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Portrait of a Fencer : John S. Brunning
by Dennis Duncan
As I am planning a series of articles on the accomplishments of Saskatchewan fencers, I have approached some of our "elder" fencers for their permission to write a brief history of their Fencing careers. John Brunning, "Mr. Fencing" to most of us, has graciously given me the necessary information but like most epeeists, he put it in point form. This is not unexpected as I expect cutting remarks from sabreurs and question-and-answer bouts with foilists. Sigh.John started fencing in 1981-82 and his prowess was immediately evident as he made the Provincial Squad as a foilist in his second year. He was the youngest member of the squad at the callow age of 19. Times certainly have changed!
John represented Saskatchewan at the Western Canada Summer Games in Calgary in 1983 and was part of that bronze medal team. He earned a foil "B" at the Militia Open in 1984. His first foil gold medal was earned at the 1985 Wheatlands. He won his first Provincial foil Championship in 1986.
In 1987, he again represented the province at the Western Canada Summer Games held in Regina. After a strong start, the foil team won bronze, missing out by 4 indicators.
At this time, John was ranked in the top 30 in Canada for both foil and epee. His first gold medal in epee was at the 1984 Regina Open and he won the Provincial epee Championship in 1986. Also in that year he earned his "A" epee ranking at the Calgary Centennial. Beginning with that Fencing season, he decided to concentrate exclusively on epee, making the Provincial Epee Squad in 1987 and again in 1992.
He again represented Saskatchewan in a major sporting event in 1990 where he was part of the gold medal epee team at the Western Canada Games held in Winnipeg. In 1991 he won a bronze medal as part of our epee team at the Nationals held in Hamilton.
He has competed in every Canadian National Fencing Championship since 1982. This year will be the first year he is not attending that event. His first eastern medal was a bronze at the 1988 Ottawa Shield. His first out of country tournament was New York in 1987. John competed only once in Europe at the World Cup Tournament in Poitiers, France in 1988 and finished 138th of 181.
He has also been honoured by the Dairy Producers Fitness Foundation. In 1989, he was selected by the SFA Board of Directors as Senior Male Athlete. In 1995 he was the recipient of a special "Volunteer Award" from the Dairy Producers Foundation in recognition for his wide ranging volunteer efforts.
He retired from active competition in 1993 and has since taken over numerous and varied responsibilities in the Saskatchewan Fencing community.
He attained Level I NCCP certification in 1987 and Level II NCCP over a 2 year period starting in 1989. Level III NCCP was achieved over the years 1991 to 1996. His coaching duties take him to Regina, Moose Jaw and Asquith as well as performing these tasks in Saskatoon.
He has also been involved in the organizational work that makes our clubs and Association run as smoothly as they do. He was President of the University of Saskatchewan Fencing Club for 2 years starting in 1983. Since 1994 to the present date, he has been President of the Saskatoon Fencing Club. He has been a key organizer responsible for the successful fund raising by that club.
On the provincial level, he was a member of the Relations Committee in 1987, the only time that committee has had much to do. Currently, John also serves on the Saskatchewan Fencing Association's Board of Directors and is a member of the Technical Committee.
It should also be noted that during this time, John was also earning a baccalaureate in Biology followed by an Education degree. He also took a Master's degree course in Microbiology.
He is a Fencing exemplar. John also positively demonstrates the many branches in the Fencing tree as he has climbed out on just about all of the main branches over the years. It is unlikely that he would have undertaken all these tasks and responsibilities if he did not thoroughly enjoy what he is doing.
There are many activities under the Fencing rubric: athletic competition, coaching, officiating, fund raising and administration support. Each and every member of Saskatchewan Fencing should be aware that many opportunities exist in the sport. We should not limit our activities and personal growth to only one aspect.
John has amply demonstrated that sufficient time exists to persistently develop excellence.
John Brunning is just one of many gifted people that have made it possible for Fencing to survive and grow in Saskatchewan. In the next issue, I will highlight another deserving fencer. I solicit information from everyone out there as to whom this person should be.
For now, I want to thank John, from all of us, for the many gifts he has given fencers in Saskatchewan.
