Fencing Triumphs and International Selection
On Easter Sunday, our talented fencers demonstrated their skills at various prestigious tournaments across the country, bringing home commendable results.
Pupils Issy Pottinger and Joseph Kington represented RGS at the ‘Birmingham International,’ the largest adult tournament in the UK, held at Birmingham University. Despite facing formidable opponents, Issy demonstrated exceptional prowess in the arena, battling her way through tough matchups. Seeded 86th, she defeated the 43rd seed in a thrilling encounter, narrowly missing out on progressing further after a close defeat to the 22nd seed. Notably, former RGS student Danielle Lawson, competing in the same event, achieved a commendable 6th place finish, while Issy secured a respectable 64th position out of 88 participants. Joseph Kington also displayed his skills, securing the 88th position after winning two fights in his pool but narrowly missing out on advancement in the round of 128.
Meanwhile, Emily de-Bono ventured to Manchester for the Leon Paul Junior Series event, where she exhibited her talent by finishing 6th in the Under 14 Girls Épée category. Not to be outdone, Issy Pottinger travelled to participate in the Elite Épée Junior Series event, competing in the Under 17s category and clinching an impressive 3rd place finish.
Issy’s outstanding performance at Birmingham International has earned her the 132nd spot on the British Women’s Épée Ranking list, a remarkable achievement.
Congratulations to all of our fencers for their achievements!
In other exciting news, RGS Alumnus Lucas Hancock has been selected to represent Northern Ireland in the Men’s Épée at the Junior Commonwealth Fencing Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand, this July. Lucas’s journey to qualification included notable performances at the Senior Derry Open last October, where he secured 5th place, and the Senior Northern Ireland Open in January, where he finished 8th. Additionally, he contributed to his team’s success by earning a bronze medal in the team Épée event at the recent Welsh Closed competition, showcasing his talent and determination on the international stage.