Newham Swords set yet another club record when two of its international fencers helped GB make the top four of the Team Event at the Bratislava, Slovakia Junior Men’s Foil World Cup, held last weekend (5/6th Dec 2015).
GB No 1 and 2, Jai Birch and Rajan Rai, produced the best performance of their careers to help GB take fourth spot in the team event. In the last 16, they put out Egypt before taking on the higher seeds, Russia, in the last 8. The match was an extremely close affair but Raj and Jai gave the performance of their lives to help GB win 45-43 and book their place in the semi-finals.
Their next opponents were the higher seeded and very experienced French team. Despite an amazing team performance, GB lost 45-38 to the eventual gold medallists.
In the fight off for the bronze medal, GB faced Left to Right: Pierre Harper (Head Coach), Jai Birch (GB No. 1), Rajan Rai (GB No. 2) and Linda Strachan (Club Manager) [Click for larger picture]Japan. Despite an amazing effort from both Rai and Birch, GB lost 45-41 to take fourth place.
“Raj and Jai were absolutely superb in the Team Event. They not only showed great team spirit but also fenced with passion and determination. This is one of the best performances from a GB Junior Team in a World Cup and I am proud to say that two thirds of the Team came from Newham Swords”, said GB and Swords Head Coach, Pierre Harper.
Left to Right – Tom Corlett, George Bailey and Kamal Minott. Raj is missing due to the fact that he had to rush off for a photo shoot! [click for a larger picture]Leon Paul Fencing Centre December 6th, 2015
Newham Swords entered this event for the first time in its history and took home the silver medal.
The Swords Team of GB Internationals, Rajan Rai, George Bailey, Kamal Minott and Tom Corlett managed to beat a very experienced Boston A Team (comprising Glen Ostacchini, Harry Bird, Alex Lim and Kola Abidogun) 43-42 in the last 8 after Raj scored the last hit with priority.
In the semi-finals, Newham Swords beat the Fencers Club London/Saxon Fencing Club Team (made up of Chris Mollard, William Price, Luca Valetti and Ben Peggs) before meeting the ZFW A Team in the final. Although Raj, Kamal, George and Tom showed great team spirit in the final, Richard Kruse, Alex Lloyd and Peter Barwell were just too strong.
“Our boys produced some fantastic fencing throughout the day, against some very experienced senior internationals. Their silver medal is all the more incredible given the fact that three of the four Newham Swords team members are still junior fencers, taking part in a national senior event”, said Club Manager, Linda Strachan.
Newham Swords continued their gold rush when it took three medals at the Sports Dock Leon Paul Junior Series, held last weekend (12 Nov 15)
Two of the Club’s up and coming young stars took the first two medals of the tournament when they both finished in the top three of the Boys U9
Left to Right – Linda Strachan (Club Manager), Khallum Contractor, Tomi Fric and Pierre Harper (Head Coach) [click for larger pic]Category. 8 year old Khallum Contractor remained undefeated throughout the day before taking gold (his first ever medal) whilst Tomi Fric, also aged 8 won bronze (his third medal of the season).
“Both boys are extremely talented and have great potential. I have never come across such talent, at such a young age”, said Head Coach, Pierre Harper.
From Left: Benjamin Urdzal, Emilija Lukaite, Linda Strachan (Club Manager), Teagan William-Stewart and Alan Lozovik (Junior Coach) [click for larger pic]The Sword’s next medal of the weekend came from its U15 Team, after remaining undefeated throughout the day. Teagan Williams-Stewart, Keir Adeleke, GB U17 International Emilija Lukaite, and England U15 International Benjamin Urdzal all performed extremely well as a team to secure gold.
“This was a fantastic performance from our U15 Team. They were a great support for each other”, said Club Manager, Linda Strachan.
