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Coaching Staff

Petar Toshkov Certifications Coaching BA Physical Education - specialization in fencing Petar is our newest addition to our coaching staff. He comes to us with many years of experience teaching fencing at San Jose University, Stanford University, the San Jose Fencing Centre, a couple years with the Hawaii Fencers Club, and most recently with the National Sport Academy in Sofia Bulgaria. Petar has trained some of the top US fencers, but has also worked with new fencers. Petar looks forward to learning about life in Canada and hopes to find a good home.

Shane Carritt Certifications Coaching Prevost (epee) Refereeing Provincial Epee, Foil, Sabre First Aid St. John's Standard w/ CPR Shane is very experienced coach, and specializes in teaching both sabre and epee programs. Coming from a highly competitive background himself, and with about 13 years of coching our programs, Shane has been able to develop our fencers to a respectable showing on the Provincial circuit, and prides himself on teaching skills that our fencers can use sucessfully at any level of their fencing career. A dedicated athlete who is competitively active in other sports as well, Shane is always willing to help out with any problem that our fencers have, be it technical, nutritional, procedural or mental.

Norm Wiebe Certifications Coaching Prevost (epee) Refereeing Provincial Epee First Aid St. John's Standard w/ CPR Norm is one of the founding members of the club; and basically the club manager. A competitive fencer, Norm's past 14 years of service to the club, and 9 years to the provincial association, has seen many changes. He brings a wealth of experience and information to our board and coaching programs. Norm's relaxed and comfortable manner belies his desire to see our fencers become everything they are capable of. His previous military and business world experience, give him a wide variety of life experiences that benefit the club.

Karren Lyver Certifications Coaching Aide Moniteur Karren started fencing at MUN in Newfoundland before finding a home with RDFC. Although she started her fencing career with foil, she has been taken with the epee, or perhaps convinced of what benefits epee has to offer; and so she focuses her energies there now. Karren competes sucessfully on the provincial circuit, and has earned many medals these past few years. She routinely qualifies for CFF national level events, and is often in attendance at those as well. Karren is an able instructor, with a gift for working with our younger fencers. Everyone loves Karren.

David Coates Certifications Coaching Aide Moniteur Dr. David Coates was the man responsible for the beginnings of our fencing club. His passion for sport, and commitment to community, helped to bring the club together in the early days. Dave was our first club president, and although he was away for a few years, he's come back to help us continue our growth, and hone his competitive skills on the competitive circuit. Dave also competes internationally as a pentathlete so ask him about pentathlon sometime.

Elyse Richards Certifications Coaching in training Elyse has been fencing with our club for many years in our sabre program. She is now enrolled at the Red Deer College, and has recently agreed to join our coaching staff. Elyse has a strong competitive background, and certainly isn't afraid of hard work or training, and has logged plenty of competition trips. She is an exceptional young lady with a knack for helping our young fencers along.