YOUNG fencing sensation Pearce Clarke recently returned from the British Youth Championships in Sheffield with a bronze medal hanging proudly around his neck.
The Forest School pupil blazed a trail through the competition field, blitzing his way to the semi-finals before eventually being defeated.
Despite the setback, the trip proved to be a resounding success for the 12-year-old fencer, who is a member of Newham Swords, having learned the art at Highams Park Fencing Club.
Competing in the foil event, in which competitors score points by thrusting the tip of the sword into the body of an opponent, Pearce breezed through five of his six pool fights to finish second in his group.
That qualified him for the knockout section of the competition, in which he also excelled, winning three fights on the trot by healthy margins – 10-1, 10-3 and 10-5 – before he was eventually defeated by a member of the Great Britain fencing team in the last four by 10 points to five.
It was a terrific result for the young fencer, who had already won two gold medals in the U12 category and two bronzes in the U14 events at the winter and summer Academy Cups.
He was tenth in the Eton Foil competition and a fifth place in the Eastern Region Youth Championships won him the chance to compete in the national event.
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