The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Spalding’s Custodians Fencing Club has recently celebrated its landmark 25th anniversary – and they are now aiming to keep the traditional Olympic sport alive in South Holland.
The club was founded by coach Andrew Bayston, who is actively seeking new members to join them at the Castle Spots Complex.
Bayston, along with the British Fencing Association and the Sports Council, targeted South Holland as a key location for the sport when the Custodians were launched back in 1994.
The aim was to target areas in the country that traditionally had no representation in certain target sports, of which fencing was one.
The aim was not just for people to try a new sport, but to help create the formation of new clubs to keep the sport alive.
Today, the Custodians is a social club that prides itself on the ethics of fair play and respect for opponents.
Its policy is still to run the club at a minimum and competitive price so that no one should feel excluded by cost. The club is a non-profit organisation, solely run by volunteers, with all funds being ploughed back into buying equipment for use of all its members.
Run at the Castle, classes are held on Friday evenings.
Outside of athletics, fencing is one of the original sports that has been represented at all of the modern day Olympic Games.
The Custodians have a junior section, which is suitable for the age range 7-14, and a cadet and senior section for those aged 15 and upwards.
Over the years, their eldest members have been 84 years old, so the sport is open to those of any age.
Fencing is also considered a great way to keep fit, both physically and mentally, and is suitable for everyone.
The Custodians are about to start some new trial sessions in June, so if anyone is interested in taking up a different exciting sport, now is the time to contact them.
You can do that by emailing Bayston5@aol.com and waiting for a reply.
