On guard: RGS fencers return to Fencing fixtures
Back before Covid, Monday morning brought a regular email from Nick Chapman, reporting on RGS fencers. Now 16 months of silence has been broken by a flurry of Fencing fixtures, with the percussive sound from the piste of steel on steel. Last week, the Year Eight pair Joseph Kington and Jacob Hartley were in action at the Year Eight Team Pairs competition at Warwick school. Fencing against two teams from Warwick, one from Bromsgrove School and another from King Edward’s School, both our fencers showed impressive skill winning the competition in style, beating all four teams by a comfortable margin.
Last weekend, the Year Nine team of Zara Martin-Green, Matthew Fallows and Edith Wise went to King Edward’s School on Saturday to take part in the equivalent competition for their age group. They fought valiantly against a strong Bromsgrove School team, but were unable to keep in touch, despite a valiant effort on Matthew’s part in the last bout, and lost 43-37 – a very respectable result. The following matches proved no problem, beating both King Edward’s School A fencers 48-38, and King Edward’s School B fencers 45-39. RGS took a well-deserved second place.
On Sunday, it was the turn of the Sixth Form team, in a competition which promised some excellent fencing. All schools had experienced fencers available, who had performed well on the wider West Midlands and National stage and the opportunity to meet again and fence was very much appreciated. Our fencers, Will Osborne, Tom Ehlers and William Fallows, started well, with a comfortable win over old friends, Warwick School, taking the match 45-12. The King Edward’s School B team, despite far less experience than their A team, looked dangerous and they proved far from easy competition. However, our three fencers took an early lead and never lost it, winning 45-19. The final match, against King Edward’s School A team started very well and while our opponents came back strongly in the middle stages of the competition, they never managed to catch up and RGS won 45-23. This meant that RGS won the competition, bringing home the new Midlands Team shield as a reward.
Fencing matches, however fiercely fought on the piste, are friendly off it, and these three competitions proved no exception, with RGS fencers demonstrating the best qualities of our pupils. We are indebted to both Warwick School and King Edward’s School for being such excellent hosts and to Mr Chapman for organising the competitions. After 16 months of no competitions, it is excellent to see Fencing back on the calendar. As we finish the school year with RGS fencers winning nine out of ten competitions, we very much look forward to the Fencing season next year.
Mr Philip Ehlers
Senior Teacher
