Isaac Hayes has trained with Hughes since he was 11 years old.

Now 17, Hayes had advanced far enough in the sport that he is a member of the Australian men’s epee team.

“Isaac is the most regional team member,” Hughes said.

“He’s the only [fencer] in a high performance program that isn’t from a capital city. He’s put a lot of effort into it. All of the clubs are coming along with him, myself too.

“I had to pick up a whole heap of skills, and talk to a whole lot of people, to advance with Issac over the years.”

Hayes trains with Hughes at the PCYC Newcastle Club.

When Hayes joined the club, it only had three students. It now attracts up to 20 students – varying in age, build and gender – to sessions.

Hughes was also behind getting University of Newcastle’s fencing club off the ground, and in April opened the SoE Fencing Club in Charlestown.

“There’s a lot of space in Newcastle for this sort of sport,” Hughes said.

“Fencing has seen a lot of growth in Newcastle, the Hunter and Lake Macquarie area. More parents are seeking higher education and more sophisticated studies for their kids, and sports that have a high level of finesse.” 

For Hayes, it is the love of the sport which drives him.

“I really want to push myself a little harder than I have as an athlete and become more competitive at the international level,” Hayes said.

“I do want to make it to the Olympics. It’s good to have dreams and work towards them. And that’s what I’ll do – work towards it and hope for the best.”

The next competition Hayes will compete in is the Southeast Asia Pacific Championships, which will be held in Manila, Phillippines, between May 22 and 31.

Hayes is expecting to win a medal at the championship.

The trip to Manila comes after Hayes, in year 12 at St Philip’s Christian College, completed a fencing tour of Europe and trained at the Fecht-Club Tauberbischofsheim e.V. in Germany at the beginning of the year.