UKSG2008

Last year it was Coventry, this year it was Bath and next year it will be Cardiff. It’s the UK School Games! Although the title is something of a misnomer, the UKSG is a phenomenal multi-sport event that will be held every year up to London 2012 and is aimed at the U18s who might be competing at that Olympics.

Fencing is one of the original sports to be included in the games, and in addition to an individual competition which features the best four fencers from each home country, there is also an exciting team event on the Sunday where England, N.Ireland, Scoltand and Wales compete against each other to claim the title of best fencing nation!

Wales had a younger, less experienced team this year so it is perhaps even more of an achievement that not one member of the team this year came back without a medal. In addition to Rebecca Thomas’s nail-biting final against Sophie St.Clair-Jones, which she lost by just one hit in extra time, there was Jessica Davies’ - who is coached by Phil when she is at home in Wales - thrilling fight against Olympian, Alex O’Connell’s, younger sister Grace which was decided at 14 all by an impressive attack by O’Connell which forced Jessica Davies to the back of the piste.

So, two silver medals for Wales in the individual and a bonus bronze medal which came from Ben Hughes in the Men’s Epee who was in impressive form. Expectations were low for the Women’s Epee team, who were up against tough ranked opposition and - bar the experienced Thomas - had fenced less than five years between the three of them. Hannah James, a novice who joined us at Gwernyfed in September 2007; Annabel Smith, who up until selection in May was a novice Sabreur, and Jessi

Hodge, who joined us in Carmarthen in 2006. Having taken a fall on her horse only a week previously, Jessi was fencing (with the go-ahead from her Dr) with a broken nose and a hairline fracture!

Having lost to the eventual winners, Scotland, Wales went on to face the Northern Irish team. An exciting and tense match ensued where top seed Thomas lost her first fight, pipped the second only to come back to raging form in her last by scoring 13 hits. The final score was 45-37 to the welsh.

Things looked bleak for the Welsh girls in their Sabre match against Scotland. Going into the last fight they were 29-40 down. However, incredibly Jessica Davies stormed to victory against a top 4 opponent 16-3! The Welsh were in full voice as they cheered her on to victory. In the final, against a sold English team, the girls aquitted themselves well to score 32 hits and to take home the team silver title.

Accross the hall, things were getting exciting as the welsh boys were taking the favourites, England, to the wire. For the majority of the match it looked like the welsh were going to cause a major upset - with Llandovery College Fencer, Griff Williams in particularly dangerous form - but alas it was not to be as the English closed the gap in the penultimate fight and grasped the victory against Daniel Lumb in the final 45-41. Nethertheless, this bodes well for next year with all members of the team eligible for re-selection. Having so narrowly missed out on the final the boys were on fire, and demolished the Scottish team - which included the individual champion - 45-35.

No welsh team finished last, and it was agreed by all that they had the best team spirit. A fantastic event and hopefully an inspiring one for a young squad who had a great time.

Meg S-F, UKSG Young Official and Referee 2008