RIVINGTON Park Fencing Club’s Rachel Lasance took up fencing in her early thirties as a substitute for drinking alcohol.

A decade later, the 43-year-old has climbed into the top 10 of the British senior women’s sabre rankings.

She recently reached a career high of ninth, an achievement made all the more impressive by the fact she is the only "veteran" fencer in the top 10, with everybody else aged 26 or under.

She said: “I started fencing because I wanted to stop drinking. I wasn't an alcoholic or anything, but I had just started my own business as a plasterer and, to be honest, I couldn't really afford it.

"I would come home from work, have a drink and fall asleep in front of the telly and I just thought: Is this all there is?

"If you stop drinking, or smoking or anything like that, you need to fill your spare time with a hobby and I just found fencing was a good skill, it’s a little different from badminton."

Lasance is an all-round sportswoman, who regularly goes clay pigeon shooting and also enjoys indoor climbing, snowboarding and horse riding.

But she feels the competitive nature of fencing sets it apart.

"It’s a sport that you can’t just master straight away, its like learning a musical instrument," she added.

"You can put the gear on and pick up a sword and do a lot of instinctive fighting, but it takes a huge amount of time to learn the technique and the tactics involved.

"It’s not just about strength.

"I also like it because you can do it at any time. I always take my fencing gear with me whenever I am travelling around the country because wherever you find a club you can roll up and fight.”

Lasance joined Rivington Park Fencing Club, where Belarusian Olympic fencer Dmitry Lapkes recently spent a year coaching, which she believes played a huge part in her rise up the rankings.

“You don’t have a coach like that and not improve," she said.

"He’s a full-time Olympian and he’s moved our style to more of a Belarusian style of fencing.

“It was an absolutely overwhelming experience and it now means our current coach Patrick (Jennings?) has a lot of experience under his belt, it’s brought the club and everyone forward.

“Fencing’s always been more popular in Europe, so him coming over was a massive eye-opener and obviously Patrick’s continued that fantastic work.”

Looking forward to the future and Lasance has tipped team-mate Emily Ruaux for Olympic glory at Tokyo 2020.

However, Rachel’s keeping firmly grounded and does not really subscribe to any talk of competing herself, despite her lofty position in the rankings.

She said: “You have to be realistic. Everyone wants to reach the top of their sport but with regards to going to the Olympics and stuff like that, it makes me laugh.

“They’ve only had two Olympics with Women’s Sabre so it’s very much a brand new sport.

"The shape of a champion hasn’t yet been defined, it’s very much an open sport, so I think that’s why it’s surprising that someone my age can get to the top 10.

“I’ve just remained consistent in the competitions, I’ve not won major competitions but I’ve just been up there and the points add up.”

Despite this, she believes she can become a world champion one day – in the veterans category.

She added: “I just want to maintain a good level of fencing, there’s so much to learn in the sport.

"Fortunately there is a world championship for veterans but that goes from the age of 50, so I would very much like to win that one day.

“The women that have come third and fourth in those competitions, I’ve actually beaten so it’s just the hope that when I get there, I’ve still got my fitness and enthusiasm.”