New Midgets pip the Mighty Ducks

NEW MIDGETS took the honours at the Sarnia Sword Club's junior team competition. The support for junior fencing in Guernsey was evident as 58 SSC musketeers and Elizabeth College fencers contested the event.

There was a real mix - aged from 11 to 17 and from all schools - making up the teams.

The competitors chose their own team and its name, resulting in some bizarre titles.

It also contributed to a relaxed if sometimes boisterous competition, with the team members urging on their companions noisily from the sidelines.

The competition was run on a knockout basis, with each team having to get to 45 hits against its opponents. Every fencer faced each member of the opposing team.

The first round was a bit of an eye-opener for some of the young fencers in their first competition.

Undaunted, they remembered their training and produced some tidy fencing despite facing opponents who were several years older and quite a few inches taller; Pinpoint and Team X were examples of this. All the matches went according to seeding, however, with no upsets.

There were still some close matches, though, with the Star Strikers and the Giraffes Reloaded swapping lead positions several times before the Giraffes edged victory by a short neck at 45-37.

The Swashbucklers also pushed the Two-and-a-half Musketeers to a close finish, some excellent fencing producing a 45-40 victory for the latter.

The teams to make the final were never in doubt, both based at Elizabeth College.

The New Midgets and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim brushed aside their opponents to set up an interesting and highly-competitive final.

All six of the fencers meet regularly at the SSC and in the college fencing club. This resulted in a very even competition.

Although the Mighty Ducks took an early lead, the New Midgets were always in contention.

The lead shifted midway through the match, with the Midgets just edging ahead.

Back came the Ducks; however, the Midgets held on with some excellent fencing and enthusiastic support from other fencers and parents driving the competitors on.

The Ducks were unable to catch up and the Midgets emerged victorious 45-37.

There was also a plate competition for those teams knocked out in the first round.

This went to Bananas in Pyjamas, another of the more strangely named teams.