SABRE fencing in Stratford showed off it's new generation last weekend with gold, silver and bronze medals in the Leon Paul Junior Series final event in Bath.

Mike Rogers (15) from Little Kineton (Kineton HS) won the under-15 event after a tough fight with Andrew Prevett on his home turf.

The silver medal went to 11-year-old Toby Crane from Stratford (KES), who had defeated some excellent south west opposition to reach the final, but couldn't match the experience of Taunton's Charlie Winn.

Luke Foster (14) from Pillerton Hersey (KES), achieved one of the best results with an outstanding effort in self-control to make the semi-final in his first year in the upper, and much stronger under-15 age group. Simon Whitworth (14) from Leamington (KES), produced another personal best to make the quarter-finals in the same event.

The under-15 series has been of such high standard recently that it has had a higher severity grading than several open events in the same season.

The girls continued the lead set by Louise Bond-Williams, by taking a silver and bronze medal.

Lauren Sewell (13) from Coventry (King Henry VIII) beat off Elizabeth Bouchard from the south west to meet the huge and athletic Robynne Stenner from Bath in the final.

In the event, Sewell couldn't find the answer to Stenner's powerful and accurate attacks and had to settle for a well deserved silver medal. However, this was enough to win her the national series title for t 2001.

Louise Creechan (12) from Stratford (Grammar School for Girls) was dispatched by Stenner in the semi-finals. Creechan had fenced with sudden understanding and control, and thoroughly deserved her bronze medal place. She also won the series bronze medal position over the year.

In the younger boys' groups, several young stars were beginning to shine as the boys clocked in some successful results.

David Musgrave (13) from Clifford Chambers (KES) will not be satisfied with his quarter-final place, but it was nevertheless a fine result.

Mike Read (12) from Coventry (King Henry VIII), joined 13-year-old Mike Turner from Stratford (KES) in the last 16. Both had good pool rounds, but found the shorter ten-hit elimination fights too restrictive for their tactics.

Nathan Holdbrook and Matthew Chivers (both 11) made the quarter-finals and last 16 respectively.

In the national series results, the Stratford fencing community had a total of 15 youngsters in the top eight of the three age groups, making over 40 per cent of the total for the boys.

Top ranked fencers were Toby Crane (5), Nathan Holdbrook and James Frew (=8), David Musgrave (6), Richard Brenda (1), Tom Brenda (2), Mike Rogers (3), Luke Foster (5), Aaron Fox (7), Lauren Sewell (1), Louise Creechan (3), Sophie Pitblado (4) and Clara Ross (2).