Congratulations to the winners of the 2023-24 BF Community Awards.
The BF Community Awards recognise the hard work and commitment of clubs, coaches, fencers and volunteers for their contribution to fencing. An independent panel selected the shortlisted nominees and winners.
The panel was made up of Chris Porter (UK Coaching), Ryan Grewcock (Archery GB) and Ben Quilter (ParalympicsGB).
After meeting with the panel, we are pleased to announce the winners and their responses as follows:
Performance Athlete of the Year: Dimitri Coutya
“I’m delighted to win the Performance Athlete Award. It’s a wonderful recognition from British Fencing for my performance in Paris last year. I would also like to congratulate Glen Golding on his award too, as it is thoroughly deserved.”
Young Athlete of the Year: David Sosnov
“I am very honoured to win this prestigious award and it means the world to me to gain such honourable recognition. I would like to thank British Fencing for their support and help this season, as well as my family, friends, coaches and teammates whom I rely on for support and guidance that allow me to perform to the best of my abilities.”
GBR Coach of the Year: Alex Bela & Glen Golding
“Being nominated for the Coach of the Year Community Award was an incredible honour, but winning it is truly humbling. Fencing is more than a sport – it’s a community, and I’m grateful to be part of something that brings people together, inspires growth, and fosters inclusivity. This award isn’t just mine; as the head coach at Paul Davis Fencing Academy, I’ve been fortunate to have the unwavering support of our incredible team – without them, none of this would have been possible. A special thank you to Paul Davis for making it all happen. Thank you!” – Alex Bela
“It’s a huge honour to be recognised through this award. This year has been such an incredible experience as a coach supporting the athletes in Paris and seeing them achieve so much. Thank you to all those that have supported me over the last year.” – Glen Golding
Community Coach of the Year: Paul Davis
“I am honoured to receive the Community Coach of the Year Award. What began as a passion for fencing has grown into a profession, and it has evolved into a true purpose. My aim is to use fencing as a tool to help children discover their inner warrior. The lessons we teach extend beyond the sport, equipping young people with skills that are applicable to all aspects of life. Together, we are building a community that empowers our youth to thrive both on and off the piste.”
Outstanding Contribution by a Referee: Christopher Farren
“I’m thrilled and honoured to be chosen as the winner of the Outstanding Contribution by a Referee Award. I feel strongly that refereeing is an integral part of our sport and that ongoing referee development should be a pillar of our growth strategy. There are literally hundreds of referees who contribute everywhere from grass-roots to elite level in the UK, and I’d like to thank every one of them for their work in making our sport better every day.”
Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer: Thomas Nipress
“Incredibly honoured to receive this award from a community of passionate and dedicated people. Fencing is for everyone and there for anyone to engage and enjoy to reach their own potential.”
Club of the Year: Paul Davis Fencing Academy
“As Academy Director, I would like to share how honoured we are to receive the British Fencing Club of the Year Award for the second year running. At Paul Davis Fencing Academy, we believe that it is not just about what you get but who you become. This award is a reflection of our philosophy that individual success is a team triumph. We look forward to using this recognition as a foundation to build a more engaged, inspired, and empowered community, where every member can thrive together.” – Paul Davis
Viveca Abrahams Memorial Award: Swindon Fencing Club
“On behalf of Swindon Fencing Club, we are delighted to receive this prestigious award, which reflects BF’s recognition of all the hard work and commitment by our coaches, over the past five years, resulting in almost 5,000 children discovering fencing in Swindon and the local area. We’ve only just started and can’t wait to share our sport with many, many more children and young people so we can grow fencing into the mass participation sport that it should be. Thank you, British Fencing.” – Neil Bromley
Congratulations once again to all of the winners.
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