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Only a month after our lads baptism of fire at Highams Park for their first tournament experience, those able to were back into the fray at their first Essex county cadets championship.

Due to the event being held during 'exam season', many fencers were unable to attend including our own Ben, Chris and Gareth. Consequently there was a mixed initial poule round, making it a long 8-fight poule round for both of our lads.

SAM; Under 16s Essex SILVER medallist

Sam had a mixed poule round, for example having one magnificent 5-0 victory, followed by a 5-0 defeat against the unrelentingly aggressive Sam Thoupos of Hornchurch.

Semi-Final, WON 15-3

Sam had previously beaten his Wickford opponent 5-0 in the poule round. From the outset, Sam's lightening attacks completely overwhelmed his opponent once again. It was all over in two minutes.

Final, LOST 10-15

Our Sams' opponent was the year-older, very strong and highly aggressive Sam Thoupos of Hornchurch, who had overwhelmed him 0-5 in the poule. He knew he was facing another bruising encounter.

With utter fearlessness from the start though, Sam launched blistering fast attacks of his own, and actually went into a 5-2 lead, before his opponent got the measure of parry-riposting him. The match became even more physical as Sams opponent drew level and then went into the lead, before Sam again levelled the score. Ultimately his opponents strength did prove decisive, but not before Sam had given him a real fight that would not have looked out of place in a seniors tournament.

LARRY; Under 14s Essex Champion!

Larry was undecided about competing, as he was ill with a heavy head cold, from which he was feeling weak.

Larry won one fight only in the poule round (although some of these were against Under 16 fencers). It was a marathon 8-fight poule round for someone not feeling well, and by the end of it, it didn't seem that he had anything left 'in the tank'.

Semi-Final, WON 15-14

Larry was facing Kevin Rankin of Hornchurch (previous months' victor over us). As in his poule round, he quickly went 2-5 down. Our apparently exhausted Larry then started a fightback to go 7-5 ahead. Then his opponent equalized, then Larry went ahead again, etc. in a really close, exciting fight requiring constant change of tactics and a wide variety of moves from Larry. The fight went all the way to 14-14, then Larry pulled out an incredible backwards lunge going under his opponent for the winning hit into his flank.

Final, WON 15-11

Unlike poor Larry, his Wickford opponent was well rested after a bye into the final. But Larry won two initial points before his opponent started going up a gear as well into a 6-8 lead. First one then the other had been registering hits, punctuated by apparently 'off-target' hits of Larry's on a lame of his opponents that had often been a source of dispute in the poule round. After a yet another clearly-landed hit of Larry's, his opponent was forced to change his lame.

It was the turning point of the fight. Larry gradually moved into a lead of his own after the break, with some excellent parry-ripostes, that moved him ever closer to victory. Coincidentally, his winning point was again a superb backwards lunge! Now back to bed for you, lad.

It is only one month since our lads first tournament at Highams Park, when we all finished below some of these same Hornchurch fencers. This today is a magnificent entry onto the Essex scene for all our lads.