Fencing: Barson cuts the mustard as a master of coaching

Dave Barson became Dunedin's master fencing coach after enduring a five-week course in the heat of Doha.

Barson (38), the data manager for the injury prevention research unit at the University of Otago, joined 25 fencing coaches from the Middle East and Asia on the course.

Wellington's Yuan Ping was the only other New Zealander.

The course was conducted by two Olympic style fencing experts - Hugues Leseur, from France, and Petru Kuki, from Romania.

The course involved six hours of practical and theoretical work each day in the intense 42degC heat of Qatar.

The members of the course were put through a rigorous examination at the end of the course by the technical director of the International Fencing Federation, Ioan Pop, of France.

Barson, who passed the practical examination, has been granted master coach status in the foil discipline.

It is an internationally recognised qualification.

He grabbed the opportunity.

"It was a rare chance to work with a coach trainer with such experience," Barson said.

"I just learnt so much."

Barson, who became a coach in 2006, coaches at the Claymore Swords Club in Bond St, which has 50 members.

The course was funded by Fencing New Zealand, and Barson will hold seminars and workshops around the country during the next three months to spread the knowledge.

Barson became interested in sword fighting from a young age when he was growing up in Invercargill and took up the sport seriously when he moved to Dunedin with his wife, Fiona McDonald, 10 years ago.