One of Edinburgh’s most successful sports clubs will be on the move during August and for the first time since being founded in 2011 Salle Holyrood fencers will have premises they can call home.
Agreement has been reached for the club, which has produced a string of Scottish and British champions with at least one having sights set on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, to get the keys to a former warehouse in West Bowling Green Street, Leith.
And while the deal achieved on the back of attaining charitable status to assist with community outreach brings a high tariff in terms of cost coach Keith Cook is convinced the club is finally on track to fully realise its potential.
“In going from Holyrood School to Ocean Terminal to Dean Church hall we have never been able to determine when we start and finish our sessions” says Keith, adding:
“The move is eye-wateringly expense taking into account up front rent, agents and legal fees as well as the need to kit out the premises.
“But it means we can set out plans to strike the balance between continuing to see our high performance programmes push the bar ever higher and reaching out to the community on a blank canvas.
“For example we are open to helping disadvantaged kids, those at risk of offending and those who want to improve their lives through sport.
“What we have achieved so far? Well, plenty down south cannot believe we are a wee club from Edinburgh going by our results.”
A highly accomplished fencer in his own right, Keith Cook is a nine time Commonwealth medallist, European Team bronze medallist, World Cup team medallist and, of course, a British champion.
Many of those skills have been passed on to his son, Jaimie, who recently hit the heights by being part of the first GB team to win an under-20 world cup.
“Jaimie is now up to 23 in the world in foil and has his sights firmly set on the Olympics” says Keith whose own journey to the top was fraught with dIfficulties not least a diagnosis of dyslexia.
“I learned that anything is possible but you do need facilities. Hopefully we have got them now thanks in part to achieving charitable status to assist our outreach programme.”
To assist the move Salle Holyrood have launched an appeal for support.
To assist go to: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/saleholyroods-big-move
