TAVISTOCK'S Olympic pentathlete bronze medallist Kate Allenby has her sights set on a new challenge this year — a medal in the Commonwealth Fencing Championships, due to be held in Sydney, Australia, in November.
Fencing is one of the disciplines in the modern pentathlon — and Kate was thrilled to be chosen to represent England in the championships in the event.
'I'm really pleased — it's been a secondary aim of mine this year, aside from the pentathlon. Whenever I've had free time and there's been a fencing competition I've done it, and I just had this e-mail asking me to represent England,' said Kate, who is still aiming for gold in the modern pentathlon at the 2004 Olympics.
She is, however, keeping fencing firmly in her mind for the future.
'Fencers have a much longer lifetime in the sport, they don't depend on the fitness so much. After 2004 I'm definitely planning on retiring from pentathlon and this is something I'm certainly thinking about,' said Kate, who was unable to compete in next weekend's world cup pentathlon event in Budapest, due to a shin injury.
Until this recent setback, she said everything was on target for Athens and she was keeping fingers crossed that no more problems would arise in her preparation for the Olympics.
Kate's other challenge is to raise money for the Sydney championships — she is sponsored by the National Lottery to compete as a modern pentathlete, but cannot use that money to represent England in Australia.
'I'm skint,' she said honestly, admitting there is a real chance she may miss out on the chance of competing due to financial pressures.
If anyone would like to help by sponsoring Kate could they please ring 07989568667.