THE Tyne Valley is home to upcoming swashbuckling stars.

For, following a successful pilot at Hexham’s Queen Elizabeth High School, Tynedale Fencing has been formed with schoolchildren and adults already taken the opportunity to try out the sport.

Split into three sessions at the school on Tuesdays, the level of interest in the new club has impressed committee members who were inspired to form the club after seeing it go down a storm with local teenagers.

At the end of the last school year, QEHS secured funding from Sport England to run a seven-week programme which saw Durham Phoenix Fencing Club coach Chris Morton come into school.

He is now helping out with the formation of the new club, Tynedale Fencing working closely with Active Northumberland, which is very keen to get the sport up-and-running in the district.

Club chairman Jenny Gillatt has been instrumental in building interest, and has been pleased with the success of the sessions so far.

She said: “The trigger for forming the community club was that the only sport my son Max liked was fencing, and I was having to drive him over to Monkseaton every Saturday because there is nothing really between Newcastle and Carlisle. Fencing is a type of sport which would appeal to quite a lot of people who might not necessarily want to play team sport, even though we have a few rugby players involved.

“We have 16 people turning up for the adult sessions and a lot of Year 7 and 8 children, and we’re all delighted with how well it is going as it took a long time to get the club up-and-running.

“I have never been a fencer myself so it was my first go, and I am enjoying trying a new skill. It gets you active but gets you working your brain as well.”

To make the club a success, coaches and more equipment is needed. Active Northumberland, through its sports development manager for West Northumberland Kathie Keady, will support people wishing to help out.

Sessions for children in Years 7 and 8 run from 4pm, followed by slots for Year 5 and 6 children at 5.30pm, both in the sports hall at the high school. Adult sessions, aimed principally at beginners, start at 6.30pm and are held in the school’s Hydro building. People aged 14 and above are welcome to attend.