Fencers foiled in semi-final

QE’s fencers came fourth in a junior regional championship after narrowly losing their semi-final match. 

Rufus Carruthers and Adam Chong, of Year 10, and Chung Chan, of Year 9, finished second in their pool group at the Hertfordshire & Cambridge Junior Team U16 Foil Championship, which featured 16 school and club teams. They held their own against a number of international fencers and overcame the challenge of an older QE team in the quarter-final, but were unable to defeat Verulam School from St Albans in the semi-final.

The older QE trio of Danny Martin, Craig Robertson and Jeremy Thomas, all from Year 11, also finished second in their pool group, but had to concede defeat in the quarter-final after a closely-fought match against their fellow Elizabethans. Eventually they were placed fifth.

“Both teams are to be congratulated,” said Mark Peplow, Head of Games. “The results reflect the hard work and commitment of all the boys involved.”

The boys train weekly at the School, with some also attending local fencing clubs. The QE coaching team has just been further strengthened by the recruitment of one of the coaches of the Three Rivers Young Blades Fencing Club, who won the Hertfordshire & Cambridge event. Prospective new fencers are welcome to come along and try out the sport: contact the coach Ralph Samwell, who runs sessions at the School, on rlsfencingclub@aol.com for further details.