Less than a month later, he followed up this achievement by retaining his title as the Scottish Schools U16 Sabre Champion for the second year in a row.
After first picking up a sabre at Salle Ossian Fencing Club at the age of 8, the Perthshire pupil has represented Scotland and Great Britain at numerous international events over the last nine years, most recently at the World Cadet Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Reflecting on his recent achievements, Joshua said, “The Scottish Schools Championships were really good. I had a great start and gave it my all right from the beginning. The British Championships were great too. I was confident, went in with a good attitude, and did my best. Now I’m focused on training as much as I can for the World Championships next year.”
Joshua and the Scottish Schools Championship Trophy
As a Fencing Scholar at Strathallan School, Joshua trains five times a week at Salle Ossian in Perth, representing both his club and school on piste. Joshua holds titles as the U15 and U20 Scottish Fencing Champion and was one of two Salle Ossian fencers selected for the World Cadet Championships in Saudi Arabia, a significant achievement given that only three GB fencers are chosen each year.
“The highlight of my year was definitely being chosen to represent Great Britain at the World Championships in Riyadh. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and one of the best competitions I’ve ever had,” Joshua shared.
“Results-wise, the European Championships in Italy earlier this year made me fully believe in myself and back myself when it comes to my training and focus.”
Jim Thompson, Director of Sport at Strathallan School, praised Joshua's accomplishments, stating, "Joshua's outstanding achievements reflect his unwavering dedication and exceptional talent. We are incredibly proud of his remarkable journey and can't wait to see what he does next."
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