Janine Bensky Nathan

Janine Bensky Nathan: Fencing International and Trans-Tasman medallist

Janine Bensky was in Year 9 at St Cuthbert’s when Miss Beale, the sports mistress, announced that they would be starting a fencing team. Straight away, Janine was interested.

Janine was sporty and fit, having competed in other sports, such as swimming, but fencing soon became her passion. She was encouraged by her father, Barney Bensky, who had been a PT instructor and was himself very fit and a keen sportsman, regularly playing snooker and golf (as well as flying Lancaster bombers in the War – but that will be the subject of another story!).

A fencing natural, within a two year period Janine was St Cuthbert’s School champion; Auckland Secondary Schools champion 1965/66; captain of Auckland Secondary Schools teams; and NZ Secondary Schools Champion.

By this time, she had outgrown the coaching available at St Cuthbert’s and was herself coaching the school team. As Janine explains, “As Miss Beale taught fencing at school in a tight skirt I realised I needed to join a fencing club to progress”.

Janine then began to be coached by Brian Pickworth, a small one-armed moustached man from the Jean Louis Fencing Academy, to further hone her skills and take her to the next level of the sport.

“I wouldn’t say I was a particularly competitive person at other sports or activities, but that all changed when I put on my fencing mask,” says Janine. As soon as she began to prepare for an event she became highly competitive, with a steely determination to win once on the piste.

Janine representing New Zealand, pictured with the Australian coach

Janine (left) in competition: as a left-handed fencer, Janine had a natural advantage over her opponents

Janine’s opponent congratulates her success

Miss Bensky of Auckland University triumphs over Hamilton Swords in the women’s foils

As a left handed fencer, often against right handed opponents, Janine was at a natural advantage in having an open target and her opponents were often taken by surprise. This, combined with Janine’s specialty move - the fleche – where the fencer takes an aggressive run at the opponent and strikes as they go past, was a deadly combination.

Local success earned Janine her selection to represent New Zealand at the Australian Amateur Fencing Federation Trans-Tasman games in Adelaide in 1967, where she won two medals: a gold medal in the Australian Women’s team event, where NZ beat the Australians in the Test; and a bronze medal in the Individual Women’s Foil event.

Janine with her medals, a gold and a bronze, from the Trans-Tasman games in Adelaide

The Australian Olympic Fencing coach approached Janine’s father, (who had himself been born in Australia), asking his permission for her to go there to train with the Australian Olympic squad, however Mr Bensky declined on the grounds that Janine was too young and needed to finish her university studies.

In the 1970s she was still fencing, and was chosen for the Pan-Asian Games, but by now a young mother and unable to attend. Janine eventually gave up fencing due to ill health, and New Zealand missed out.

Janine is active within the community: she was President of the Kadimah Kindergarten Committee while her two boys were there. She was also on the Chevra Committee for 10 years as a Relief Officer and was responsible for establishing the grounds, gardens and Memorial Olive Walk at the Beit Olam.

By Val Graham, based on an interview with Janine.