8:00am Sunday 4th October 2009
TEENAGE Epee fencer Edgar Hornby produced his best result to date recently and is now the top ranked 13-year-old fighter in the country.
The Bishop Challoner School pupil only took up the sport last season attending a fencing course and then joined the Reading club in January, where he is coached by Alain Barbasiewicz.
The Pamber Heath-based fencer has spent most of 2009 entering Leon Paul Junior Series under-13 events. In July, he came third in the Cornwall Leon Paul Tournament and it was suggested he should enter the under-20 British Selection Circuit event at Hampton for experience.
Hornby was the only 13-year-old to make the cut, at this stage he was placed 25th (out of 66).
However, he lost his first direct elimination fight and had to settle for a creditable 35th.
In his poule he beat Steve Pinkerton, who has represented Northern Ireland, 5-4 and recorded the same scoreline over Great Britain international Paul Sanchez.
He then beat Dominic Cross 5-1 and Mateo Dworkin 5-4.
The result means he is now ranked 35th on the GB Cadet (Under-17) Development list.
He is also the only 13-year-old on the Junior (Under-20) rankings, where he is placed 50th.
He has four tournaments coming up this month, including an International in Basingstoke’s twin town Alencon, in France.
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