In the round of pools he unfortunately injured his ankle whilst fencing Kola Abidogun, this had to be attended to and strapped up but despite this he won all his bouts including beating Richard Kruse 5-2.  We gave consideration to withdrawing after the pools but after checking the ankle over again it was decided to continue.  Ahmed Rosowsky also fenced and won all his bouts in the pool round, despite having done very little training recently (on meeting Ahmed, Richard Kruse noticed that he had put on a bit of weight and commented “what’s this, the heavy weight division”, I couldn’t possibly comment…ha ha).  Nathan Doherty fenced in his first Senior British Championships, won one bout AND scored two hits on Laurence Halsted (in his spiderman mask).  After the pools Ahmed was ranked 8^th, Husayn 9^th and Nathan 62^nd.  There was a rather severe 25% cut before the Direct Elimination stage which meant that Nathan got cut, though finishing 62 in such a significant and strong event is a good result for Nathan.  On the Saturday in the Men’s Epee Sam Boyle finished 61^st, winning 2 bouts in the pools and avoiding the cut, this again was a respectable result for Sam.  Also on Saturday Rowena Johnson fenced in the Women’s foil finishing 39^th.

In the last 32 Ahmed was drawn against Alex Tofalides and scored with a succession of strong attacks and despite doing too many counter-attacks won the bout 15-13.  Husayn drew Alex Robinson and then Paul Stanbridge to get to the last 16.  In the last 16 Husayn and Ahmed drew each other with Husayn eventually winning 15-12, I am sure Ahmed was not so despondent at his loss as it meant that ‘the family’ had a place in the last 8.  Ahmed was finally placed 11^th.  In the last 8 Husayn’s opponent was Amol Rattan whom he had defeated over a year ago in the final of the British Junior Championships, and this time to he won comfortably at 15-6.  The Semi-Final match was with Marcus Mepstead who had just defeated Richard Kruse.  Husayn got off to a good start and built up an early lead, part way into the bout Marcus collapsed with cramp in his leg which severely limited his movement for the rest of the bout, there was some discussion with the referees as Marcus had had an injury break for cramp earlier in the competition and as a fencer is not allowed more injury breaks for the same injury, there was a discussion over where the previous cramp was in the same place; however, there was a long break.  As Husayn was nursing his injured ankle he didn’t want to be attacking and left Marcus to try and make the running eventually winning 14-8.

In the final Husayn was against last year’s winner Keith Cook and after a brilliant display of fencing from both fencers Husayn steadily built up a lead to win 15-12.  A young Sheffield Buccaneers fencer watching the event made the comment “Husayn makes a Cookie Crumble” ha ha! quite good that.  I was very pleased to see that it was Keith and Husayn in the final, both exiting fencers, fast, energetic and with surprising variety in technique.  Keith has worked hard to demonstrate that his rightful place is amongst the select few at the top of British fencing, two successive British Championship Finals makes a point for Keith.  For Husayn too, this result following on from the previous weekend’s victory at the Leon Paul Cup, his performance at the Olympic Test Event and his 6^th place over the Summer in the World Student Games in China and years of top National and International results, surely shows that he’s the man to be watching for the future.

Husayn began fencing at the age of 7 with myself and Sheffield Buccaneers Fencing Club and right from that time till now he wanted nothing more than to fence, following the example of his brothers Yasin and Ahmed.  My thought from the start was that Husayn had all the prospects of going to the very top, most especially back then, I was thinking Cadet World Championships, where he eventually won a bronze medal.  As a 7 year old, through seeing his brothers, he understood what fencing was and wasn’t thinking about ‘pirate fighting’ like other 7 year olds, so it was possible to give focused coaching straight away, his parents could not have been more supportive, and of course he was very motivated and talented.  I well remember the early frustration he felt when he was too young for any of the competitions as he went to watch his brothers, and the disappointment he felt on going to watch his brothers at a local competition only to find that an impromptu Under 10s event had also been organized and he didn’t have his kit with him so couldn’t take part. His first National Title was to become British Under 10s Champion and from then until now he has typically trained at least 2 or 3 times a week with competitions most weekends.  There is no doubt that Husayn has far more to offer, he has shown himself capable of competing against the best in the world and will without doubt show this more and more.  Husayn Rosowsky is the man to watch for the future!

Adam Blight

Different Venue – Wednesday 7th December

Posted on 29 November 2011

Due to activities at Birkdale School, the fencing session next week on the 7^th December will take place at – The Park Centre, Duke Street Sheffield S2 5QP.  This is the same location as the club’s weekend training.  To get advance notice of all notifications like this register at the club website.

