Ed Howlett Fernwood Sword Club
Ed is now back from the U17 World Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. It was a mixture of some sparkling, world class fencing, a tough poule and some horrible decision making.
Firstly, it's important to put the event into context. Ed started the season in 8th place, not expecting to be selected either for the European or the World Championships. He fenced brilliantly throughout the season, both domestically and internationally to win one of only 3 places in the GB men's foil team for the World Championships.
He got a tough draw in the poules. Not least because he was in a poule of 6 rather than 7. It was fair to say that pretty much all of the poules of 7 had a couple of fencers who were weak. Ed's poule didn't, with every fencer (including Ed) having impressive results through the year - from Egypt, Chile, Hungary, Japan and Croatia. Any of those fencers could have won none or five of their fights in the poule. Ed battled hard, with some great hits, but also some not so great decision making. He sparkled in a 5-0 win against Chilean, Vicente Otayza (who made L64 in the U20 event today - and beat the GB men's foilist 10-3 in the mixed team event).
This meant he had a tough but winnable L128 fight against Austrian, Killian Lehner. Ed went 12-6 up, with some absolutely world class fencing. He then relaxed, thinking about the outcome and not the process. Fatally. Lehner brought it back to 12-12. Ed stiffened up completely and went out 13-15.
If nothing else, this has been a really valuable lesson in keeping the lead. Ed has also learnt a vast amount from watching the world's best U17 men's foilists and put this into practice last night to good effect - he got off the plane at Luton, took the train to Nottingham and went straight to training in Sheffield. Ed now continues into the U20 system, having fenced for GB at U20 level twice already. He has 3 full seasons starting in July, with the U20 championships (to be held in Nottingham!) and will start the season in 8th place in the GB rankings.
(Photo of Ed warming up in Plovdiv, courtesy Augusto Bizzi)