Three Vernon fencers surprised the competition in the 2014 Canadian National Fencing Championships at Rexall Place in Toronto.
David Enns and Jaxsen MacKay, and head coach, Matt Clarke, represented the Okanagan Freestyle team in Cadet, Junior Men and Senior Men Epee events.
In Junior Men’s Epee for men 19 and under on the Saturday, Enns, 17, and MacKay, 16, won most of their matches and were awarded a bye into the top-32 direct eliminations.
Enns ended up battling a strong Kingston fencer, ultimately losing 13-8 with time running out. MacKay also bowed out to a Kingston fencer.
“David and Jaxsen were on fire” said Clarke. “Although the boys didn’t earn any medals on Saturday, they shocked many talented fencers. They represented the Okanagan very well.”
MacKay placed 20th and Enns 25th in a field of 54.
The Sunday was a big day for the trio with MacKay and Enns in the Cadet Men’s Epee 17 and under class.
“I could see David adapt to each opponent and really enjoy his matches, which made him fence even better.” said Clarke.
Enns won four out of five matches, his only loss coming by one point. MacKay encountered many tough matches but took a victory from Phillip Heidecker, a top-ranked Quebec fencer, after being down two points.
Enns and MacKay fenced their first round of direct elimination matches at the same time, with coach Clarke pacing between the two so he could offer advice. MacKay was paired against a very strong Toronto fencer and lost 15-13 in the top-32 bracket.
“Like most of Jaxsen’s matches, it was a nail- biter that came down to the end,” said Clarke.
Enns drew an unknown opponent from Quebec, Clement Theriault, in his first elimination match. It started with Clement taking a two-point lead forcing David to play catch-up.
”David figured out what was working and what wasn’t and adapted his style” said Clarke.
Towards the end of the match Enns grabbed the lead and held on for a 15-14 win.
Enns then defeated a Kingston entrant 15-10 to enter the top-eight bracket, where he lost 15-6 to veteran Quebecer Loic Beaulieu.
“I couldn’t figure him out,” smiled Enns, to coach Clarke.
Enns finished sixth overall, the highest result for a B.C. fencer, with MacKay placing 30th, in a field of 43.
Clarke, a fencer since 1998, and coach since 2008, and the founder of Okanagan Freestyle Fencing, had never fenced in a senior men’s event at a nationals.
In the round-robin pools, Clarke faced stiff competition and posted one victory while losing a few matches by only one or two points.
“I didn’t win many matches, but I was given some game-changing advice by some top B.C. fencing coaches and instructors like Victor and Igor Gantsevich, and Tigran Bagjoric. After a bit of direction, I really became more confident.”
Clarke won his first direct elimination match 15-5 against an Albertan fencer before losing to Jean Luc D’Eon of Saskatoon.
It was a tight match which came down to the last point, with three seconds left. Clarke finished the day placing 58th of 74 athletes.
“It wasn’t a great finish, but I learned a lot about myself and my fencing and am eager to compete next year” said Clarke.
Added Clarke: “The boys and I made many new friends and respected rivals that will encourage us to train harder” said Clarke. “It was a big step for our fencing community in Vernon and Canadian fencers know one thing; the Okanagan has talented fencers.”
