READING Fencing Club member David Hillier was runner-up in the men’s event at the Southern Region Senior Epee Championships, held in Compton.

He knocked out clubmate Simon Readman in the last 16 and then accounted for another comrade, Philippe Barbasiewicz, in the semi finals, only to be edged out 15-13 in a closely-fought final.

The final member of the RFC quartet, Russell North, also lost in the semi finals.

In the women’s competition, there were two RFC fencers in action – Sandra Bottle and Carina Vincente.

Bottle lost in the quarter finals, with Vincente performing well to finish third.

  • VOLUNTEERS from Reading Fencing Club have been doing the rounds of local cub, scout and explorer groups in the area, providing taster sessions to children from eight-to-18 years of age.

The groups are using MiniFence – plastic swords and masks – with sessions lasting anywhere from 35 minutes to two hours and covering a safety brief, an introduction to basic foot-and blade-work techniques, a round robin, and the sessions then finish with a number of games.

The campaign came after club chairman, Alain Barbasiewicz, saw a number of articles in the press about scouting, highlighting the organisation’s resurgence in recent years, its shortage of volunteers and the associated waiting lists.

The offer of free taster sessions has gone across Berkshire and the response to the club has been very positive.

So far the club have delivered six sessions to more than 160 scouts and their leaders.

They have another 20 groups pencilled in for the rest of this year.

If you are a member of a scouting or girl guiding group and are interested in taking up this offer then please contact the club directly via their website (www.readingfencingclub.co.uk).

Or, if you are new to the sport and fancy giving it a go, then one of their beginner courses that are run throughout the year maybe of interest.

Further details can again be found on their website.