David

DAVID REDHEAD

David Redhead is the Senior Coach, and the virtual founder of the Sarnia Sword Club, having initiated the meeting to set it up. In April 2000 he retired after serving one year as Secretary and then thirty years as Chairman. David has won numerous titles including many in the North East Area of the UK, where he was Area Chairman for three years just before coming to Guernsey. He has also won every Championship available to him in Guernsey and the Channel Islands winning Championships and League titles well into his 60's.

His highest achievement was his virtual 7th position in the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games in 1970 when he represented Guernsey in their first attempt at these Championships. He won his quarter-final pool and beat Peter Jacobs the then reigning UK epee champion by 5-0 in 2 minutes in the semi final pool. ( David was 38 at the time whilst Peter Jacobs was in his mid-twenties! ) He failed to make the final pool by the narrowest of margins. Of those in the final he had already beaten three of the five he would have faced.

This result was adjudged to be the best Guernsey sporting achievement of 1970 and resulted in him being awarded the Wilkinson Sword Trophy (which he held jointly with a walker who came 7th in his competition.)