FOUR young Herefordshire fencers have made it through to the National finals after strong displays at the West Midlands Age Group championships in Redditch.

Alex Cupper emerged as champion in the under-10 foil competition while still under nine years of age.

Alex's performance qualifies him for the British Youth Championships later this year and he followed up his West Midlands victory with second place at under-nine level in the Premier Foil competition in Southampton.

Alex, a pupil at the Downs School in Malvern, is also coached by Sothern Marches Sword Academy and Redditch Youth Fencing Club as well as Herefordshire Fencing Club.

A trio of Herefordshire girls have also made it through to the National Foil Age Group Final Series.

Alice Watson and Sophie Peake took second and third in the under-14 event while Eleanor Kewin was third in the under-16s.

Two other Herefordshire competitors just missed out on national qualification with Theo Eggar finishing fifth in the under-10 and Will Hayden sixth in the under-14s.

"I am delighted with the results achieved by the club's juniors, only two years after the club was formed," said Herefordshire fencing coach Dan Robinson.

Herefordshire fencers also dominated in the under-16 girls section at the West Midlands epee championships with Rebecca Wakefield and Eliza Woodhouse first and second respectively.

They will be joined in the National Finals by Katie Rawlins and Alix Turley who had byes. All four are coached by John Rees, the Herefordshire Fencing Club epee coach.

Herefordshire Fencing Club meets on Monday evenings at The Hereford Academy. Visit www.herefordshirefencingclub.com for more details on the club's activities.