Isles fencer selected for Commonwealth event

A SHETLAND fencer is counting down the days until he represents Scotland again at the Commonwealth Fencing Championship in Australia next month.

Stephen Rocks, who now lives in Oxford, is one of five male sabreurs selected for the squad.

Ahead of the games in Canberra in November, the fencer has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise cash for his travel as there is no funding available.

It will be the second time Rocks has represented Scotland at the event, with the former Brae man winning two bronze medals back in 2014.

But he admits that the championship is likely to be one of his big last competitions.

The Scottish team is being led by former Shetland Fencing Club coach Andy Alderman and training has been ongoing ahead of the event.

“Fencing has given me a lot. I’m really grateful to have been able to start fencing and travelling to competitions when I was growing up in Shetland,” Rocks said.

“I’ve been in touch with Phil Hibbert who is the main coach in Shetland now. It’s great to hear the club is going strong. Hopefully I can get up to Shetland after the Commonwealth Championship and visit the club.”

Stephen Rocks’ crowdfunding page can be found online here.