Public School Fencing Championship 2017

The Public School Fencing Championship 2017 was held at the National Sport Centre at Crystal Palace. Plymouth College was represented in all 6 categories in the Épée tournament and one representative in senior girls event in foil event.

In the youngest girls event category, Plymouth College was represented by Abagael Black, Iona Brockie and Katy Miles. All three managed to fight their way through the field of 65 girls from 22 different schools into the top 8. Abagael Black claimed a bronze medal with 6th and 7th places for Iona and Katy.

Frazer Oliver in the boys event of the same age category competed against 98 fencers from 33 schools. Frazer, in his debut at this big fencing event, came 22nd losing narrowly 15:14 in the second direct elimination match.

In the Junior age group of 50 girls from 24 school – Taylor Foxwell-Moss and Lauren Singleton held school colours pretty high with Taylor finishing 7th and Lauren 16th.

In the boys event, Ben Andrews lost only one match - to his mate from the GB fencing team, so in an extremely big field of 134 fencers from 34 schools he claimed the silver medal. Owain Herbert fought bravely against the number 1 ranked fencer in his direct elimination but a two point difference stopped him on his way and he finished 59th. Bill Driver didn’t make the cut after second round of poules, finishing 90th. The most unlucky person was Elijah Stitt, who didn’t make the cut after first round of poules with only one hit below what was necessary to qualify; he ended in 111th position overall.

The Senior girls event hosted current the bronze medallist from European Championship who unfortunately eliminated our contestant in the semi-final stage of the event 15-13, so it was a bronze medal for Tia Simms-Lymn. Anne Kleidon reached 11th position. In the foil event Tia Simms-Lymn gained another bronze medal in the field of 36 fencers from 18 different schools.

Senior boys were represented by Piers Du Pree-Thomas and Tomas Maksimovic; in a field of 79 fencers from 33 schools they both reached the direct elimination stage. Tomas lost to a number two ranked fencer in his second match of DE, ending in 30th place and in the second round of DE Piers lost narrowly as well 15:13 with a final ranking of 17th place.