De Bonos Shine at National Fencing Competitions

RGS Worcester fencers Emily and Henry De Bono delivered impressive performances at national competitions held at Moulton College over the weekend of Saturday 28 February and Sunday 1 March.

On Saturday, Emily competed in the Elite Épée Girls BRC ‘C’ event, an Under 17 British Ranking Circuit competition. After winning three and losing three of her pool fights, Emily was seeded twentieth and received a bye into the round of sixty-four. She progressed with a narrow 15-13 victory in the last thirty-two before securing another 15-13 win in the last sixteen against an opponent she had previously never beaten, having lost to her earlier in the pools. Emily’s excellent run ended in the quarter-finals, where she finished eighth overall, her strongest result to date in an Under 17 ranking competition.

On Sunday, Henry competed in the Elite Épée Senior Event, one of the major open competitions on the British circuit, with entry limited to the top sixty-four adult fencers based on the British Senior Ranking List. Henry won five of his six pool fights to be seeded seventh. He then progressed through the elimination rounds with victories of 15–13 in the last sixty-four and 15–8 in the last thirty-two, before finishing an excellent tenth overall after a closely contested last sixteen bout against a strong adult field.

Adding to the weekend’s success, Emily was also selected as first choice for the England Under 14 squad for their annual international trip to Poland. She has chosen to decline the opportunity due to a clash with the forthcoming Public Schools Fencing Championships where she will represent RGS.

Congratulations to both Emily and Henry on their outstanding achievements representing RGS Worcester in national fencing competition.