Fencing

Before the team events Temple had 374 pts., Dronfield 364 pts., with Grove and Manor each on 36 pts. Dronfield managed to edge into the lead of this group by scoring points in four out of the six relays.

The final positions were:

Queen's 93 pts.; School House 71 pts.; Dronfield 544 pts.; Grove 52 pts.; Manor 46 pts.; Temple 434 pts. and Rise 5 pts.

The Rise, despite their low numbers, managed to enter a competitor in every event, an achievement in itself.

The School swimming team have trained well over the term and the nucleus of juniors which is forming should provide a very strong base on which to work. Owing to an unusual number of cancellations, we only had two swimming matches. These were against Ampleforth 101-62 and Doncaster Grammar 137-90. Our '1st string' strength is shown by the fact that we were placed 1st in 29 out of 31 races.

We have had a number of water polo games this term as we are once again entered in the National Schoolboys Competition. The final of the North of England group is early next term and we play away to either Radcliffe or Halifax.

Our first inter-school game was a friendly game against Ampleforth, where the Seniors won 3-0 and the Under-16's won by four goals to one. The game with Spenborough Swimming Club was far from friendly, but provided valuable experience for the Under-16's, and they won creditably by six goals to three.

After losing last year to Doncaster Grammar by 16 goals to 1 in the Seniors and six goals to three in the Junior, the results this year were very good. We drew three goals all in the Senior game after a very even match. The Under-16 team did not play their best water polo, but still came out winners by six goals to two.

We congratulate Kevin R. Burns on his selection for Great Britain, and wish him the best of luck for the coming season, which looks like being a very hectic one.

T.T.

CHRISTMAS TERM

The main event of the Christmas Term was the match against the German fencers from Hamburg. Their party consisted of six girls and six boys and spent a week fencing and sight-seeing in York.

The match, fenced in the School-Gym was tough thanks to the determination of both sides. But eventually, after some exciting moments, we won by thirteen bouts to twelve. Special mention must be made of Martin Black who by swift unnerving attacks beat the German captain Michael Ramcke. For this fine performance Martin was awarded his school colours.

After the departure of the Germans, we supplied some fencers to fence for York in a team competition held at Huddersfield. After beating two teams, York got into the final of the Foil and Epée but lost on both occasions to older and more experienced teams from Huddersfield. However, to compensate for this, our Sabre team had a fine victory in a spectacular final against the host club. 29

The best individual performance of the term was when John Woodcock, fleching his way through three rounds, won the Yorkshire Junior Foil Championship after beating M. Pearce from Sheffield in a barrage. John is to be congratulated, as this is no mean achievement since this competition, although it is classified as "junior", has no age limits.

At the end of the term, certain fencers were awarded their York Youth Colours for Fencing, in the Guildhall.

EASTER TERM

After further training in the holidays, we started our last stint in preparation for the Public Schools' Championships held at the end of the Easter Term.

Early in this term, some members of the School represented York against Northern Command. This strong team which included an exOlympic fencer and a Scottish champion was beaten in the Foil by five bouts to four, and in the Epée by seven bouts to two. However, in the Sabre, York had to concede defeat by three bouts to six, although Keith Benson achieved the remarkable feat of beating Major Howard, the ex-England fencer.

Early in February, we sent our epeeists to Hull for the Yorkshire Junior Epée competition. This proved most successful as all our fencers did exceptionally well. Kevin Mendham and Martin Black reached the semi-finals, Martin Fox reached the final and was placed eighth and Richard Hazell came second. Because of his excellent performance in this competition, Martin Fox was awarded his school colours.

A week later at Bradford in the Yorkshire Senior Epee competition, Richard Hazell proved his skill with an epee and carried away the title. Richard was unbeaten throughout the competition except when he met Andrew Corser in the semi-finals; Andrew himself was fifth in the competition.

Our next match was against Leeds University. We clinched overall victory, as, although our Foil team lost six—three, our sabre team won convincingly seven—two.

Despite the good result of our Sabreurs against Leeds, we produced some poor results in the Yorkshire Junior Sabre held at Sheffield. John Woodcock was the only one of our fencers to gain distinction by coming fourth.

Thanks to co-operation with the Y.F.A., we are able to train with two international fencers, notable Army fencers and other fencers who have reached a high standard. I am sure that our chances in the Schools' will be higher because of this. Public , r'

But, as always, any success we will gain, will be due to Mr. Power, whose outstanding enthusiasm and energy breathes life into the sport.

The following have represented the School at some time in the following weapons: Foil: Atkinson, Black, Benson, Corser, Hazell, Tait, Woodcock. Sabre: Atkinson, Benson, Mendham, Taylor, Woodcock. Epee: Black, Corser, Fox, Hazell, Spencer. York Youth Colours: Atkinson, Black, Hazell, Tait, Woodcock. School Colours: Atkinson, Benson, Black, Corser, Fox, Hazell, Spencer, Tait,

Woodcock.