KATE DAYKIN believes remembering to enjoy fencing after competing against the Commonwealth will help her star on European and global stages this summer.

The 22-year-old, from Dalgety Bay, is preparing for a busy few weeks on the piste when she travels to Plovdiv, Bulgaria, for the Under-23 European Championships at the end of the month, and then the World University Games in Naples, Italy, in July.

Kate, who competes for, and coaches with, the Perth-based Salle Ossian Fencing Club, will compete in the women’s sabre individual and team events at both competitions on the back of clinching a British under-23 title and competing at senior World Cup competitions in Austria, where she finished eighth, Athens and, most recently, in Tunisia last week.

Along with clubmate and fellow West Fifer Sarah-Jane Hampson, she claimed a team silver medal at the Commonwealth Senior and Veteran Fencing Championships in November, but, as she prepares for her next two major events, Kate told Press Sport: “At the Commonwealths, I had a really bad individual performance and it was down to nerves. I was so nervous that, in the morning, I barely ate breakfast.

“In the team event, we got second and although we were against England, we know we could have done better. But it’s part of a learning curve and sometimes you can get too hung up on results.

“Sometimes at this level, you need to remember that you’re doing this to have fun. Yes, it’s a big competition, but you have to have fun and enjoy what you do.”

Having carried that train of thought into her most recent competitions, Kate is determined to have the same mindset in those coming up, and continued: “Tunisia was a good performance; I know that I’ve improved, and my coach has as well.

“There were people there who have been in the Olympics, won in the Olympics, and the girl who put me out went on to get third. The level is high and should stand me in good stead.

“I just want to fence as well as I can and keep my performance level really high. The European Championships will be good and then the competition in June (World University Games) will be open to people aged 20 and above.”

Kate, who graduated from Heriot-Watt University last summer, was put forward by British Fencing to compete at the Games, and added: “It is a multi-sport event and has a bit of prestige to it.

“I’m looking forward to it. It’s my last chance to do it, and many international fencers are full-time, so it’ll be interesting to see what the competition looks like. I didn’t really know it was such a big event.

“I’m going to fence, have fun and enjoy it.”

Anyone interested in sponsoring Kate to help her on her way to upcoming events can contact Press Sport and we can put you in touch.