GBR PATHWAY CAMP OUTLINE: 30TH-31ST AUGUST 2025

A GBR Pathway camp will be taking place on the 30th-31st August 2025, with camp details and instructions listed below.
Foil
Day 1:
- Preparing for individual performance
- Competition (poules)
- Pre-competition routines discussion
Day 2:
- Team performance
- Team briefs and debriefs discussion
Sabre
Day 1:
- Fencing everyone in the room – shake off the exam cobwebs and get settled into the training
- Being more assertive in the centre of the piste – how can we control and force mistakes better
Day 2:
- Adaptivity during DE bouts – how can we prepare for change better in DE bouts? Where are the moments of momentum?
- Team matches – how to bring your best self to a team match.
Epee
Theme: Inside the Distance: Building Tactical Confidence Under Pressure.
Objective: Strengthen fencers’ confidence and tactical awareness in both attack and defence, through scenario-based exercises and structured peer reflection
Day 1: Tactical Depth Through Scenario Sparring
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- Progressive sparring formats: bouts to 1, 5, and 15 hits.
- Each format is designed to sharpen decision-making, distance control, and execution under varied pressure.
- Embedded reflective practice: structured peer feedback and coach-led discussions to deepen tactical awareness and personal insight.
Day 2: Evolving Epee – Strategy, Identity, and Team Dynamics
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- Exploratory session: “What does the future of Epee look like?”
A collaborative dialogue on emerging trends, tactical evolution, and athlete identity within the weapon. - Team Matches:
Focus on communication, role adaptation, and strategic cohesion in a team setting—building on individual insights from Day 1. - Individual competition
- Exploratory session: “What does the future of Epee look like?”
Coaches:
The following coaches will be at the camp:
Epee – Ian Lichfield, Oana Puiu, Tom Bennett, Lorraine Rose
Foil – Dan Robinson, Marco Zaffino, Will Lonsdale (mentor)
Sabre – Fran Whalley, Phil Shepherd-Foster, Can Aydin
Arrival:
Please arrive at the Sports Centre after 10:00 for an 10:30 start on Saturday (30th August) and after 09:00 for a 09:30 start on Sunday (31st August). The address is of the Sports Centre is:
University of Nottingham Sport
David Ross Sports Village (DRSV)
University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham
NG7 2RD
What3words address: https://w3w.co/yoga.boot.rocks
Departure:
Departure will be from the same place at 17:30 on Saturday and 17:00 on Sunday; please sign out when you leave.
The timings for each day are:
Saturday 30th August: 10:30-17:30
Sunday 31st August: 09:30-17:00
Important Notes:
You will need to bring food for lunch each day, there is limited food available to buy onsite.
Sign up:
If you have applied to the 2025-26 GBR Pathway Programme, you should have received an email from Sport:80, which you need to accept by Thursday 21st August.
Dates for the 2025-26 season:
The GBR Pathway Camps for the 2025-26 season are:
30th – 31st August 2025
13th – 14th December 2025
7th – 9th April 2026 (date TBC)