Nineteen year old Abbie Harvey from Gosforth has been accepted onto one of British Fencing’s World Class talent programme. Abbie who has been fencing since the age of 13 has steadily been climbing the fencing ladder after succeeding in a serious of championships over the years.
Abbie, sponsored by intu Metrocentre for the third year through Sports Newcastle is supported with funds for sponsorship fees and travel to tournaments, has earned a place following a gruelling three-day trial. As a result of her performance, she has been selected onto one of British Fencing’s World Class talent programmes: the Talent Identification and Confirmation (TIC) Programme. The programme is the first stage of the performance pathway and will involve monthly training weekends in London at Lee Valley, the World Class Programme training venue.
The three days of talent assessments included the women’s foil followed by men and women’s epee. Out of 83 athletes that were tested through a series of demanding physical tests, Abbie was selected as one of 20 to go onto the talent programme.
Intu Metrocentre General Manager Gavin Prior comments “We have seen great success with the Sport Scholar programme having sponsored Olympic gold medal winner Victoria Pendleton whilst she was a student at Northumbria University.
“It’s great to see Abbie achieving her own success and we are delighted her hard work and dedication has been acknowledged. She has trained very hard over the years and deserves this success.”
Abbie says: “I’m really thrilled to have been accepted, it will be hard work and a lot of effort but this is a sport I love doing and I am grateful for the support from Newcastle Fencing Club and intu Metrocentre.”