Fifteen year old Putney fencer is currently ranked 3rd in GB U17's
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Putney teenager, George Bailey has recently been selected to represent Great Britain in both the cadet (U17) and Junior (U20) foil fencing squads and is hoping to top this by being selected for the Cadet World Championships to be held in St Petersburg next Easter. He is currently ranked No3 in the British National Ranking for U17’s and 12th in the GB U20’s,
He has been fencing since he was almost 8 years old, having fallen in love with the sport, after seeing it demonstrated at Hampton Court when he was six. He started to learn the sport at Kings School Wimbledon Fencing Club on a Saturday morning; this fencing club is open to anyone who wants to learn the sport. He won his first county Under 12 title before he was 10 years old and continued to retain this each year until 2009, when he won a fencing scholarship to Millfield School in Somerset (one of the few schools in the country to offer fencing as a first sport option)and so could no longer compete in the Surrey County tournament.
He gained numerous medals whilst representing his school, Tower House, in East Sheen, at many competitions nationally and inter-school, as well as Richmond Borough for the London Youth Games, and he also won the U12 British National Championship, when he was 11. In an interview with the children’s newspaper “First News”, following this win, George described how he found fencing a calm sport and how, as a dyslexic, the concentration skills he had learnt from fencing helped him focus at school.
Competing at last weeks Junior (U20) World A Grade invitation
only competition
Now at Millfield, he is able to train and fence with some of the best coaches in the country, whilst still continuing with his education. He has represented Great Britain since he was 14, initially in the under15’s, last year in the U17’s and this year was selected for both the U17’s and U 20’s foil fencing squads.
Each overseas trip for competitions and training costs an average of £500 each and with seven or eight trips a year the costs mount up! A sponsor would be able to have a sponsors patch on his non fencing arm, his kits bags water bottles etc. They can meet George & Tris his coach to watch him train and for photo shoot opportunities.
Last season he was one of a few successful fencers to be sponsored by Sports Aid, this is a national body that identifies and supports future podium level athletes, this sponsorship whilst being very small was vital in helping to contribute towards his travel to international competitions and paying for new kit as he grows.
George’s long-term aims are to be selected for the GB senior squad for the Olympics and Commonwealth Games. If you are ionterested in sponsoring George please email editor@putneysw15.com and we will put you in touch.
December 23, 2011