Shropshire Open Epee

More solid reults for OPS fencers with Jess Varley securing her best ever senior results coming second in the Ladies Epee, with Kate Howser 5th, both losing to the eventual winner Sue Hannay.

Chris Howser also came second beating former GB internationals John Chalmers and Alistair Gerrard on the way to the semi finals. In the semi finals Chris beat current GB top 10 fencer and winner of last weekends Bristol Open, Matt Henderson, before losing arguably to a weaker opponent in the final. That is fencing!!!

Manchester Cadet International

Theo Edwards secures a exceptional 11th Place at this top ranked Under 17 event. After being ranked 7th after the poules, Theo had a bye through the Last 64 and fought through to lose out to Oliver Stead in the last 16. Joshua Myers also fenced and had been ranked 24th after the first round and after beating his Last 64 opponent lost out in the Last 32 stage to Sam Boyle. 

Northamptonshire County Championships

Six fencers attended the Northamptonshire Championships at Moulton College and came away with a near swep of the medals on offer. Our only womens competitor, Kate Howser won the Ladies event beating an occasional visitor to the OPS Club, Sylvia Earl beaten in the final. In the mens event the club took first, second and third places with Chris Howser taking the title, with Fraser Stephen-Smith losing in the final and Theo Edwards in 3rd spot. Joshua Myers 9th and Matthew Lever 18th fenced well in their first Northamptonshire County Championships.

Norfolk Open

Chris and Kate Howser ventured out to this open event in Norwich along with a few other brave club fencers. Chris and Kate took a silver each in mens and ladies events to help with their national rankings rise. Congratulations also to Joshua Myers in 15th, Theo Edwards 34th and Matthew Lever 40th in the mens event.

England Youth Championships

Though no medals were secured by OPS fencers, the quantity making it through to top 16 stanges was very impressive. Top placing goes to Grace Wyer-Roberts in the U11 Girls reaching the quarter finals. Other notable performances were secured by Eliie Turner, Maisie McCormack, Rachael Lever (all U11 Girls) and Tabby Pattison (U13 Girls) who all reached the top 16 stage. After only a year of the club being in existance these results are showing real potential for the future. 

Warwick LPJS Event

Well done to all the club/local fencers attending for some very encouraging results. Phoebe Oliver lead the way with an amazing 3rd place in the Under 11 girls, with Rachael Lever 7th, Ellie Taylor 9th and Maisie McCormack 14th. Edmund Corker took 8th place in the boys under 11, with Tabby Pattison 14th a very strong Under 13 Girls event. Joshua Myers secured 3rd place in the Under 17 boys with Jessica Varley doing one better with 2nd in the Under 17 girls.

It is great to see all the fencers making great strides forwards and I look forward to seeing even more improvements for the England Youth Championships at the end of June.

British Youth Championships

Tabby Pattison wins bronze in the Under 12 girls epee to win the clubs first individual national medal in the first year of the clubs existance. Grace Wyer-Roberts and Phoebe Oliver, both with another year in this age-group took 15th and 33rd respectively in the Under 12 girls. Marcus Arnold came 17th in the Under 12 Boys, with Amelia McCormack 35th in the Under 14 girls event. Herman Leung’s 31st place in the Under 14 boys, Joshua Myers 22nd and Theo Edwards 41st in Under 16 boys, along with Marlena Razali’s 18th in the Under 18 girls event shows a great range of talent in the local area. Well done to all of you.