Coaching Staff
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Darren Marks (Head Coach): Darren initially trained under French Maestro Francois Rodeur at Toronto's Salle Rodeur Fencing Club and was a nationally ranked foillist. Among the athletic awards earned includes an University of Oxford Full Bue. He founded the Stratford location in 2009 and sits on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Fencing Association. Dr. Marks competes as a foillist nationally and internationally when able, and sometimes referees when asked politely. When not in the fencing club or piste, he can be found as a Professor at Western University. He is a past President of the Ontario Fencing Assocation.
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Robyn Godfrey-Marks (Beginner / Minifence Coach) started fencing at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. When work took her to Stratford, Ontario she picked up a foil again and in 2010 began competing, and then coaching after obtaining her Community Instructor Certificate. She coaches in order to instill a love of the sport in new fencers, and if she is able to 'graduate' them to Gareth and Darren's copmetitive classes she considers it a job well done. When not fencing, Robyn can be found at the Stratford Public Library, where she designs and delivers interactive programs for grown-ups and the young at heart.
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Gareth Marks (Visiting Coach, elite team). Gareth is a member of the Cadet Men's Team for Team Canada, currently studying Mathematical Physics at the University of Waterloo. Gareth trains the newest generation of SFO fencers, the pre-elite and elite athletes, hand-picked by the coaching staff in order to fast-track their fencing careers.
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Scott Bell (Beginner / Adult Coach) Scott is currently ranked as the number 1 veteran fencer in Ontario.
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Nolan White-Roy (Beginner Coach) Nolan is the current SFO club champion and 2018-19 fencer of the year. He is entering grade 11 at Stratford Secondary School.
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Joshua McGuire (Visiting Coach) is Canada's most recent two time Olympian in foil (2004, 2008). A former World Champion in the cadet category and the most lauded Canadian foillist of the past decades, Josh brings keen tactical and international experience to our club. He is also an international level referee who is often at World Cups and Championships.
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