Coaching team

Dan Barnham

I’ve been fencing for about two years now and have loved every moment of it. I began fencing at school and enjoyed it so much that I decided to join MFC. I started out fencing epee and learnt a lot, but when the opportunity arose I took up sabre and fell in love immediately. I love the versatility of sabre and the amount you can do with it. There is so much technique involved, and yet it often comes down to whoever’s quicker to strike. However, when it’s not between the guard lines, then technique plays a big part. As one of the newest members of the coaching team I’m still developing my coaching skills but I am already enjoying helping people learn. The thing I love most about MFC is the community. The club is welcoming to new people, helping them learn and become interested in the sport. Even people who have been fencing for a while are able to improve and the club supports them to achieve their goals.  Through my role as a coach, I want to help new people learn, and provide opportunity for everyone to improve.

Richard Emmerick

After a competitive fencing career I formed Mountains Fencing Club, using the Blaxland High School Gym, and began coaching. When the Australian Fencing Federation commenced its coaching accreditation scheme I became a Level I foil coach. Years later the New South Wales Fencing Association employed a Head Coach and I took up the position of State Foil Coach working for him. This role involved coaching state level fencers and coaching and managing teams in national events. When a need arose for an Assistant National Epee Coach in NSW I accepted this position and coached the national team members and athletes who wished to obtain national team selection. During this time I attained a Level II coaching qualification in both foil and epee. In 2013 I attended an FIE epee coaching course in Uzbekistan and in 2017 I attended an AFF epee coaching course in Melbourne which was run by a prominent FIE coach. I coached, at MFC, two national title winners and three fencers who have represented Australia. I have coached an Australian Under 23s Team which I took to an Asian Championships in Kuwait. My proudest achievement is in the creation of MFC as a community club which can coach both social fencers and international competitors.

Tom Linigen

I started fencing at the first school holidays camp all the way back in 2012 in year five. Since then I have been predominantly fencing epee at the club and going to the occasional state competition. I have been primarily fencing for the enjoyment of the sport from the casual atmosphere that MFC provides. I prefer the epee as a weapon due to its slow tactical nature and inherent ‘realism’ that it provides compared to the priority-based weapons. In 2018 I began to assist coaching on Saturdays however during 2019 stopped as I completed the HSC. I enjoy teaching others the patience and technique that epee requires and enjoy watching as someone evolves their technique over time.

Oliver Taylor

I first tried fencing when I was 11 years old, and although I enjoyed it as a fun Saturday activity when I started, fencing quickly turned into my most favourite time of the week. I really enjoy spending time with everyone at MFC and love fencing so much. When I started, I fenced epee for a short while before trying sabre. I fell in love with sabre and continued with it until we moved halls and the sabre fencing coach left. After this I went back to epee, and continued to enjoy fencing and the people I got to fence with. I began fencing on Monday and Thursday nights where I got to train in sabre with Joe Raciborski. I fenced epee and trained in sabre for around two years before the club began growing more and I could fence sabre full time. Although I now fence epee, sabre is still one of my favourite swords to fence. I really enjoy coaching, and seeing the people think outside of the box and the delight they get when they succeed. I really enjoy how MFC helps all athletes to be included and is willing to help anyone and everyone.

Imogen Waugh

After a life spent with no connection to any sport I discovered fencing in my 40s and immediately fell in love with it. Later, when it became apparent that disability would prevent me from fencing, MFC was generous enough to help me retrain as a coach so I could stay involved with this sport I enjoy so much. And while I still wish I could simply fence, since joining the coaching team I’ve discovered that I also really enjoy coaching. Plus the black gear looks very cool! I gained my Level 1 Australian Fencing Federation coaching accreditation in foil, epee and sabre in 2021. In December 2022 I travelled to New Zealand to complete my Level 2 Oceania Fencing Confederation coaching accreditation in foil. As a coach I try to make sure that everyone else has the same opportunity to fall in love with fencing that I had and find their own particular way of being involved in it.

Alessandra Wollaston

I discovered fencing when I was 12 and loved it immediately! I started training seriously and went on to fence competitively in foil for a few years, being selected to the NSW state team for two of those years and achieving some state and national titles. I joined MFC in 2015, after not having fenced for several decades. Getting back into a sport I love after the age of 40 has been challenging and so much fun! I began assisting the coaching team in 2018 and gained my AFF coaching accreditation in 2019. As a coach I aim to contribute to the Club’s culture of generosity and inclusivity, to play a part in making fencing a space of joyful camaraderie in which everyone feels welcome, accepted and supported to shine in their own way, and to encourage anyone wanting to get back into fencing after a long break, or to try fencing for the first time – you can do it!