Senior Foil Update – December 2019

BF is delighted to announce the appointment of Lorraine Rose to Senior Weapon Manager (Foil).

Lorraine brings to the role her significant experience of working in a range of roles within the community. These roles include Welfare Officer, Coach, Club Trustee, Board Member (BDFA), GBR Team Manager (inc. three European Championships and two World Championships). As a tutor of a variety of courses including Team Manager, Safeguarding and Protecting Children and UK Anti-Doping, Lorraine has a wealth of knowledge which will allow her to support Senior athletes and coaches in a number of different areas.

Johnny Davis will continue to lead (in his role as Olympic Team Manager) on supporting the athletes currently on route to qualifying for the Olympics. Lorraine, along with other Senior Weapon Managers, (Pat Aiyenuro (Senior Sabre) and Marie-Pauline MacKinnon (Senior Epee)) will have responsibility for supporting the wider Senior Squads.

In line with the desire to increase independence in selection, the role of the Senior Weapon Manager has been updated. Moving forwards, Senior Weapon Managers will not be selectors. They will be responsible for facilitating the selection process and may act as the (non-voting) Chair of Selection Panels. (More information can be found below.)

With regards to Senior Foil Coaching, Johnny will continue to work with the Senior Men’s Foil team to optimise coaching support at the Senior World Cups.

Chris Galesloot continues to be responsible for the development of the U23 Men’s Foil, working with Johnny and the ADP coaches to identify opportunities for athletes to move through the pathway into Senior success.

Following on from a review of Senior Women’s Foil performance and 2024/28 trajectory analysis, Alex Beardmore has been given responsibility for the development of a Senior Women’s Foil team,  working alongside Johnny, Chris and other ADP coaches to create a strategy for future Senior Team success in this weapon. As part of this work, Alex Beardmore will continue to travel to Senior Women’s Foil World Cups as the GBR Women’s Foil Team coach.

Summary Responsibilities

The Senior Weapon Manager provides a link between the Athlete Development Programme (responsible for supporting athletes on a performance pathway to from Cadet and Junior to Senior World and Olympic success), independent senior selection (overseen by the International Senior Management Group) and the wider group of Senior athletes representing GBR at Satellite, World Cup and Grand Prix level.

• Responsible for making and maintaining contact with athletes eligible for selection for senior international squads and helping them navigate the BF policies and procedures regarding participation in GBR representational events
• Act as a central point of contact for athletes and coaches within their discipline answering enquiries regarding selection, rules, rankings and other matters related to Senior international squads
• Facilitate engagement of Senior international squad athletes in ADP activities, under the guidance of the ADP Weapon Lead Coach(es)
• Provide a consistent approach to communicating expectations and encouraging professional behaviours and a supportive team ethos as set out by the Olympic Team Manager and the ADP.
• Act as an additional two-way communication channel between athletes and ADP to ensure that issues are appropriately escalated and resolved.

A full description of the Responsibilities of the Senior Weapon Managers can be found here.

A list of Senior Contacts can be found here.