Sullivan Fencing Success
On Saturday 17 January 2015 the 3rd round of the NI Junior Foil Series was held in the Sullivan Upper sports hall. The NIJFS is a series of 6 junior fencing competitions held every year from November to April, with fencers from school and independent clubs from all over Ireland competing in U10, U12, U14 and U16 age groups. Sullivan Upper Fencing Club had a total of 15 entrants on Saturday, five of whom were from the newly formed Prep section of the club.
Summary of Saturday’s results
U10s
No SU entrants in this age group.
U12 Girls
Year 8 pupil Anna Vaughan continued her dominance in this category with her 3rd consecutive gold medal, having also won at rounds 1 and 2. However the SU performance of the day probably should go to Prep fencer Maia Lane, who on her very first competition, fought her way through quarter and semi-finals to face Anna in the final, taking a well-earned silver medal. Another Prep fencer, Sophie Fetherston also put in a brave performance in her first competition to finish 7th.
U12 Boys
Conn Finnegan (year 8) put in a strong performance to improve on his previous two 6th places to win bronze this time, taking him up one place in the points rankings to 4th overall. Three Prep fencers, Evan Wise, Nicholas Kenna and Benjamin Griffiths, all had their first fencing competition experience at this event. All three had at least one poule fight win before going into the knock-out stage, where Evan won another fight to reach the quarter finals and finish 7th. Nicholas and Benjamin finished 9th and 10th.
U14 Girls
There were two SU representatives in this category, year 9 pupils Erin Maginn and Phoebe McPherson. Erin took her 2nd consecutive silver medal to hold 2nd place in the overall points rankings, while a fast improving Phoebe bettered her previous 6th and 7th places by winning bronze to secure 5th place in the points.
U14 Boys
No SU entrants in this age group.
U16 Girls
This category is dominated by Sullivan, with the top 3 current points ranking places before Saturday all being held by SU fencers, i.e. 1st Emily Maginn, 2nd Ella Reid and 3rd Iona O’Neill. Saturday’s results changed these positions slightly as Emily won gold, Iona silver and Rachel Smyth bronze, meaning that Emily remains no.1, but Iona moves up to no.2 and Ella down to no.3. On Saturday Ella finished 5th, while Emily Smyth was 6th and Katie Ireland 7th.
U16 Boys
No SU entrants in this age group.
David White SUFC Coach
19 January 2015
Anna 1st, Maia 2nd U12 Girls
Conn 3rd U12 Boys
Erin 2nd, Phoebe 3rd U14 Girls
Emily 1st, Iona 2nd, Rachel 3rd U16 Girls