Finishing the season with a couple of medals and a mug
The Much Wenlock Olympian Games was almost the last event in the Fencing Calendar, and it’s where I finally picked up a couple of medals (Silver, and, embarrassingly, ‘Best Veteran’) as well as a commemorative mug. The Much Wenlock is of historical importance — it was one of the progenitors of the Modern Olympic Games. Regrettably, although the field is probably stronger than the York Open, and the competition is distinctly better run, it is too small to give much (or anything) in the way of ranking points. But the following week I did finish 57th in the British Nationals, knocking out a rather disgruntled Hector Ketley to reach the last 64, and then losing 15-8 to former Olympic fencer and British number 2 James Beavers. Fantastic bloke, and a great fencer. Added to 5th in the Wrexham, 8th in the Sheffield, 12th at the Isle of White, and some reasonable results at Leicester, Slough and Merseyside, alongside some less than creditable results at the Birmingham International, the Shropshire and the Hereford and Worcester, and failure to score any points at all at the Welsh, the Essex and the Bristol, I finished the season overall as UK number 64 for men’s foil. Not bad for a forty-one year old, but not amazing either. Nonetheless, I am still improving, and intend to do better next season. (more…)