More than 40 athletes from around the province brought their best to the 17th annual Jeux de Pomme fencing tournament last weekend at Beairsto Elementary.
Over three days of competition, a number of Vernon school district fencers came home with medals. David Enns of Kalamalka Secondary earned a bronze medal after falling to Finlay Nichol of Kamloops in the secondary boys division. David Shorey, a top Canadian in the épée discipline won gold.
Other locals fencers Nathan Casperson, Jing Cheng Yao, Sage Shaw and Mitch Johnson placed well.
On the girl’s side, Emily Mason of Meadow Ridge School in Maple Ridge grounded Seaton’s Kim Lord for the gold.
Lord’s sister, Pippa, turned in a fifth-place showing in her first-ever tournament.
In the elementary girl’s division, Emily Mason repeated as champion with Hanna Zandvliet of Vernon claiming silver.
Pippa Lord and Danica Ariano, both of Beairsto, shared bronze.
Miles Forrest of Beairsto bowed to Fynn Mansbridge-Fafard of the Sunshine Coast in the boys final. The bronze was shared by Miguel Lefevre of L’Anse aux Sables school in Kelowna and Nathan Go of Maple Ridge.
In the Open men’s category, Spencer Kitson of North Vancouver stopped Gareth Mason of Maple Ridge in the gold-medal match. Neil Casey of Vancouver and David Shorey of Surrey shared bronze.
On the women’s side, Rebecca McOnie of Armstrong earned gold by beating Samantha McPhee of Kamloops, with teammates Joanna Pater and Emily Mason sharing the bronze.
Any school-aged athletes interested in trying fencing are encouraged to contact Brendan Robertson at 250-542-1388.
