ALCESTER Grammar's Richard and Tom Brenda, both 16, led the British cadet team in Hungary to ninth place in a strong international sabre event where 37 teams from eleven countries took part.

In the individual event of the Koracell Kupa at Godollo, both boys won three fights out of six in the preliminary pools but suffered from a viral infection and were unable to build on this and were eliminated in the opening round of the tableau.

There were 144 boys in the championships which was one of the hardest seen in many years.

The Brendas boosted their national rankings ahead of British team selection for the World Youth Championships in April.

James Broad, 16, also from Alcester Grammar, won fights in his pool but did not score enough to make the cut.

Seventeen-year-old David Brenda did well to reach the last 32 at the Leicester Open Sabre Tournament, an excellent result in a tough field of 94.