On another cold, wet and dreary Sunday, Claudia and Sofia made the maddening journey down to The Triangle Leisure Centre, in Burgess Hill, for the 2025 South East Region Youth Championships. Both competing in Epee, the girls had the same registration time of 12.15pm, meaning that at least it wasn’t too early a start, on a Sunday, at the beginning of February!
Sofia was competing in the Girl’s U18 epee, which consisted of 17 fencers and, Claudia competed in the Girl’s U16 epee, consisting of 19 fencers. With a number of Byes, for the competition, being claimed (possibly by those in the midst of GCSE/A-Level mock exams) it meant that, for both girls, they would need to place well, in order to qualify for the British Youth Championships in May 2025.
Despite the odd numbering in the poules, both girls found themselves in a poule of 6 fencers. Despite a tentative start from both, they managed to keep their composure and after each of their five duels, both girls, in their respective ages, came out as having won all five bouts. In the Under 18’s, Sofia was the only fencer managing this feat, putting her into the Direct Elimination (DE) as the top seed. Claudia, in the Under 16’s, was one of only two fencers to win all five bouts, but her indicator score pushed her down into the second seed placing. With the numbers fencing, both girls, thanks to their high seeding, were given a bye into the last 16 of the tableau. Sofia came through her final 16 bout, with what looked like an evenly fought match, winning 15-11. Claudia’s match was of much the same result, fencing against a competitor from the poules, she managed a 15-10 victory to take her through to the final 8 as well.
Claudia’s next competitor had a ground swell of support from her fellow team mates, which made the bout all the more intimidating for Claudia. However, from being behind, she pulled up into the lead. A few double hits later, it looked like she could be progressing into the semi-finals, however, the shorter competitor of the two took advantage of a couple of run-ins from Claudia, landing the hits that put her in the lead. Unfortunately for Claudia, it was the double hits at the end that saw her knocked out, as she was unable to take the full advantage and pull back into the lead. Her day ended with her finishing in fifth place overall, which was quite the achievement, given some of the competitors who finished below her on the day. Well-done Claudia.
Sofia’s quarter final match finished much quicker than the earlier DE. She managed a 15-8 win against her opponent, who was unable to contemplate Sofia’s slower, more defensive stance and, Sofia regularly took advantage of the rash moves by her opponent. However, Sofia’s next match (the semi-final) was in similar vein to Claudia’s; with the vast numbers of support for the opposing player, doing their best to rattle the Gravesham girl. With the lead to-ing and fro-ing, it was the opponent who managed to settle in the lead. With four or five double hits being scored, it was 14-11 to Sofia’s competition. Unfortunately for Sofia, despite remaining composed, the opponent managed to land the final, fateful hit that saw her, and not Sofia, progress to the final. This meant that Sofia finished 3rd overall.
As previously mentioned, despite a number competitors taking their allotted byes for this event, both Claudia and Sofia placed highly enough that they have both qualified for the BYC’s in May of this year. Let’s just hope that their school exam timetables allow them to compete! Well done girls, keep flying the flag for Gravesham, you are doing us proud!
