Fernwood Sword Club
Yesterday saw Ed claim first place at the Luton Open, with elder brother Roderick and Simon Elliott-Bateman making L32 and Benedict Murray L64.
Ed stormed through his two rounds of poules, dropping only 9 points in 9 matches to 5, leaving him as top seed for the elimination rounds. Meanwhile, Roderick, in only his second competition and first open won 2 of his poule matches, losing a further 2 by only 1 point. Simon (aged 14), in his second open, won 3 of his poule matches. Benedict, who was one of, and possibly the youngest,fencers in the competition and in his first open, didn't quite manage a win but took points off his opponents in most of his matches.
Ed had a bye in L64. Simon fenced Hamish Macleod of Salle Oxon, taking an early lead. Macleod fought back, using his height to counterattack, but Simon held his nerve, winning 15-13. Roderick faced Spaniard, Javier Eroles, of Hitchin Fencing Club. Roderick used his mobile fencing style to its best advantage, coming out a convincing 15-2 winner. Benedict fought strongly against Irish veteran, Gerry Brosnan of Salle Paul in London,staging a late fight back. Experience told, however, and Brosnan came out a 15-8 winner.
To the amusement of many fencers in the hall, Ed was up against Roderick in L32. Ed was not going to give his brother an easy ride and with a number of skilful, fast hits came out a 15-2 winner. Meanwhile, Simon met Ben Attias of Salle Oxon. Attias. a GB cadet squad member, was openly determined to avenge his clubmate's defeat in L64 and used his greater experience to win 15-1.
Ed had a comfortable 15-5 win over Jay Williams, another Salle Oxon fencer, in L16. He then met Joe Banks, of Saxon in London, whom he'd never fenced before and who proved to be a very disciplined, tough opponent. Ed took the fight very steadily and cautiously, setting up perfectly timed counter attacks rather than risking a more attacking approach. At 9-9 with 2 minutes to go in the final period, Ed upped the tempo and got two quick hits in succession, adding another with 33 seconds to go. Banks had to attack now and added one more point but Ed was able to pick him off and it finished at 15-10 with a few seconds left in the match.
Ed's opponent in the semi-final was Ronnie Devitt of Cyrano in Essex, a tallish left hander who constantly moves in and out of distance. Ed was having difficulty getting his hits to stick and also with some of the refereeing decisions, being behind until he equalised for the first time at 9-9 in the second period. Ed then impressively stepped up a gear, with five single lights from six hits, the only responses being a hotly disputed point and a red card to Ed for turning, giving Ed 15-11 win.
The final was a nerve wracking affair against Ben Andrews of Salle Boston in London. This is the third year running that the pair have met in DEs in the Luton Open, with Ed winning on each occasion - last year 15-14 in L16. Ed beat Andrews 15-3 in L8 at the Merseyside Open in February, but Andrews had clearly been rethinking his game against Ed. The fencing this time was fast and furious, with all 29 hits being traded in the first period. Andrews stormed ahead, taking a 7-2 lead. Ed rebuilt to 8-9. Andrews extended his lead, with a red card to Ed for covering taking the advantage to 10-12. At 11-13 Andrews received a red card for going off the piste to avoid being hit, making it 12-13. Ed made it 13-13 with a lungeing attack. Ed got a further red for ducking to make it 13-14. Andrews attacked and Ed hit with one light, breaking his body wire in the process. A tense break followed while Ed changed his wire. After some tentative interchanges, Ed attacked, Andrews went off the side of the piste and Ed hit him in one movement making it 15-14 to Ed. A great final and impeccably refereed by Mike Ellis.
Ed did very well to win, as he is in the middle of AS Levels and has had just a couple of hours of sparring plus one lesson in the last fortnight. Meanwhile our less experienced fencers Simon, Roderick and Benedict finished 27th, 30th and 41st respectively, whilst displaying some great fencing. It was a good day out.
