Silver for James in Serbia

James Dunmall won a superb silver medal at an EFC under 14 event in Zrenjanin, Serbia, on 10th May. The medal is Royal Tunbridge Wells Fencing Club’s first ever step onto an international podium.

The Serbian success strengthens James’s hold on second place in the British U14 rankings and all-but guarantees his selection to fence for GB at the European Fencing Festival in Istanbul in June – his main goal this season.

James made a strong start in Serbia, winning all of his poule bouts, then took out two Serbs and a Netherlander on his way to the final, where a Serb ref mysteriously disallowed five of James’s hits against his Serbian opponent.

Despite this questionable conclusion, James was delighted with his silver medal, and sees it as the product of all his hard work: “It is the achievement of all the hours put in training and attending fencing camps over the last few years,” he said. “I am thrilled that all this work got rewarded with a silver medal at an EFC U14 competition.”

James sees his semi-final victory as particularly satisfying: “I had to deliver very high standards of fencing against my opponent, who has won a few EFC U14 competitions himself. It was a very close game to the end.”

James’s silver adds to his impressive collection of medals this year, with gold at the Regional Championships, Elite Epee Junior Series and Leon Paul Junior Series golds, as well as silvers at both series and also a bronze at the British Youth Championships.