Brentwood School fencer Madeleine Gale wins prestigious award

Brentwood School fencer, Madeleine Gale, is one of the youngest ever winners of the Young Sports Personality of the Year trophy - part of the prestigious Brentwood Sports and Health Awards.

Fourteen-year-old Madeleine Gale was shortlisted in the category which recognizes an athlete who “has made a significant impact over the last year at a regional, national or international level either individually or as part of a team.”

Not only was the Year Three pupil one of the youngest winners of the Young Sports Personality gong, she was also the only female winner in any category on the night.

The Brentwood Sports and Health Awards is an annual event that celebrates, recognises and applauds the efforts and outstanding achievements of various sporting organisations and individuals. Those awarded have displayed a dedication to enhancing Sport and Physical Activity across Greater Essex.

Candidates were nominated by their peers, teachers, coaches and friends, and the long list of high quality applications was whittled down to three by a panel of sector experts. Shortlisted applicants were invited to attend the awards ceremony at South Essex Golf Club.

Maddy’s very proud mum Mrs Elaine Gale, said: “This achievement is Maddy's and I am extremely proud of her, but it is one that could never have happened without School Master i/c Fencing Christiaan Galesloot's unrelenting determination and hard work that gives Maddy, and all his fencers, the passion and skill to become world class fencers one day.”

Mr Galesloot added: “Maddy Gale is a very talented young athlete and has been fencing since the age of seven. Maddy fences Foil and trains on average 12 hours a week purely for fencing. She does another two hours per week working on her strength and conditioning.

“At various times, Maddy has been Essex and Eastern Region Champion, won a Silver medal at the England Youth Championships, Bronze medals at the Public Schools’ Fencing Championships and various quarter-final positions in England and British Youth Championships. Internationally she finished 38th place in the Under 14 World Class International Tournament, Marathon Fleuret in Paris, with over 180 fencers from all over the world. This was the second best British result.

“As her coach at Brentwood School and as the GBR Talent Pathway Coach for Foil I am very proud that she has won this prestigious award. Maddy is very dedicated to her sport and I have no doubt that she will continue to represent her School, region, England and Great Britain in fantastic manner in her future as a performance athlete.”

Mayor of Brentwood, Councillor Will Russell, said: “The Active Brentwood Sports and Health Awards give us the opportunity to recognise our sporting heroes as well as the coaches, volunteers, clubs and organisations who make the sporting activities happen.

“We are fortunate in Brentwood to have a wealth of sporting talent that it was an honour to celebrate at the awards ceremony.”

Maddy and the rest of the Brentwood winners are now one step closer to being shortlisted for the Active Essex Sports Awards which will be held on Tuesday, 5th December.