Over the last weekend in July Salle Lawrence Fencing Club sent 5 individual fencers to the British Senior Championships in Sheffield. The competition was held at the English Institute of Sport and spread over the 2 day weekend, with the individual event taking placing on the Saturday and the team event taking place on the Sunday.
Female Epeeist Toni Denham was ranked 20th after the pooles and took out fomer GB team fencer Cath Walker in the last 32 but was defeated 15-7 by previous Olympic Standard fencer Georgina Usher who is making a come back this season in preparation for London 2012. Katie Dolan another female club fencer was unlucky to draw Anneka Lawrence of the Lawrence family and be defeated in the last 64 round .
Ian Lichfield, a club coach fought his way through to win 4 out of 6 poole fights but was beaten in the second knock out stage to finish 60th.
19 year old twins Warren and Jason Shillingford competed in the men’s foil and after disappointing group stages Jason was knocked out in the 64 and Warren after a stunning performance in the knock out stages was defeated and he finished with a last 32 result.
Salle Lawrence entered two teams in the team events a men’s foil and a women’s epee.
Men’s foil team were the Shillingford brothers and Ian Lichfield who blitzed there way through their poole winning all 3 of their matches then defeated Salle Boston to take them into the Semi-finals . The men fenced really hard and to take a bronze medal at the National team championships was an amazing achievement. Well done boys!
The women’s epee team were Toni Denham, Katie Dolan, Anneka Lawrence and Corinna Lawrence (both of the Lawrence family). Not to be outdone by the men their team seeding from their individually results left them with a buy into the last 8 where they easily defeated Cardiff Fencing Club’s 2nd team. In the semi-finals the girls fenced well but with some of the team suffering injuries went out to London Thames Fencing Club (most of who’s team are our senior national team whom Corinna regularly competes with). The girls also finished third with bronze medals so all in all great results from both teams making national team finals! Go Salle Lawrence”
