Fencers Impress in Copenhagen, Oslo and Across the UK
It has been another successful fortnight for RGS Worcester fencers, who have represented the School with distinction both internationally and at major domestic competitions.
Over the weekend of 24 November, three of our leading fencers travelled to France to compete at the prestigious Grenoble Cadet International. In an exceptionally strong field featuring 177 girls from 21 nations, Issy Pottinger and Emily De Bono both delivered determined performances in the Cadet Girls’ event. Issy secured two victories in her pool, earning a seeding of 113 and progressing through the cut with a bye into the round of 256. She fenced confidently throughout the day and concluded the competition in 115th place. Emily fought with real spirit and was just a single hit away from victory in three of her pool matches. Despite this, she did not secure a win and finished outside the cut.
In the Cadet Boys’ event, which involved 212 competitors from 18 nations, Henry De Bono fenced superbly to gain three victories from his six pool bouts and advance with a seeding of 100. He produced two strong direct elimination performances, winning his last 256 match 15–5 and his last 128 bout 15 – 8, before bowing out in the last 64 to a Swiss opponent, 15-11.
Both Issy and Henry were also selected for the team events. Issy represented GB2, who, after a bye into the last 16, faced Germany and Spain, finishing in 14th place. Henry, fencing for GB1, reached the quarter-finals following a narrow win over GB3. The team finished 7th overall after a closely contested match against Greece.
The previous weekend saw further excellent results at the Leon Paul Under 14 Open in London and the Cocks Moors Woods Épée Championships in Solihull. Emily De Bono enjoyed a remarkable two days of competition. At the LP Under 14 Open, she dominated her pool with five victories from six bouts, progressing as 5th seed. She then produced an exceptional sequence of direct elimination performances to win the final 12-11 and claim the gold medal.
The following day, Emily continued her outstanding form in the Under 13 event at the Cocks Moors Woods Championships, winning all of her pool fights and again progressing confidently through the elimination rounds. She secured her second gold medal of the weekend with a 10-7 victory in the final. Emily went on to make her debut in the Senior Women’s competition, where she won all five of her pool fights and ultimately placed an impressive 10th out of 48 competitors, an exceptional achievement in her first adult event.
There was further success in the Senior Men’s Épée competition, where Joseph Kington and Henry De Bono both produced strong performances. Joseph fenced well to win three of his five pool bouts, earning a bye into the last 64, where he was narrowly defeated 15-14. Henry, seeded 3rd after winning all of his pool fights, progressed through multiple elimination rounds, including a dramatic 15-14 quarter-final, before finishing 3rd overall.
The momentum continued into the weekend of 29-30 November, when both Issy and Henry once again represented Great Britain at international level, this time in Copenhagen and Oslo respectively. Issy fenced in the Under 17 Women’s event in Denmark, where 170 girls from 26 countries took part. She won three of her six pool fights to earn a seeding of 87, which secured her place through the cut. After receiving a bye in the round of 256, she delivered an excellent 15-7 victory in the last 128 to reach the round of 64, where she lost 15-8 to an Estonian opponent. Issy finished a highly creditable 62nd. In the team event on Sunday, she fenced for GB2, who beat Germany 2 by a narrow 45-43 margin before losing by the same score to Sweden 2, placing them 17th overall out of 30 teams.
Meanwhile, Henry travelled to Oslo, Norway, for his debut appearance representing Great Britain at Under 23 level, an impressive step up in competition. Despite still being an Under 17 fencer, he won two of his six pool fights to be seeded 62nd. He went on to win his last 128 match 15-8, earning a place in the round of 64, where he produced a strong performance before losing 15-12 to the Polish number 3 seed. Henry finished 61st, a commendable result in his first international at this level.
This series of outstanding results reflects the dedication, hard work and competitive spirit of all our fencers. Congratulations to Issy, Emily, Henry and Joseph on an excellent fortnight of achievements, with two further last 64 finishes on the international stage rounding off an exceptional run of performances.
This Sunday, RGS Worcester hosts its annual Fencing Gala which involved fencers from across the region of all ages visit the School and compete in Tom Savage Sportshall. Our thanks to our coaches for once again organising this event and alumni for supporting and refereeing at the Gala.
