TAUNTON Blades coach Nat Lewis has been selected by British Fencing to attend an International Sabre Coaches course in Budapest, Hungary in September.

The event has been organised and funded by the Federation International d’Escrime (FIE), the world ruling body for fencing.

In the ground-breaking project only one professional qualified and an FIE approved coach from each country has been invited to attend, and the course will consist of intensive high-level training in advanced coaching techniques by some of the world’s top senior sabre coaches.

A past pupil of Castle School and Richard Huish, Lewis began his fencing career at the age of nine in Taunton at the Blades Club.

He subsequently won a number of national titles at all age-groups, fought in World and European Championships and gained success on the senior international circuit and World Cups, along with Commonwealth Games gold medal – and became the youngest international coach for Northern Ireland at the Junior Four Nations Championships.

Since graduating from university in 2012 he has made the transition to full-time coach with a number of top clubs including his university teams Bristol, Bath Swords – one of the biggest in the country, and at the National Academy while still continuing as head coach for his home club Taunton, which is now based at King’s School on Kingston Road.

Many experienced fencers including Sabre World Champion Jane Hutchison now receive training from him, but Nat also travels to a number of schools in the West Country during term time intent on introducing more youngsters to the sport.

Making the sole British selection was a great achievement, and Taunton fencers will be the first to receive the benefits when he returns from Hungary in October.