A record 31 home club members compete at Elgin Duellist Fencing Club Championships
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Elgin Duellist Fencing Club held their annual championships over two weekends to bring the curtain down on their competitive year.
And the club was well represented in the tourney at Elgin High, with a record 31 fencers from the host outfit taking part in the five-hit electric foil tourney.
The club's head coach, Robin Paterson said the championships is held with an emphasis on fun, focusing on preparing the younger club members for the competition circuit.
However, the whole tournament featured duellists aged between nine and 71.
"This year, club coaches were delighted to see some very closely fought matches and, for the first time ever in running the competition, no single fencer won all their matches." Paterson said.
The senior title was won by former Orkney Fencing Club member Joe Joyce (28), retaining his title from last year and building on his third place at the Highland Open tourney, also hosted by EDFC in September.
Paterson added that the junior title was retained by 15-year-old Cults Academy pupil Edwin Naughton (15), who also finished third in this year's Scottish Youth Development Series and 12th in the foil category at the Highland Open.
Lindsey Cant (28), who joined the Elgin club at the age of 11, won the award of top female fencer.
Paterson said possibly the most outstanding performance in the championships came from 13-year-old Forres Academy pupil Owen Lewis, who won the Sally Low Quaich for the Most Improved Fencer.
"Last year, Owen won only two fights but this year he only dropped two fights overall and showed great tenacity in his well-timed beat attacks," Paterson said.
"This also rounded off a brilliant and successful year for the Scottish Fencing Pathways Training Programme fencer. Owen won bronze and silver medals in the Scottish Youth Development Series for his age group.
"It was great to see that every Duellist - who competed over the two weeks - won hits and our younger members should be congratulated for their courage in taking part."
Elgin Duellist Fencing Club meets each Thursday at Elgin High School at 6.30pm.
For more information on the club, email robin1andlinda1@yahoo.com or call 01343 541302.
