British Youth Championship Fencing Finals
Headington Rye Oxford had representatives in all three weapons for the first time in some years at a national Fencing contest.
The finals of the British Youth Championships were held at the English Institute of Sport Sheffield over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
On the Saturday, Hattie fenced in the U14 Epee event. This was first time Hattie had qualified in this age group.
After a hesitant start she started to fence thoughtfully and well but a few early mistakes cost her points for the final rankings going into the Direct Elimination rounds.
Hattie started her last Direct Elimination well but became a little hesitant again when the moment came to close it out and her opponent took advantage to “double” and take the win.
On Sunday Martha fenced in the U12 Foil finals. This was her first BYC finals and a very big step up in competition terms for Martha but she fenced well in the poules and was a bit unlucky not to get a higher ranking, losing a couple of fights 4-5.
Her lack of experience in longer bouts was shown up in the DEs but it was a very respectable first showing at the contest.
Margarita fenced in the U16 Epee, an age group step up for her. Almost all her age group fencers are on the GBR Cadet Selection Circuit – so she really faced an uphill struggle .
She fenced a very solid first round then met the on form sixth seed and eventual bronze medallist. After a close, well-fought bout, Margarita narrowly missed out on the quarter finals.
On the Monday, Headington Rye had two fencers in Sabre events, Miuccia in U14s and Shruti in U16s.
Miuccia fenced well with some nice flourishes of style but lacked match practice, having only previously fenced Sabre at Public Schools’ Fencing Championships and BYC qualifiers. Despite this she ran her DE opponent close but failed to progress through the DE rounds.
Shruti was up against the U16 Sabreuse who – once again – were mostly fencers from the GBR Cadet Selection Circuit.
Shruti arrived early at the event and did a very well thought out and effective warm up and went on piste very collected and with a game plan.
She fenced well until she met the number 14 seed in her DE, eventually finishing 19th overall, an impressive achievement at a national level competition.
