Good start to 2017 for Ed Howlett
Yesterday saw the last domestic ranking competition of the U17 season - though it was actually an U20 competition (with 55 fencers) - at the Manchester Fencing Centre, which is a fantastic converted former mill. But cold at this time of year. How we laughed at a Londoner warming up in a tracksuit, scarf.......and gloves. Ed in shorts, James in a t-shirt.......
Ed was still shaking off the effects of a long running Christmas cough and cold and James had only trained once last week, so it was a tough competitive start to the year. James almost pulled off a cracking win against the silver medallist, Daniel Kiss, losing 4-5. He then lost to two fencers, Kiron Austin and Sam Blair, whom you would have bet on James beating, on paper. He woke up and beat both Leiden Quelch of Salle Oxon and Owen Grosvenor of PDFA 5-3. Finally, he beat Hungarian GB cadet team member and eventual Bronze medallist Adam Suha 5-4.
Ed kicked off confidently by beating West Fife fencer Dylan Roberts 5-0, following this up with a 5-1 win over Lazlos' Ardy Enteshami 5-1. He then had a bit of a stutter, only beating bouncy, small West Midlands fencer Oliver Nash 5-4, following this up with a frustrating 4-5 loss to the top seed in the Poule, Aiden Woolley from London's Fighting Fit. A 5-3 win over Finlay McAndrew from Salle Holyrood in Edinburgh was pleasing and Ed finished off with a 5-2 win over Cardiff's Matthew Williams.
Ed went into the DEs as 6th seed and James as 31st seed. Ed had a bye to the L32, while James comfortably beat Dominic Sampson from the West Midlands 15-7. Whether it was not fencing in the L64 or Ed's cold kicking in wasn't clear, but he had difficulty beating Salle Paul's Oliver Strange in L32, only pulling through 15-13. The last time they'd met in September, Ed won 15-3. James faced the second seed Ciaran Archer, who eventually won a bronze medal. It was inevitably a struggle and James lost, to finish 30th. Ed clicked into gear, totally dominating Rafael Rhys Pollitt of Fencers Club London, to win out 15-3. He then met Daniel Kiss of Salle Kiss in Manchester (whom James almost beat in the poule) in L8, who is the 3rd ranked GB junior. He gave it a good fight and was a little unhappy with some of the refereeing decisions, but lost out 9-15. Ed finished 6th - his first L8 finish in an U20 competition.
Useful Junior ranking points for Ed and James (especially Ed), but (bizarre as it seems) neither boys will increase their Cadet ranking points as a result.