Georgia Manikum Hannay

 

Club: Bristol Fencing Club

Coach: Andy Martin

Age: 13 years

DOB: 5.10.92

 

Season September 2005- February 2006

 

Nov 2005 35 th Women’s Cadet Foil Championships

Nov 2005 28 th Women’s Junior foil Championships

Nov 2005 3 rd Premier Junior Foil Under 14

Nov 2005 1 st Gloucestershire County Foil Under 14

Dec 2005 34 th Welsh Open Women’s Foil

Dec 2005 1 st South West Qualifier for the Nationals

Dec 2005 1 st Cadet Winton Trophy (Youngest member of the South

West Team)

Jan 2006 3 rd Under 14 Nationals, Stoke on Trent

Feb 2006 1 st Won the first competition in this year’s Premier Foil

Series


 

 

 

 

 

 

Georgia and coach,

Andy Martin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Georgia, fencing at

Bristol Fencing Club

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


My ambition is to represent Great Britain at the

2012 Olympics

in the sport of

FENCING

 

 

 


 

 

My name is Georgia Beth Manikum Hannay. I was born on 5th October 1992 and therefore I am nearly 13. I live in Bristol with my Mum (Ann) and Dad (Phillip) and brother (Jack). I’m currently in year 8 at Cotham Secondary School.  Before that I went to Westbury Park Primary School between 1996 and 2004.

 

I became interested in the sport of Fencing when the Bristol Fencing Club came to my school in 2002 because they wanted to start up a junior club. My mum had fenced when she was young and when I saw the demonstration I wanted to try it out. So I went to the first session and it was great fun. Since then I have attended every Saturday at the club and now attend every Monday.  Sometimes I have private lessons with my coach Andy Martin, especially if there is a big competition coming up. Also, I attend Bristol Grammar School fencing Club and I am part of the Senior Squad, which is coached by Tristan Parris.  

 

 In January 2004 I was selected to represent the South West in the under 12s at the British Youth foil Championships and gained a ranking of 11.  In January 2005 I was selected again but had to move up an age group (under 14s). www.britishfencing.com. I was ranked 15th, even though I was one of the youngest in the age group. At the moment I am ranked 1st in the under 14 Girls Premier Junior Foil Series of 2005 www.fencing.org.uk.

 

 

 

 

 

Fencing is great fun.  You try to beat your opponent by tricking them into thinking you have let your guard down, but you surprise them by attacking them first.  It’s all about guessing your opponents moves but hiding your own.  You have to react very quickly but also try to make your opponent make mistakes so that you can win the point.

 

 

In a bout you can be happy with yourself and annoyed the next. Bouts can be very close, so you mustn’t get too full of yourself or carried away because that will make you lose concentration and eventually the bout.  I always want to improve and win my bouts and I really enjoy the challenge.  Every competition I enter I want to win.

 

My best moment was when I won a bout against someone I had never beaten before.  She is an amazing fencer and the same age as me.  I knew it was going to be difficult, but I kept my nerve and was able to score some great hits.  It gave me the confidence to go on and win my first competition! 

 

Most of my pocket money, birthday money and money from jobs  goes to help buy equipment and pay for training. This year I was given a Talented Student Award from Bristol City Council.  This paid for a week’s training course at Millfield School this summer and a new jacket. Millfield was great fun and I learnt a lot.

 

My next goal is to try and win the under 14 Nationals, in January 2006. Andy, my coach, has promised to buy me a pair of silver Adidas fencing shoes if I win! In the next few years I hope to be selected for the G.B. Under 18 Cadet Team. However, I know I shall have to practise very hard and give up a lot of my free time to achieve these goals but I’m prepared to do my best. 

 

 

Georgia, coach, Andy Martin and

Dad, Phillip.