SWINDON Fencing Club have won the Under 14s Southern Region Team Foil event.

The team fought off the best from Wiltshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Hampshire.

Six squads entered from Swindon, with team C - Henry Banda, Ewan Young and Ben Simmonds - emerging victorious from their pool, while team A (Ollie Hodgson, Oliver Gabb and Oliver Findlay) finished second and team B (Elysia Bidgood, Ed Scott-Payne and Charlie Robbins) were third.

Team A won their first direct elimination match 45-32 to take their place in the quarter final against Team C after they defeated Team B 45-36.

With only one team advancing to the semi-final, both sides put on a fine display of fencing, with the lead changing on four occasions.

Team C finally emerged victorious (45-36) and moved into the semi-final against Oxford A.

The Swindon cside then laimed a 45-39 victory in the semi-final to book a final berth against Salle Oxon.

After deciding to stick with the same order from their semi clash, Simmond and Banda built a good lead before Young won the final match to take the title.

Coach Neil Bromley said: “With Ben at under 12 and Henry under 13, this team secured a very special win, becoming the top under 14 team in the region, a year before they had the best chance of doing so.

“This was a brilliant performance, showing mental toughness and great tactical and strategic thinking, coupled with sheer determination to win.

“They are absolutely deserving of their title and must feel very proud.”