|
LINKS |
|
LINKS |
 |
|
LINKS |
|
LINKS |
|
|
Highams Park Cadet Foil Championships – Under 15s
We didn’t have the expected chance to have a second go at Newhams’ fencers, as they did not attend.
But we did instead have the even more accomplished Welsh Champion Glen Ostacchini and Sari Samman from Brentwood, Hornchurchs’ former Under12 British silver-medallist Adam Lepley, CADS (Colchester) former Under15 Essex champion Stephen Moore, and Cyrano’s current Eastern Region Under14 bronze-medallist Danny Holt, making this a good standard tournament.
9th Chris (3 wins); 10th Jack (3 wins); 11th Sam (2 wins); 12th Larry (1 win).
First Poule Round.
Sam showed his great potential with an outstanding 3 points on former Essex champion Stephen Moore, as well as 2 points on Cyrano’s Danny Holt. And he then beat Mitchell House from Highams Park 5-1.
Chris, and Larry in his first competition, were drawn together, also in a tough group. Both were easily beaten by Welsh champion Glen Ostacchini. And both couldn’t quite beat the experienced Adam Lepley (although Chris took him to 4-4!). But both managed a win over their local Highams Park fencer (Larry won 5-0!). It was Chris who beat Larry in their fight to help get himself a decent initial seeding of 7th.
Meanwhile our newcomer Jack in his poule registered his first win, against a Highams Park local, 5-0!
Second Poule Round.
With increasing sword problems, Larry couldn’t manage another win.
Chris scored an outstanding 3 points on Danny Holt in a really exciting fight, but couldn’t quite manage a win against Mitchell House to maintain his good seeding.
This time it was Sam and Jack who were drawn together – and it was Jack who won! Then Sam took a hammering to the experienced Adam Lepley.
Consequently Jacks’ seeding improved, but our others went down.
Knockout Stage.
LarryDue to all his earlier sword problems, was always going to have a difficult draw, and found himself up against the experienced Adam Lepley. None of our fencers had previously managed to beat him and predictably Larry went down 5-15.
Sam had possibly the most difficult draw against Kevin Rankin (Hornchurch), who we’d also not beaten. After initially falling behind 5-1, Sam made an amazing comeback to 10-10 at the break. Then it was unfortunately their coach not ours who was available for some advice. And it was their fencer who then managed a 15-13 victory. Still a magnificent effort.
Jack
Jack had drawn a local Highams Park fencer for his first experience of a 15 point knockout stage fight. He put in a great effort and at the break was still in touch at 6-10 down. Wth a bit of advice from Joanne for the second stage, little Jack made an amazing comeback to 12-12. In a thrilling finale, his opponent then pulled a point ahead, then Jack equalised, point for point to 14-14 only for his opponent to get the winning 15th point.
Meanwhile Chris had drawn the also experienced Mitchell House (Highams Park), who he had narrowly lost to earlier. Chris could have done with some advice for the fight, but none of us were available. And he too was without Joanne to help during the fight. Still, Chris kept up with him right to the end, only narrowly losing 13-15.
Overall.
Larry in his first competition fell victim to his own sword. Sam looked like having an outstanding day until he met our Jack, then had a fantastic comeback fight against the difficult Kevin Rankin. Chris looked likely to be our fencer who would go further until his knockout stage fight. Our newcomer Jack not only won his first competitive fight, but with Joannes’ help very nearly actually won his knockout stage fight.
