Private School News

STONYHURST TEAM STRIKES GOLD IN FENCING COMPETITION

STONYHURST pupils displayed remarkable speed and skill when they won gold and silver medals at a fencing tournament.

Twin brothers Simon and Magnus Whittle (14) and Yoann Belon (15) took on more than 150 competitors to defend Stonyhurst’s honour at the Bromsgrove School Fencing Challenge earlier this month.

The Stonyhurst fencers fought exceptionally well, with Simon and Magnus taking both gold and silver medals in the under 14s Foil final.

This was repeated in the under 14s Epee, where the boys fought the other fencers in a ‘Poule Unique’, again winning gold and silver medals.

The final results were:
Under 14 Foil: gold medal, Simon Whittle, silver medal, Magnus Whittle.
Under 14 Epee: gold medal, Magnus Whittle, silver medal, Simon Whittle.

Under 16 Foil: 10th place Yoann Belon.
Senior Epee: 13th place Yoann Belon.

The competition was strong as some of the other competitors are Great Britain fencing cadets.

Other schools also in the tournament included Bromsgrove, Warwick, Abingdon and the Royal Grammar School.

The Whittle brothers are no strangers to fencing success. Last year Simon won gold in the North West 2008 Regional Epee Championships at Arnold School, Blackpool, and a silver medal in the Bath Leon Paul Under 13 Boys Epee, held at Millfield School, Somerset. Magnus also won a bronze medal for third place in the Under 14 Sabre, at the Arnold school competition.

Simon and Magnus also took part in the Manchester Cadet Tournament at Bolton Arena last September where they competed against fencers from around the world, some more than three years older.

“We are very proud of the boys’ success. Bringing home gold and silver medals is a huge achievement in the face of such tough opposition. All three boys should be commended for their endeavours,” said Mr. Andrew Johnson, Headmaster at Stonyhurst College.