Yorkshire Youth League – November 2011

Posted on 21 November 2011

A great day of fencing at the Yorkshire Youth League competition today.  In the Under 10s Foil – Ayman El Amrani – 2nd, Edwin Paul – 3rd, Luke Hawdon – 18th out of a total of 25 Fencers.  In the Under 12 Boys Foil – William Kenyon – 12th, Ibrahim El Amrani – 15th,  out of a total of 19.  In the Under 14 Boys Foil – Alex Wakeman – 1st, Nathan Doherty 2nd, Ruairi McKay 5th out of a total of 9.  Nathan Doherty also won the series for this year.  Also fencing in the Uner 16 Boys Foil was Aaron Joyner also, but these results are not published yet.  I was pleased with everones fencing today, Edwin and Luke fenced in their first competition and so it was especially good for edwin to win a bronze medal in such a big event.

Temporary Change of Venue on 16th November

Posted on 8 November 2011 Updated on 8 November 2011

Due to activities at Birkdale School, the fencing session next week on the 16^th November will take place at – The Park Centre, Duke Street Sheffield S2 5QP.  This is the same location as the club’s weekend training.  To get advance notice of all notifications like this register at the club website. 

For further information – ask Adam Blight, tel: 0114 2738681 / 07761 284378 or 321@adamblight.plus.com

British Cadet & Junior Championships

Posted on 3 October 2011

A number of fencers from Sheffield Buccaneers Fencing Club fenced in the British Cadet And Junior Championships which took place on the 1st annd 2nd October.  In the Cadet Mens Foil – Nathan Doherty – 14th, Alex Spencer-Taylor – 21st, Alex Wakeman – 50th, in the Mens Epee – Sam Boyle – 40th and in the Womens Epee – Hannah Boyle – 33rd.  In the Junior Championships, In the Mens Foil, Nathan Doherty 16th, Alex Spencer-Taylor 58th, in the Mens Epee, Sam Boyle 64th, in the Womens foil, Rowena Johnson – 20th and in the Womens Epee, Caitlin Chang – 1st.  Both Caitlin  and Rowena attended the club for the first time on the Wednesday before the Championships having just started at University, Caitlin has now won a total of 11 National Championships and has been coached by Brian Matless at Harogate Fencing Club.  The result that most pleas me at the weekend was Nathan’s last 16 in the Junior event, from a seeding of 51 after the pools he beat Scot Ostachini then Shaun Grundy finaly facing Christian Archer, last seasons top Cadet and scored 10 hits against Christian.  After these events Nathan is 14th and Alex 20th in the Cadet rankings, both on track for a place in the British Cadet Squad at some point.

Summer Fencing & Beginners!!

Posted on 28 July 2011

We will be fencing on Wednesdays throughout the Summer AND our next beginners course will start on 21st September!

Back to Birkdale!

Posted on 26 June 2011

Sheffield Buccaneers Fencing Club will be back at its usual venue of Birkdale School on Wednesday!!!

Temporary Change of Venue

Posted on 5 May 2011 Updated on 5 May 2011

For some weeks Sheffield Buccaneers Fencing Club will be at a different venue.  The venue will be – The Park Centre, Duke Street, Sheffield S2 5QP.  This is the same location as the club’s weekend training.  The venue can be located by its very tall brick chiminey and is imediately behind the Duke Street library through the red door.  The dates during which we will be there are:–

May 18^th, 26^th

June 1^st, 8^th, 15^th , 22^nd

For further information – ask Adam Blight, tel: 0114 2738681, or 07761 284378, or buccaneers@adamblight.plus.com

Buccaneers Fencer Wins British Under 20 Championships

Posted on 12 October 2010 Updated on 12 October 2010

On Sunday 3^rd October Husayn Rosowsky from Sheffield Buccaneers Fencing Club won the British Under 20 Foil Championships which took place at the English Institute of Sport.  Husayn has been one of Britain’s top international fencers for some years now, achieving a bronze at the World Under 17s in 2007 amongst many other successes.  Despite this he has been unlucky with the various British age group championships since winning the British Under 10s a decade ago.

Husayn has fenced with Sheffield Buccaneers Fencing Club under the direction of coach Adam Blight since he was 7 and Has two older brothers, Ahmed and Yasin who are also both champion fencers.  In a surprising development to their fencing career, Husayn and Ahmed have both been involved in auditions for the next Pirates of the Caribbean film which they have been asked to take part in.  Anyone who knows the brothers would say that they would make perfect pirates.

Modern fencing is very much a ‘full on’ fighting sport, extremely intense, physically demanding and competitive.  Fencers need lightning fast reactions, great speed, control and tactical awareness.  Husayn is one of the fastest fencers in Britain, maybe even the world, but sometimes his temper and concentration have let him down in past events.  At the Junior Championships he never let the stresses of the event get to him and maintained his concentration throughout. He knew he could win and was determined that he would not make mistakes on the way to victory.  It was not until the semi-final that he experienced a powerful challenge from Alex Tofiledese, winning the bout 15-14. The final against Amol Ratan finished at 15-9 with beautifully controlled and accurate attacks.

Sheffield Buccaneers Fencing Club, under the direction of coach Adam Blight, has been the home of many of Britain’s top fencers.  In addition to providing training for elite competitive fencers, the club is also active in developing the youth side of the sport and providing beginners courses.  If you want to see film of Husayn in the Semi-final & Final go to www.youtube.com/user/adamblight