HEAD COACH TEAM

COACH BAZ CLARK

  • HEAD COACH - SABRE & EPEE (2018-Present)
  • DIRECTOR OF COACHING & CLUB PRESIDENT

Specializations - Sabre & Epee

Coach Baz has been involved in Fencing nationally for over 20 years and was #1 NZ Ranke men’s Sabre Fencer for 6+ years as well as winning the 2017/2018 Oceania Sabre Championship.

In 2013-2017 he was Head Coach at the Highly decorated UHFC Fencing Club as well as being a High-Performance Coach for Fencing Central. During his tenure as coach across multiple clubs he has developed athletes that have represented NZ at Junior, Open and Vet Commonwealth Championships, Developed National Champions and provided a positive learning experience for anyone who is interested in Fencing.

He has held almost every National Title between 2012-2020 is now focused on coaching here in Hawke’s Bay having moved here in 2017.

Baz has represented NZ in the 2014 & 2018 Open Commonwealth Championships for both Open Foil & Sabre also severed as NZ Sabre Coach for the Commonwealth Championships in 2018 and in 2021 achieved his 100th podium.

COACH OLLY STYLES 

  • HEAD COACH - FOIL

Specializations - Foil & Sabre (2019-Present)

Olly has been fencing on and off for 20 years. This began in 1998 when he picked up a foil on a whim during his orientation week at university.

Probably chosen more for his banter on the minibus than overall skill with the foil, he was selected to be on the fencing squad for Royal Holloway (University of London) in his final year.

On moving to London for work, he fenced recreationally and competitively in the capital and even began to branch out from his beloved foil after being persuaded to attend an intensive weekend Sabre session with UK fencing master John 'Jes' Smith and eventually moved to New Zealand in 2012.

Having almost given up hope of being able to fence in Hawke's Bay he was heartened to read of a regional club in the local newspaper and joined Hawke's Bay Blades in 2018 and in 2022 he represented NZ at the Veteran Commonwealth Champs in London


ASSISTANT COACH TEAM

COACH HAYDN

JUNIOR COACH (2021-Present)

  • Foundational Fencing

Haydn was born in Auckland and became interested in Fencing when he was working at Children's Adventure camps in the UK while on his OE.

He ran kids' taster sessions for an hour and thought, "What a cool sport!" However, he did not think more about it until many years later, after meeting his wife and moving down to Hawkes Bay to start a family.

He came to the HB Blades Fencing Tournament in 2019 with his family to have a look, and he and his daughter Mackenzie joined straight away!

Haydn started with Foil for the first couple of years but became interested in Epee last year and undertook the Level 1 Epee Coaching course.

He enjoys teaching newbies the sport of fencing and encouraging all types of people to learn.

COACH LYDIA

JUNIOR COACH (2024-Present)

Specializations - Musketeers & Foundational Fencing

Lydia has been fencing with the club since 2019 and was originally coached by Yuan Ping (Ex-Commonwealth Foil Champion)

She is passionate about passing on skills and knowledge to aspiring fencers and is really passionate about working with both social and competitive fencers



COACH ISLA

JUNIOR COACH (2025-Present)

  • Musketeers & Foundational Fencing
  • 1-1 Foil Lessons

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Isla is available for 1-1 Lessons in Foil throughout the week however has limited space.

COACH OLIVE

JUNIOR COACH (2025-Present)

  • Musketeers & Foundational Fencing
  • 1-1 Foil Lessons

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Olive is available for 1-1 Lessons in Foil throughout the week however has limited space.

COACH NIAMH

JUNIOR COACH - (2023-Present)

  • 2025 Club Capitan
  • Musketeers & Foundational Fencing
  • 1-1 Sabre Lessons

Niamh has been fencing since 2018 and fences competitively with and her main weapon being Sabre but will occasionally fence foil at tournaments.

Niamh was selected and competed for New Zealand at the 2024 Junior/Cadet Commonwealth Team and is currently aspiring towards the 2026 Cadet & Senior Commonwealth Team

Niamh is available for 1-1 Lessons in Sabre throughout the week however has limited space.




COACH ARCHIE

JUNIOR COACH (2024-Present)

  • Musketeers & Foundational Fencing
  • 1-1 Sabre Lessons

Archie is a junior coach at Hawkes Bay Blades. and has been fencing since 2019 and has loved every single year of fencing.

Fencing for him is an amazing sport and he look s forward to coaching it this year at the Blades.

Archie is available for 1-1 Lessons in Sabre throughout the week however has limited space.



COACH FLORENCE

JUNIOR COACH (2025-Present)

  • Musketeers & Foundational Fencing
  • 1-1 Sabre Lessons

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Florence is available for 1-1 Lessons in Sabre throughout the week however has limited space.



PAST COACH TEAM


  • Jenna Baker - 2024 to 2024 
  • Wyatt Horsfall - 2023
  • Lanna James - 2021 to 2023
  • Zoe Congalton - 2023
  • Jules Congalton - 2014 to 2023
  • Stephanie Gilbert - 199? to 2013
  • Raymond van Rijk - 199? to 2013

OPEN SESSIONS WEEKLY

Tuesdays

  • Musketeers (Under 12) - 5PM to 6PM (Starts Feb 4, 2025)
  • Advanced Foil - 5:15 to 6PM - W/Coach Olly (Starts January 21, 2025)
  • Juniors & Adults Class- 6 pm till 8 pm

Thursdays

  • Musketeers (Under 12) - 5PM to 6PM, (Starts Feb 4, 2025)
  • Advanced Epee - 5:15 to 6PM - W/Coach Baz(Starts January 17, 2025)
  • Juniors & Adults Class - 6 pm till 8 pm

Saturdays

  • Musketeers (Under 12) - 8-9 AM
  • Advanced Class - All Weapons - 9 -11 AM  
  • Advanced Sabre - 11-11:45 AM to 6PM - W/Coach Baz (Starts January 11, 2025)
  • Free Fencing 11 AM 11:45


Private Lessons by Arrangement