We have decades of experience spread amongst our coaching team. We also encourage our younger members with experience pass on their knowledge to beginners and new fencers.
Robert Gastaldo-Brac (Head Coach – Foil, Epee)
Robert grew up in the UK and started fencing at the age of 14; soon after he was the Hertfordshire U16 Champion. That was in the mid 70’s, and Robert has been involved in fencing in one form or another his entire life. He captained the London Team against Counties (“the rest”) in 1983, fenced…
Russell Johnson (Senior Coach – Sabre, Foil)
I have been fencing at HVFC for the past 16 years starting at the age of 7. I have been coaching in 2011 by helping our senior coach with group work. I have achieved my OFMA level 1 coaching qualifications. This an internationally recognised coaching standard which I have been able to utilize as part…
Simon Gibson
Simon joined Hutt Valley Fencing Club in 2018 as a way to get fit and lose weight following a break from fencing of 25 years. During the break he was a corporate trainer at many Fortune 500 companies in Japan. In 2020 he restarted coaching, attending UFC8 in Melbourne, learning a great deal from Italian…
Winter Johnson (Junior Coach – Foil, Epee)
My name is Winter and I have been fencing at HVFC for about 6 years. I will turn 16 this year in September and I also gained my Level 0 coaching accreditation in October last year. I love the sport of fencing and fence both foil and sabre competitively.
Hutt Valley Fencing Club 