The fabulous fencers from Wellington School have triumphed in yet another National competition.
At the Public Schools’ Fencing Championships held at Crystal Palace, GB U17 champion Jade Clarke swept the board taking the gold medal both in the Girls’ Senior Foil and Epee. She was ably supported by team-mate Jessica Gundry who took the silver medal in the foil and came 5th in the epee from fields over 40 competitors. Jade also came 6th in Sabre on the third day of the tournament and for her overall performance she was awarded an honorary sword called the “Master at Armes”
Nina Savage, 13, came in a very respectable 6th out of 80 in the Junior Girls Mount-Haes /U14/ foil class, showing the strength of school fencing at all ages.
At the end of the third day Wellington School received an extra award as the “Best School for Girl’s Fencing” of the country based purely on the three ladies results.
“The Public Schools’ Fencing Championships is held over three days and is by far the largest fencing competition in the country, and is probably the largest youth fencing event in the whole of Europe” commented Wellington School’s Hungarian fencing master, George Felletar. “These girls train so hard and are utterly dedicated to their sport – they really deserve this triumph. I am delighted that they have done so supremely well. It really shows that Wellington School is the elite school in the country for Fencing – I am very proud of their outstanding achievements!” concluded Mr Felletar.
The first Public Schools Championships were held in March 1890 when Fencing was added to the Public Schools Gymnastic Championships (gymnastics and boxing) organised annually by the Army and often referred to simply as ‘Aldershot’.