The 16-year-old, ranked number one Cadet Men’s Sabre in Great Britain, has had an exceptional season. Building on his title as British Cadet Champion Joshua had a stellar performance in Spain over the festive period and just last week placed in the top 30 at the European Championships in Turkey.
Reflecting on his recent competitions, Joshua shared, “It’s the best I’ve ever felt before competing. After training at an Olympic camp in Italy and then heading straight to Spain, I came 11th out of 200 fencers in Segovia, which was incredible. I was knocked out of the competition by an Australian fencer I’d trained with in Italy, so it didn’t feel as bad but qualifying for the World Championships in China this April is a dream come true.”
📸 Charles Rankin
Training five times a week at Salle Ossian Fencing Club, Joshua is determined to make his final year as a cadet count.
“I’ll be heading back to Italy for more training and will give it my best shot,” Joshua said. “Recently, I’ve been on a good run, becoming the British Champion and winning double Scottish titles. I’ve got a good buzz about it, and I know I can compete at a high level. A lot to look forward to — I feel ready. It can only get better.”
Closer to home, Joshua recently teamed up with fellow Strathallan pupil Veer C and Salle Ossian teammates Bruno and Anara at the Stirling Swords competition. As the youngest team in the event, they competed against adults and achieved an impressive bronze medal out of 20 teams. Their performance showcased their resilience and skill, proving age is no barrier when it comes to talent.
Joshua’s fencing journey began at Salle Ossian Fencing Club in Perth at the age of eight. Over the past ten years, he has represented Scotland and Great Britain at numerous international events, including the World Cadet Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As a Fencing Scholar at Strathallan School, Joshua trains five times a week, balancing his academic commitments with his passion for the sport.
Prof. Phil Carson, Salle Ossian Fencing Club coach said, “Josh is the first of a new generation of fencers whom I’ve had the pleasure to coach whilst at the same time modernising fencing coaching in Scotland. Josh is certainly the proof in the pudding as he keeps pushing the boundaries of what is possible and reaching levels of performance we haven’t seen before.”
Training with Prof Carson - 📸 Charles Rankin
In May 2024, Joshua added to his already impressive list of accolades by becoming the U16 British Champion at the British Fencing Youth Championships in Sheffield. He followed this triumph by retaining his title as the Scottish Schools U16 Sabre Champion for the second consecutive year.
He also gained a Bronze Medal at London Commonwealth Games as part of the Junior Team.
Director of Sport at Strathallan, Jim Thompson said, "We are thrilled to support Joshua as he continues his fencing career alongside school. We are immensely proud of the progress he continues to make on and off the piste and wish him the very best of luck in Turkey and China."
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