Wrexham mother and son fencers win championship places

Rose and David Gregory need to raise �5,000 to compete in Melbourne

A mother and son have each won a place in the 2010 Commonwealth Fencing Championships in Melbourne.

Rose Gregory, of Rossett, in Wrexham county, is representing Wales as a veteran and her son David, 22, the Welsh champion, is in the open section.

But the pair face raising £5,000 to meet their travel and hotel costs.

Ms Gregory said: "I am desperate to be able to go and compete myself as well as having the chance to watch David compete on the big stage."

Both the open and veteran championships are held from 29 September to 5 October.

Ms Gregory recently competed in Scotland and her son in Poland to secure their Commonwealth tournament places.

I watched David for all those years but never really understood the thrill of competing until I had a go myself, and then when I did, I was hooked

Rose Gregory

Former Welsh veterans' champion Ms Gregory, who took up the sport six years ago and is now the number two in Wales, said: "The problem is the cost.

"The Welsh Fencing Association simply hasn't got the required funds to be able to pay for fencers to go as they have to pay for officials and also supply some referees to the tournament too.

"That means we have to raise the cash to go ourselves. I am concentrating on raising the £2,500 we need for David first.

Jacket and breeches

"It will be a fantastic opportunity and something he has worked so hard for so long for."

She said the cost of a jacket and breeches and at least three good epee swords meant a bill of at least £700 per person.

She said: "I took up the sport very late, really.

"I watched David for all those years but never really understood the thrill of competing until I had a go myself, and then when I did, I was hooked."

The mother and son train at Wrexham Fencing Club on Monday and Friday evenings.