Coaching Staff

Darren  Marks  (Head Coach):  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.

Robyn Godfrey (Assistant Coach) got interested in fencing when her karate class was cancelled and fencing was the only other sport that would fit into her study schedule at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She and a colleague began the Nunavut Fencing Association, still in its  infancy when work took her to Stratford, Ontario. In 2010 Robyn began competing, and coaching after obtaining her Community Instructor Certificate.  She competes when her day-job allows, is on an aide-moniteur track for coaching, is working to become a referee, and is keeping up with the youngsters to the best of her ability. When not fencing, Robyn can be found selecting, collecting, organizing, and retrieving information at the Stratford Public Library, or writing reviews and articles on theatre.

Joshua McGuire (Competitive Team 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.