Held in March, this year’s Public Schools’ Fencing Championships saw more than 200 fencers from across the UK competing at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in London. Despite this large field of opponents, the 13 members of Truro School’s fencing team all won a place on the podium, picking up five gold, three silver and five bronze medals. As a result, Truro retained the Brian Howes sabre trophy as best sabre fencing public school in the UK.
Lucy Jupp, head of fencing at Truro School, said: “This year’s Public Schools’ Fencing Championships has been a real triumph and testament to the hard work and number of hours of training that our fencers have put in over the course of the year. This has been a jam-packed season and now, at the business end of the year, we are seeing our fencers excel.”
In the boys’ events, Eoghan Cromie took bronze in both the junior boys’ epee and foil events and, with a sixteenth place in the junior boys’ sabre event, was awarded the junior boys’ master at arms title for top performer across all three fencing disciplines. The junior boys’ sabre title, meanwhile, was taken by Truro’s Jamie Craze in a final against his Truro sparring partner Bertie Holdsworth. Josh Maxwell took gold in the senior boys’ sabre event.
In the girls’ sabre event, Truro won all three medals, with Caitlin Maxwell defeating Maria Chart in the final and Lily Wood finishing third. Lily’s sister Molly won gold in her event, with teammate Keely Rodda claiming bronze.
“To have every member of our team come back to Cornwall with a podium place in their event is fantastic,” said Lucy Jupp. “Without question, this has been our most successful Public Schools’ Fencing Championships in recent years.”
The Truro Fencing Club team is also competing in the International Challenge Wratislava tournament in Poland.
