A PENARTH teacher has won silver and bronzes medals at the Commonwealth Veteran Fencing Championships – for two different countries!

Lynette Robinson represented both Wales and Singapore in the championships, after host nation Singapore had to ask for a replacement when one of their team members broke a leg.

The 53-year-old, who teaches at Fairfield Primary School in Penarth, took up the sport at the age of 16, but gave up when she was 18.

But inspired by the success of daughter Elinor, who has represented Wales at the UK School Games, Lynette decided to take up the sport again four years ago - and now trains with her daughter twice a week.

She described her Commonwealth Championship experience as ‘fantastic’.

"It was really wonderful," she said.

"We only had a small team of three ladies and two men, but we still covered six weapons."

Lynette, of Cora Street in Barry, won bronze for Wales in the Team Sabre, and silver for Singapore in the Team Foil.

She would have competed for Wales in the Team Foil category but had to drop out with a hand injury.

"We should have come out with bronze or silver as we were doing really well," she added.

Lynette returned home on Monday, October 1, and was back in work on the Wednesday.

"I said to the headteacher that if I came back with something, I would bring it in and show everyone!"

Lynette, who also runs an after-school fencing club, was praised by the Singapore management team for volunteering to step in at short notice.

"I had a compliment from the Singapore manager, who said I always had a smile or laugh on my face, regardless of whether I was winning or losing!” she said.

"I also won 24 points to the wrist in one competition, which I had never managed before, and the Singapore side said ‘that’s releasing the dragon!’" Lynette, who is currently ranked 105 in Great Britain, said she was enjoying her return to the sport.

"It really is good fun and a great way of keeping fit and healthy and losing weight," she said.

"Before I went I was complaining that I wasn’t match fit, so I trained with Elinor twice a week. Whenever I started flagging she kept me going and it was definitely worth it!"

Lynette, who is the Welsh fencing senior team administrator, said she now has ambitions to represent GB.

"I would love to represent GB at either European or World Championship level," she said.

"I didn’t make the team this year, but hopefully I will make the European team next year."