Schoolgirl receives England fencing call

By claudia loy sport@essexchronicle.co.uk

A BRAINTREE schoolgirl will represent her country for the first time after excelling in the recent England Youth Fencing Championships.

Elsa Phillipson, 12, a student at Chelmsford County High School for Girls, won a bronze medal in the Under 13 Epée and silver in the Under 13 Foil at the championships held in Hatfield last month.

This gives her the opportunity to compete for the England Under 15 team in Poland and also to compete in Paris next year.

She said: 'It's amazing. I've seen my friends qualify for the England team so it has made me determined to do the same. Now I've finally managed it, I'm so excited."

Elsa hasn't been short of success this year as she was 10th in the Under 14 British Epée Championships.

Fencing is a big part of Elsa's life. She has been fencing since she was very young and she trains twice a week with the Colchester & District Fencing Club and once a week at her school lunchtime club.

Fencing appealed to her because it's different from most sports and its something special to her as not many people do it.

Sarah Bellamy, head of PE at the school, said: "We are extremely proud of Elsa.

"She is a valued member of the fencing club we hold at school on Friday lunchtimes where she often assists the coach by passing on her knowledge to students who are just starting out in this exciting sport.

"We wish her every success in her England events."