Top-Class Fencing Coach In Chch

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31659, 20 April 1968, Page 17

Top-Class Fencing Coach In Chch

Fencing in Canterbury should be boosted considerably by the efforts of the Australian national coach, J. E. Fethers, who is in Christchurch until Monday to give instruction to club, school and university competitors.

Fethers is on his second coaching trip to New Zealand; he was here last in 1966. The Amateur Fencing Association obtained his services with the long-term view of training fencers for participation in future Commonwealth’ Games, but there is concern felt in fencing circles over the exclusion of the sport from the 1974 application by Christchurch. Some people feel that Fethers’s trip could be in vain, unless the games promotion committee in Christchurch has a change of heart. While in Christchurch, the master swordsman will have plenty to occupy his time. The number of secondary school pupils engaged in fencing has reached 450, more than double last year’s figure. Fethers has a distinguished record in amateur and professional fencing. He was twice the silver medallist in the foil at the Empire Games (1950-54), and represented his country at the 1953 world championships and the 1952 Olympic Games. In 1951, he was the Australian champion in foil, epee and sabre—the first man to

hold all three titles simult neously. Ain outstanding foilist, he won the British title in 1954 and was the run-ner-up in the Festival of Sport international competiion the following year. In his professional career Fethers won seven British titles in the three weapons, between 1961 and 1965. He was appointed Australian national coach two years ago.