Westcliff fencer has done it all in the sport
WESTCLIFF – Local fencer shares what she has learnt competing in the sport for 56 years, which included fencing for South Africa.
Marguerite Langton (71) believes she will only stop fencing when she drops dead on the piste.
The Westcliff resident has been competing in fencing for 56 years, with tournament medals galore under her belt.
Although she has never been a national champion, Langton twice represented South Africa at World Championships and – appearing to get better as time goes by – she won three golds, one silver and three bronze medals at the Veterans Fencing World Championships between 2006 and 2012.
But unable to afford to travel around the world any more, she said those medals will just have to do for now.
“I started fencing when I was 16 and my school teacher started a club,” she recalled.
“They got a coach from France, Claude Caux, to come teach us. I liked that it is more a mind game than a physical one, like high-speed chess, and it was great fun.”
Langton described the sport as attracting nice people, but who are ‘lone wolves’ who don’t always get along with people not of their kind.
“We are all friends off the piste, but fencing is competitive and sometimes it gets complicated. Occasionally an ego will get the better of someone.”
On the other side of the coin, she said the sport teaches one how to control their emotions because if someone loses their temper they usually fight poorly and lose.
Langton’s favourite fencing sword is the sabre.
In sabre fencing, fencers can cut as well as stab, and earn points by striking an opponent from the waist up, including the arms and head.
Langton trains at the renowned Tyshler Fencing School in Praegville.
“I would encourage anyone to take up fencing because of the benefits for the mind and body.”
https://www.citizen.co.za/rosebank-killarney-gazette/video_of_the_day/active-fencing/
