Fencers face off in South

The Otago Girls’ High School gymnasium was a flurry of activity as the Fencing President’s Cup drew nearly 50 players to Dunedin over the weekend. Blades clashed and scoring lights illuminated the competition as fencers from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and the local Claymore Swords Club battled it out in men’s and women’s foil and epee.

The competition showcased top talent from across New Zealand, with the medals predominantly heading north. Despite this, the Presidents Cup provided a high-quality competition for the southern region, allowing officials and volunteers the opportunity to host one of the final senior tournaments on the national fencing calendar.

In the men’s epee category, The Fencing Institute from Christchurch dominated the podium. Joel Wilson claimed the gold medal, with Jacob Takuira-Mita taking silver in the final. Tom Eyre-Walker and James Price secured third place.

Takuira-Mita also earned a silver medal in men’s foil, finishing behind Samuel Li from the Wellington Fencing Club. Mutian Wang and Pierre Bechet shared the bronze medals.

The women’s foil event was won by up-and-coming fencer Bowie Wang from the Diocesan School for Girls. Grace Thomson from the Claymore Swords Club took second place, while Emily Shiyi Luo and Isabel Wong shared the bronze medals.

The largest women’s field was in epee, with Emilia Mason from Auckland Swords Fencing Club and Mount Albert Grammar School clinching the gold. Lisa Pichler from Claymore Swords Club earned silver, with Sera Cox and Xiya Wang taking home the bronze medals.

Overall, the Fencing President’s Cup provided a thrilling display of fencing talent in Dunedin, showcasing the skill and dedication of fencers from across the country.