FENCER Katy Miles from Bere Alston travelled to Helsinki last weekend to compete for Great Britain in the European U17 Cadet Epee fencing competition. The competitions are ranking events for the European championships.

Katy, aged 14 and who fences at Plymouth Fencing club, is in her first year in U17’s and this was her second international at this level. European fencing is competitive and the event saw entries from around the world, including, Russia, Australia, Japan, Lithuania, Hungary and Poland.

Katy fenced extremely well in the individual event, making it through to the finals.

Her final’s placing of 53rd and second of her GBR teammates at the tournament and moves her up to fifth  of the British U17 girls ranked in Europe.

Katy then joined British teammate Rachael Lever from Northampton and a Danish fencer for the team competition on Sunday. The team fenced brilliantly and after a nerve wracking time, finally losing to the eventual runners up, they came tenth overall, moving them up to first of the British teams ranked in Europe.