Medals, Championships, and National Qualifications

RGS fencers have been in action across two separate weekends, competing in both the West Midlands Age Group Sabre and Épée Championships with fantastic results.

Year Eight pupil Emily De Bono took part in the West Midlands Age Group Sabre Championships at King Edward VI School, Birmingham. Despite limited recent experience in Sabre, Emily put in a strong performance, winning two fights in her pool before a narrow 12-10 loss to the third seed in the direct eliminations. Her sixth place finish secures her qualification for the British Youth Championships National Age Group Finals.

The following weekend, a group of RGS fencers travelled to Packwood School in Shropshire for the West Midlands Age Group Épée Championships. In the Under 14 Girls’ event, Emily De Bono added to her success, winning a closely contested final to become West Midlands Champion, with Year Nine pupil Matilda Hawkins finishing 11th. In the Under 16 Girls’ category, Year Eleven pupil Issy Pottinger secured a Bronze medal, while Lower Sixth student Joseph Kington also claimed Bronze in the Under 18 Boys’ event. In the younger age groups, Year Eight pupil Sean Yang finished 13th in the Under 14 Boys’competition, and Year Seven pupil Alfred Diment placed 14th in the Under 12 Boys’ competition.

As a result, Emily, Issy and Joseph have all qualified for the 2025 British Youth Championships National Age Group Finals held at the England Institute of Sport in Sheffield on the May Day Bank Holiday weekend.

With three fencers qualifying for the British Youth Championships, three medals won, and one Regional Champion crowned, it has been a brilliant fortnight for the RGS Fencing team – congratulations to all involved!