Prairie Fencing Club
About the Prairie Fencing Club (PFC) of Saskatoon
Prairie Fencing Club (PFC) of Saskatoon welcomes fencers of all experience levels and abilities.
PFC is a volunteer-run, non-profit club that was formed to promote the sport of fencing in Saskatoon.
We are a member of the Saskatchewan Fencing Association (SFA).
We are committed to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment.
All coaches and mentors working with participants in the club are required to take Respect In Sport and provide an annual criminal record check.
Please contact us if you are interested in helping the club as a coach or mentor.
Prairie Fencing Club rents training space at the dance studio in the Saskatoon Field House from the City of Saskatoon
Instructions: evening parking is free. Please arrive through the main entrance, and alert the clerk at the front desk that you are there for fencing. Once past the gate, proceed up the staircase, and to the dance studio that is down the hall, after the bathrooms, on your left side.
Accessiblity note: there is also an elevator which accesses the second floor. The main floor is wheelchair accesible by a ramp to the far right of the front desk.
Head Coach: Maître John Brunning (He/Him)
John fenced competitively from 1981-94 (A ranking in Epee and a B ranking in Foil) and competed at the Western Canada Games.
Graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a BSc Biology and a BEd.
Level IV Coach with the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP).
Earned the Fencing Master (Maître) Diploma in 2005.
Coached the Canada Games Saskatchewan fencing teams in 2003, 2007, 2013, and 2023.
Provincial Fencing Coach, Technical Director and Past Vice President Technical of the SFA.
John was President of the U of S Fencing Club, President of the Saskatoon Fencing Club and the SFA.
Assistant Coaches and Fencing Mentors
Lindsay (Hauser) Tumback (She/Her)
Lindsay competed for Team Sask at the Canada Games in 1995 and was the Sask provincial champ in Senior Women’s Epee in 1998.
Took a break from fencing to become a Registered Dietitian and complete her Masters of Science in Nutrition.
Works in research and is a parent of two fencers. Lindsay also volunteers as the club treasurer.
Completed the Fencing Coaching Foundations Workshop and multiple NCCP multi-sport training modules.
Silver medalist in Open Women's Epee at 2024 Provincials and a bronze in Veteran Women's Foil at the 2024 National Fencing Championships.
Jacob Gadzella (He/Him)
Jacob has been an assistant coach since Fall 2022.
Fencing since 2005 (mostly Epee).
Has a Bachelors in Visual Communications Design and is currently working on an MBA in Community Economic Development.
Works in Marketing and Communications and also works in labour and political organizing.
Completed NCCP Multisport Making Ethical Decisions.
Coordinated Saskatoon coaches and athletes at the 2024 National Championships.
Richard Bowles (He/him)
Started fencing at high school in 1984, in New Zealand.
Was a member of New Zealand National U20 and Senior Foil Teams.
Retired from fencing in 2002, but recently cajoled into returning by two children who also fence.
Works as a University of Saskatchewan Professor in Chemistry.
Richard volunteers as club Vice President, and helps out with coaching as needed.
Ethan Richardson (He/Him)
Started fencing at high school in 1987, in Saskatoon.
Was a member of the Provincial Foil Team.
Retired from fencing a while ago, but became involved in the PFC in 2021 to keep fencing alive in Saskatoon.
Works managing a recycling organization.
Ethan volunteers as club President.
Rob Dudiak (He/Him)
Rob fenced foil competitively from 1992-99 (Ranking 55th in Canada at his height).
Graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a BSc in Civil Engineering in 2004.
Rob recently returned to fencing after a long absence and now mentors foil fencers.
ZACH BEASLEY (HE/HIM)
Zach has been fencing since 2008.
Took a break to get a diploma in Bioscience Technology at Sask Polytech and returned to fencing because he missed the sport so much.
Open Men's Epee Provincial Champion in 2024.
Zach is training to be an instructor for beginner epee and foil.
JEFF O'BRIEN (HE/HIM)
Jeff started fencing in 1986 as a member of the University of Regina Rapiers fencing club.
He continued his fencing career at UBC while completing a Master’s degree in Archival Studies. After that, he returned to Saskatchewan where he fenced with the U of S and Prince Albert Northern Knights Fencing Clubs. In 1997, he was hired as the Saskatoon City Archivist and in 1999 he married a nice Saskatoon girl. He retired from fencing after the Saskatoon Nationals in 2001 but returned to the sport in 2022.
He continues to compete in both foil and epee, and helps mentor beginner fencers at the Prairie Fencing Club.
RYAN STEVENSON (HE/HIM)
Bio to come.