Minerva Learning Trust
14th November 2018

Fencing Update


Nicholas and his 2 Great Britain team mates are lining up before their match with Japan.


Nicholas (in red mask) at the start of his first 3 minute bout in that match. The score was 5-2 in Japan's favour when Nicholas took up the baton - he had reduced this to a one point deficit by the end of the 3 minutes, by scoring 7 hits while conceding 5. In the end GB4 went out 29-45, a respectable showing against a strong team.

The previous day in the individual event Nicholas avoided the cut of 25% of the field made after the pool round by winning 2 of his 6 bouts. He then lost his first Direct Elimination bout 5-15 to a very good Japanese fencer who went on to finish 14th in a starting field of 258. Nicholas ended up 188th - not at all bad for a first under-17 international and as as a late replacement!

We also managed to fit in a lot of sightseeing in Budapest, with its spectacular architecture, including parliament and the view across the Danube from Pest to Buda. Nicholas much appreciated the multi-media memorial to the 1956 rising studied at GCSE.

Update - 5th December

Nicholas had a very successful second appearance for the GB Under 17s. In the individual event he avoided the cut made after the pool round by winning half his bouts and then won his first Direct Elimination bout. He then went out 11-15 to a Russian fencer who finished 20th in the field of 221. Nicholas ended up 108th. In doing so he secured his first ranking points in an overseas international tournament, achieving a nearly 40% increase in his total ranking points. He had an enjoyable time in the team event, for GB4. He fenced particularly well in the 33-45 defeat by Japan 2 and though the team were overpowered by the might of Russia 1 Nicholas enjoyed pitting his wits against the likes of the Russian fencer who won Gold in the individual event both in this tournament and at the previous one in Budapest.

UPDATE - 7TH January

Nicholas improved on his previous best performance abroad in an Under 17 international, finishing 68th/187 after winning 5 of his 7 bouts in the individual event. He then played a full part in GB4's victories over Romania and Holland 3 and narrow defeats by Holland 1, Italy 2 and Poland 5 in the team event.

With the GB International season now over, he finished with the 3rd highest European ranking of English boys of his age. Nicholas now has domestic tournaments between January and May and has been named in the England Under 17 team for the Paris Marathon Foil competition in February.

Well done Nicholas!