Recently at Victoria’s High Performance Centre in Melbourne the National Youth Fencing Championships have been held where local fencers from the Southern Highlands competed and had great success.
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 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, Luke Mansfield, Dan Alchin and Nick Davies. Unfortunately after the poules rounds John and Max had to fence each other in the round of 32, and as things turned out Luke had to fence Dan in the round of 16, This reduce our fencers to 2 in the round of 8. John had NZ fencer Wil Bishop who he defeated and Luke had to fence up and coming ACT fencer Oliver Webster who has recently started coming to training nights here in the Highlands. Luke had a tough bout but won in extra time. Luke and John then had tough bouts against 2 well credentialed fencers representing WA. Both fencers excelled and advanced to the final. The final was a tough bout as both fencers had trained together for years and despite the ranking difference Luke 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 State team along with Dan Alchin and Nick Davies, winning the teams event over Victoria on the following day . They all fenced very well and were assisted greatly by the tactics and experience of our 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 eliminated in the round of 16. Both these exceptional ladies were competing in their first national competition.
So at the end of the National Titles, Southern Highland Fences results are Oxley College third in Schools Senior Boys, Max Peek third in Foil, John Downes second in Epee, Luke Mansfield 2009 Australian under 20’s champion and Under 20’s Australian Team Champions Luke Mansfield, John Downes, Dan Alchin and Nick Davies
In a tournament held in the ACT on the same week end, Les and Sarah Oliver represented the club in Canberra on Sunday and brought home Silver and gold respectively. A fantastic result for our novice fencers.
All in all, fencers from Southern Highland Fencing Academy have done us all proud from locally to nationally.
Southern highland Fencing Academy is looking for new members. If you wish to learn to fence, join us on Friday nights from 6.30 pm at Cyntha Parker Gymnasium at Frensham. Entry is $10 which includes equipment hire. Participants must be over 8 years old.