Three members of Dublin University Fencing Club (DUFC) brought home silverware from yesterday’s Student Four Nations tournament in the University of Leeds, with the Irish side coming third overall behind England and Scotland.
Twelve DUFC fencers travelled to the contest –more than any other Irish college sent over – with the Trinity students replicating the success of last season. Sam Mitchell won gold in the individual event of men’s épée, with the Irish team, made up of Ross Patrick Byrne of DUFC, Johnathan Burnside of Ulster University, Sean Ryan of University College Dublin (UCD) and the aforementioned medal-winner, defeating both Wales and Scotland in the team event.
Imogen McGuckin, one of the few fencers who retained their spot from last year’s squad, took home bronze in the women’s sabre along with Phillip Cripwell, who placed third in the individual foil event. Men’s sabre, consisting of Tadhg Garton (DUFC), Kevin MacSweeney (University College Cork), Alex Reilly (DUFC) and Brian Crowley (UCD), came agonisingly close to defeating the eventual overall champions England, but fell just short, losing 45-43.
In an email to The University Times, DUFC captain Bethany Rush praised the “strong presence” of Trinity athletes at the event, particularly as some of those representing their country had only begun competing in the sport two years ago. She noted the club’s commitment to maintaining training throughout the offseason.
This success for the Trinity fencers will come as no surprise following their dominant performance last season at the Irish Fencing Intervarsities, where the club pocketed all six weapons trophies and were undefeated throughout the competition. The individual victories of the club’s athletes are particularly positive signs for DUFC. They are looking as sharp as they were last season and will be hoping to carry this momentum over into next year.
The Irish squad had a less successful overall outing on the piste than last year’s team, which placed second in the competition, including undefeated first-place finishes in both men’s and women’s foil events. However, with only one of the three individual winners having competed in 2017, this competition will serve as a reminder of the promising new talent that has developed in Ireland over the past year. England continued their overall success for a seventh straight year, this time on home turf. The competition will take place in Ireland in 2019.
