Putting a weapon in the hands of a child may be deemed unwise by many but Scottish Fencing, the sport’s governing body, is targeting primary school pupils as part of its latest recruitment drive.

Last weekend, at Falkirk College, the first under-10 national fencing competition was held as part of Scottish Fencing’s 5 Series which, with the aid of National Lottery funding, promotes junior excellence in the sport.

“In many ways, the children create the demand. There are primary schools that fence but they have tended to be, in the main, from the private sector,” says Robin Watt, honorary youth manager of Scottish Fencing.

“Obviously, some youngsters are attracted by the Robin Hood element to fencing and the excitement of getting involved. In other cases, it is because coaches have taken classes in school or some pupil has gone on to great things at national or international level.

“I have recently heard that there is a new class at St George’s School in Edinburgh which has 40 new fencers (Primary 6), and that is great news for the sport as, like most sports, there is a shortage of girls. Even if only 10 of those girls take to fencing competitively, it will be great for the sport.

“A sixth-former at the school, Sarah-Jane Stewart, has provided a role model. She recently did very well in the epee at the British Junior Championships (finishing third) and is starting to make a name for herself, which helps pupils from the school follow on.

The Primary 6 fencing class has since had to be cut to around 30 to make it more manageable but there remains overwhelming demand from pupils in P5 and P6.

“The under-10 competition is a new initiative for us,” says Mr Watt. “Three years ago, we had under-14 events and there are now competitions at under-12 level. It was obvious that there was a demand for under-10s.

“When we had the younger children in the under-14 competition, there was a big difference and there was a danger of them being duffed up by the 14-year-olds.

“It is important that we take the sport into primary schools as much as possible.”

Four primary schools in Dunfermline regularly have visits from coaches and the Highland Fencing School, which operates in different venues, provides classes in towns such as Dingwall and Inverness.

“I think schoolchildren really respond to the competitive nature of the sport and like nothing more than to go to an event and get a medal,” says Scottish Fencing administrator Lorraine Rose.

The JEX (junior excellence) programme is open for a maximum of 40 fencers aged 12 to 18 and is 70 per cent financed by the Lottery. It caters not only for fencers who achieve results in national competitions but also for those who show the brightest prospects. As well as Scottish coaches, respected coaches from the Hungarian Academy are involved.

Lottery funding has also enabled the governing body to hold weekend coaching camps for youngsters at Inverclyde, in addition to a summer camp. However, fencing clubs remain the way for the most talented children to graduate to national competitions. There are 44 registered clubs in Scotland and Ms Rose does not know of any club that does not supply starter kits for children.

Youngsters are advised to concentrate on one of the three weapons - foil, epee or sabre - rather than trying two or three, which is often the norm.

With weapons costing anything from pound;26-pound;40, depending on quality, and protective clothing and face masks costing a total of around pound;200, it is not a cheap sport to take up. Beginners do not need to shell out that amount of money initially. It is quite common to see young fencers in tracksuit trousers when they start out.

“Money can be an issue but, in my experience, travelling to competitions is the most expensive element,” says Mr Watt. “We try to provide group travel to national competitions where possible.”

The sport has been closely associated with private schools and although fencing is strong in that sector, it is not their exclusive preserve. The current Scottish schoolboys champions are Bo’ness Academy and Dunfermline High have been the schoolgirls champions for the past two years.

Both schools will have the chance to defend their titles at the Scottish Secondary Schools Fencing Championships at Inverkeithing High in Fife tomorrow. Independent schools such as Edinburgh Academy, Fettes College and Stewart’s Melville College will also be competing.

“In terms of numbers, the sport is pretty much where it was 10 years ago,” says Mr Watt. “Glasgow is still weak but Edinburgh continues to be strong. West Fife has a healthy set-up and there are 60-70 fencers at the Highland Fencing School, which started up about three years ago.”

Scottish fencing has achieved considerable success in recent years and there is no lack of role models. London-based Georgina Usher, a Scot by origin, is the British women’s number one in the epee and Edinburgh’s Chris Jamieson is top of the British men’s list for the sabre.

To follow in their footsteps takes dedication, warns Mr Watt. “Schools play their part but if a junior wants to do well in competitions, he or she really needs to be club based. Training one day a week is OK for beginners but competitive fencers at places like the Edinburgh Fencing Club in Trinity are training two or three nights a week as well as at weekends.”