Harris brings hope to Canterbury fencing

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32563, 24 March 1971, Page 24

Harris brings hope to Canterbury fencing

'The inclusion of a young Christchurch man, G. L. Harris, in the New Zealand fencing team to compete in the Oceanic Games in Brisbane next month, will provide the sport In Canterbury with a much needed boost.

For many years fencing in Canterbury, and the South Island, has been overshadowed by the strength of the Auckland and Wellington centres, and it is four years since a Canterbury fencer was included in a national team.

ONE DAY A HERO . . . On August 18 last year, a young Belgian named Jean - Pierre Monsere readied the pinnacle of his chosen sport when he won the world professional road cycling championship at Leicester. Seven months later, to the day, he was dead, the victim of a head-on collision with a car which apparently ignored instructions from race marshals. These pictures, taken at Leicester by R. M. Cairns, “The Press” cycling reporter, indicate the adulation the world champion faces in a cycling-crazy Europe. Only minutes after receiving the rainbow jersey and hat, and gold medal that are a champion’s lot, Monsere was being interviewed for Eurovision. The photograph at left shows him crossing the finishing line, arms aloft in triumph. One New Zealander to feel Monsere’s death more deeply than most was T. J.Tabak, a new professional and whose FlandriaMars team was captained by the champion.

Harris sees his inclusion in the team as a chance to improve the standing of the sport in the province as well as improve his own skill and knowledge. "Seeing me in the team should give other fencers in Canterbury some confidence, after the dominance of the North Island, and make them work harder for national honours,” said Harris. The 22-year-old Harris learnt his fencing at Cashmere High School, where he is now a teacher. Now in his eighth season, he had three years fencing at school and for the last four years has been a member of the University Club. However, only for the last three seasons has he been fencing competitively. At last year’s national championships he competed in them for the first time the previous year he was third in'the epee, his specialist weapon, behind two very experienced fencers, B. Andrew and B. Pickworth (both Auckland). He is the present Canterbury epee champion. Although he does fight with the other two weapons, the sabre and the foil, Harris concentrates on the epee which involves a different style and technique. The games in Brisbane will be Harris’s first taste of international competition but he feels it is a little ambitious to aim for the j Olympic Games in Munich next year. “Until I develop experience and skill with the two other weapons I couldn’t hope to reach the Olympics. All-rounders who can fight the three weapons competently are usually chosen for Olympic and Commonwealth Games teams,” said Harris.

During the last few years considerable pressure has been brought on fencing administrators and the selectors to include younger members In national teams. The pleas have finally been heard and the team to compete in Brisbane consists basically of young fencers. Harris said a large team was chosen with several exponents of each weapon being given the chance to prove their talents. The team differs from most others in that all-rounders

do not make up the larger part of the team. “The younger fencers who did well at last year’s national championships have been given their chance with the exclusion of several of the older and more experienced competitors.”

The training required for the epee differs slightly from the other weapons. Energy is needed in short bursts but for prolonged periods on occasions, so accuracy and speed are two esesntial attributes. Road work is not advised for fencing as it develops the wrong muscles. Most

of the training is done indoors and is based on calisthenics and similar exercises. Coaching school fencing groups give Harris the opportunity for extra practice, but the bulk of his training is done with senior members of the University Club. Each fight has to be taken as it comes, he says, and he is constantly striving to develop new tactics. Harris said he intends to compete for several years yet, his main aim at present being to encourage Canterbury fencing and pass the knowledge he gains from his international matches on to younger competitors —particularly in the schools where the province’s fencing strength lies at the moment.