Busy Start to the Season
Sharon Jones reports on a busy few days for the club.
Saturday saw the Leon Paul Junior Series Robin Hood Foil at Nottingham Trent University. Arthur Eakin had a stand-out day, winning a bronze medal in U13 men's foil, the only East Midlands fencer to medal in 7 categories. Arthur won 5 and lost 1 match in his first poule, losing only to gold medallist Mikhel Archer of Newham Swords. He dropped just 1 fight in his second poule, to Luca Businaro, whome he'd beaten 5-0 in the first poule. Going into the DEs as 3rd seed, he won his L16 match 10-4 comfortably against Oliver Wilson of Bath Sword. He expected a similarly easy fight against Edward Thompson of Dragon Sword in Cambridge, having won 5-1 in the first poule. But Thompson is no mug and Arthur found himself attacking and there being only one light - that of Thompson's. Arthur stayed calm when he went 8-9 down. It reached 9-9 and the referee called simultaneous on the attacks 3 times. Arthur then did a fantastic off the line attack with a single light to make it 10-9 - great composure. He then faced Mikhel Archer again. It was a tough fight and Archer prevailed again, going on to take the gold.
Ethan Dakin was also fencing in U13 men's foil. He won 3 in the first poule and lost only to Danielas Juras, the eventual silver medallist, from Newham Swords. He unfortunately met Arthur in his first fight in the second poule, who squeaked a 5-4 win. Having been struggling with an Achilles tendon injury, Ethan then called it a day.
Young Ryan McGahey was fencing as an U10 in the U11 category. he had some great fights but ended up against the top seed, Alexander Heal of Sussex House, in L16. He battled well to keep the score to only 0-4 at the end of the first period, but lost to finish in 16th place.
Ed Campion qualified earlier in the year to represent the RAF in the UK Armed Forces Championships this week in Portsmouth. He finished 22nd from 36th in men's epee (not his normal weapon. However, he then fenced exceptionally well to finish 7th from 33 fencers in men's foil, following a poule with V4D2 and confident DE wins, only going out 11-15 in L8. The week finished in London with Ed anchoring the RAF men's foil team to win the Inter Service Triangular Team match, with 5 out of 6 victories. To get the win, he had to ensure a 45 hit win in the last match and got it with seconds to spare. Ed is one of our own, having started with Fernwood several years ago, then taking a break and coming back recently, having been posted to Lincolnshire.
Ed Howlett had a frustrating experience at the first U20 ranking competition at the Leon Paul Centre on Saturday. Nerves prevailed in his first couple of poule matches, losing them closely but entirely against the form book. He then got back on track, winning the other 4 matches comfortably. However, that threw the tableau for the DEs askew. Having had a bye in L128, he won his L64 match against Archie Broughton 15-9. He then faced Isaac Jolley in L32, to whom he'd lost the previous week. The same outcome ensued and Jolley went on to win the gold medal. Not much consolation, although the form book also went out of the window for a number of the top end fencers in both men's and women's foil. Ed finished 25th from 79 fencers.