A 'Fran'-tastic day for Packwood fencing!

10th March, 2010

Packwood played host to the annual Packwood Epee Cup on Sunday 7th March. With over 70 entries, and fencers from 14 different schools and clubs, it was a busy, exciting and challenging day for the Packwood fencers.

The Dunning Sports Hall was turned into an Olympic style fencing 'salle' for the day, with ten metallic pistes (the metal carpets stop the floor registering as a hit), overhead scoring boxes and even its own refreshment centre as Mr Dougan's room became the Cafe d'Art serving hot drinks and a lasagne and salad lunch.

After some exciting group and knock-out stages in the Under 10s, Murray Robinson-Boulton and Nick Yeoward took bronze medals, Gabe Connolly edged out Jack Humphreys in the boys' final and Annie Livermore was crowned girls' champion defeating Immy Downey in the final bout.

The entries in the Under 12 category were as competitive as any in the country. Ce-Ce Whittingham, Ella Downey, Rory Davies and Freddie Houlker repeated their medal successes of the West Midlands Championships, but the gold medals went to Tia Simms-Lynn of Plymouth Fencing Club and George Morris of Wrexham Fencing Club.

With a new 'Senior Shield' on offer, the standard of the Under 14 and Under 16 competitions was again high with fencers from Warwick, Bromsgrove, Abbotsholme, RGS Worcester, Repton and Solihull taking part. Solihull School came out on top both in the Under 16 and Under 14 boys' competitions winning the shield. Packwood boys found the size, strength and speed of their opponents a step too far. Not so the Packwood Under 14 girls though. Olivia Wade-Smith continued her winning streak taking bronze, defeating England squad fencer, Hannah Boyle en route. Fran Hughes went a step further taking the gold medal in the final. Both girls have been awarded Packwood colours for their displays of skill and technique and outstanding contributions to the team over the last four years.

As the final bout was called to a halt, the pistes dismantled and the swords put away for another day, Packwood's fencers had claimed eleven medals, but were close runners-up behind local rivals, Wrexham Fencing Club in the overall 'Cup'. Thanks are due to all of the fencers that took part, all of the parents who came to support the event, all of the staff and pupils who helped run the event and especially to The Cowens who set up the equipment, Raph who ran the computer software, Nick Chapman and his helpers from Warwick School who helped ref the bouts, the lovely ladies Mrs Beharrell, Mrs Don and Mrs Weston who served the lunch and Julie Clorley who despite having the double header of the Sevens Rugby tournament and Fencing tournament, managed to clean, wipe, polish and tidy the Sports Complex to perfection (twice!).

Eleven of the Packwood Team are off next to the British Youth Championships in May, representing the West Midlands. Later in the Summer term we will have an opportunity for revenge against Wrexham in a team event. And yes we'll be taking Olivia and Fran!