Fencer on the Podium at the British Championships

Sport

The British Public Schools Fencing Championship is one of the biggest events in the schools fencing calendar. This year, for the first time, Moreton Hall sent a mixed squad and returned home with plenty to celebrate.

Moreton Hall sent its largest, and first ever mixed squad, to the British Public Schools Fencing Championships in London. The competition attracts the biggest and best schools in the country as over 700 fencers compete across categories for individual and team trophies, and a shot at becoming British Public School champion.

First up were our seven boys who were competing in the fiercely competitive Mount-Hayes Sabre event. Margins are tough at this competition, with 20% being cut after the first round of poules, and Tobias just missed out by two places to claim 48th spot – but he took this with good grace and quickly became Moreton’s head cheerleader, supporting the rest of the squad admirably. The rest of the boys progressed through, with Oliver (2nd) and Jack (16) setting the early pace. The second round of poules was an even tougher affair, with 25% not progressing into the direct elimination tableau. After a really promising first round, Aspen also fell to the cut to finish in 41st position. This left Oliver, Jack, Paa, George and Will all progressing through into the direct elimination.

The round of 32 proved tough for the boys in blue, with all fencers except Oliver falling at this hurdle. Will and George had tough days against high seeds, while both Paa and Jack lost out in incredibly tough circumstances, both going down by a single point, 10-9. Final positions after this round were; Jack 28th, George 26th, Will 24th and Paa 21st.

After a shaky start, Oliver won through 10-7 to fly the flag for Moreton into the last 16. He then fell into his stride to fly through the last 16 (10-3) and last 8 (10-2), to draw the number 1 seed in the semi-final. This proved a tougher match against a strong opponent who not only had international representation, but was also supported by an Olympian in his coaching box. Oliver started strongly and took a 5-3 lead into the break, but a strong comeback by his opponent saw the match seesaw back and forth. With the score at 8-7, Oliver failed on a long attack that would have tied it up, and despite a valiant effort he just lost out 10-8 to claim a very well-deserved bronze medal. This is a fantastic result for Oliver, putting Moreton Hall on the podium of British Public Schools fencing for the very first time.

Following the boy’s heroics, it was the turn of the girls to take to the piste. In the Girls Junior Sabre Felicity was able to make her way through the first cut to find herself in a tough second poule, complete with a fencer who had just returned from representing Great Britain at the European Championships. Despite a valiant effort this was the final stage of Flic’s day, and she claimed 18th position. Our three girls in the Mount Hayes Sabre event also managed to make their way through the first round unscathed, but following a tougher second round, it was Lilia who lost out to claim 20th spot. This left both Willow and Haddie with tough matches in their round of 16 and both went out at this stage to secure 11th and 13th place respectively.

All Moreton Fencers conducted themselves admirably and it was encouraging to see the performances eclipse the size and scope of the School when compared to the rivals they were facing. To achieve such results in Moreton’s third ever participation in the Championships is a testament to the dedication, perseverance and Moretonian spirit shown by all fencers.