THE Southern Highlands’ fencers continued to shine at a representative level, picking up a bagful of medals at the National Youth Fencing Championships in Victoria recently.
The tournament started with the Secondary Schools Championships where the Oxley College team lead by John Downes, a veteran of the Oxley team, led first-timers Ossian Deigan and Nat Jenkins to a bronze medal.
The well-performed Oxley team had won the AJ shield and the NSW Schools Senior boys A division in the lead up to the nationals.
In the individual foil, Max Peek of Bundanoon finished with the Bronze medal and Ossian Deigan of Mittagong, who was fencing well above his age group, was taken out in the round of 32 eliminations.
The individual men’s epee had a host of local fencers competing with John Downes and Max Peek backing up from the individual foil and Luke Mansfield, Dan Alchin and Nick Davies also in the mix.
Unfortunately the Highlanders were pitted against each other after the poules rounds, with Downes and Peek facing off in the round of 32 and Alchin up against Mansfield in the round of 16.
As such, there were only two Highlands’ fencers left at the quarter-finals stage, Mansfield and Downes.
Downes defeated New Zealand fencer Wil Bishop Mansfield faced off against his training partner, up and coming ACT fencer Oliver Webster, who has recently started training in the Highlands.
Mansfield had a tough bout but won in extra time.
The two Highlanders knocked off a pair of West Australians in the semi-finals to set up an exciting final.
The final was a tough bout as both fencers had trained together for years and, despite the ranking difference, Mansfield won in a tough and well-fought bout.
Both fencers should be proud of their performances.
To their credit and stamina they both were part of the NSW team, along with Dan Alchin and Nick Davies, winning the teams event over Victoria the following day.
The NSW team all fenced very well and were assisted greatly by the tactics and experience of Southern Highlands coach Jeff Gray who was the NSW epee coach.
In the woman’s epee, Laura Kent excelled with a seventh place and Rachael Alchin was eliminated in the round of 16.
These were exceptional results for the girls in their first national competition.
In a tournament held in the ACT on the same weekend, Les and Sarah Oliver represented the club and brought home silver and gold respectively, which was a fantastic result for the club’s novice fencers.
The Southern Highland Fencing Academy is looking for new members.
If you wish to learn to fence, training is on Friday nights from 6.30pm at Cyntha Parker Gymnasium at Frensham. Entry costs $10 which includes equipment hire. Participants must be over seven.
For more information cal Phil on 0414 915 076.