Rome’s students go for Commonwealth glory

Warwickshire fencing coach Peter Rome will have a keen eye on proceedings at the forthcoming Senior Commonwealth Championship next week.

The Leamington-born head coach and manager of the Salle Ursa Fencing Club has trained Scotland’s Louise Creechan, England’s Lindsay Bottoms and Welsh swordsman Dan Perry, who will be competing at the event in Australia from Wednesday.

It was under Rome’s tutelage that Perry won gold in the Men’s Sabre at the Senior Commonwealth Games in India in 2008.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Vivien Frith, another student of Rome’s and Salle Ursa’s welfare officer, will aim to go two better when she takes part in the Veterans’ World Championship at the end of the month, having won a bronze medal last year.

Rome said: “It is something I am certainly proud of.

“Their achievements and their efforts allow them to see the world and compete with the best in the world.

“It is great life experience for them and to compete in a world competition in whatever sport is just phenomenal.

“There will be various text messages and emails going back and forward.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I always have them in mind but there is not a lot I can do to help them when they are on the other side of the world, I think of them, feel for them and want to know how they get on.”

Rome’s interest in fencing began more than 20 years ago when he took lessons as a pupil at Trinity School.

He is now the highest qualified coach in Warwick district and has achieved grade five levels in all three fencing swords - the sabre, the epee and the foil.

The 33-year-old has represented Warwickshire and the West Midlands at national level and has more than 15 years’ experience as a professional coach.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He also coaches the British paralympic team and is currently helping them train in preparation for the 2012 games in London.

Rome said: “Fencing was just a different sport which I had the opportunity to try and I thought it would be quite interesting.

“I picked it up, liked it and was reasonably good at it and I just took it from there.

“It is not a slow sport, it needs a lot of physical exertion but it is also a mental and tactical challenge to try and best your opponent.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It requires lots of different attributes for you to be successful.

“You need speed, strength and technique, flexibility, good reactions and timing - it encompasses every aspect of sport.”

Rome teaches between 500 and 1,000 people of various ages and abilities at schools and clubs across Coventry and Warwickshire.

Salle Ursa has more than 100 senior members, a 30-strong junior sabre squad and eight qualified coaches, which include Perry, Frith and Warwickshire women’s foil champion Bernadett Toth.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Lessons take place throughout the week and more details can be found on the club’s website .

Rome said: “It is a great sport for lots of different abilities.

“If you give it a try and give it several weeks to get the full appreciation it sells itself.

“It’s also good exercise at the same time.”

Email [email protected] or visit www.salleursafencing.co.uk