BRADFORD Fencing Club celebrated their recent Sport England grant of £2,200, which was used to buy new equipment, by challenging neighbours Leeds Fencing Club to a challenge match at Thornton Recreation Centre.

The contest consisted of foil and sabre bouts. with the more experienced foil fencers starting proceedings.

ringing to the clash of blades.

Leeds' team of chairman Nick Stokes, Moya McNamara and Kieran Sinfield faced Bradford's Paul Halliday, Will Lawrance, and Lloyd Thompson, and Leeds established leads of five and ten points before Lawrance clawed some of that back, leaving a 45-40 advantage for Leeds at the end.

The sabre contest was more one-sided, although Bradford's Tim Noble, Pete Fletcher and Matt Settle initially matched Leeds' Alex Gray, Alison Ruff and India Laborde, a five-point lead was extended to 20, leaving a 45-25 final scoreline.

The day finished with a match between the less experienced members of both clubs, with two fencers on each team only having completed their beginners' courses last September.

Leeds' early lead was turned around by Lucas Naylor, and built on by Bradford team-mates Vyom Gera and Alice Kukurozovic.

However, Bradford's edge was lost again to dominant Leeds captain Paul Sinfield before Gera and Naylor fought back, meaning the lead changed hands for a third time.

Bradford went into the last bout with victory in sight, but Sinfield didn't entertain such a consolation and, with the scores level at 44-44, his experience told, and Leeds clinched an emphatic overall victory on the day.

The Bradford-Leeds Fencing Challenge trophy was thus presented to Stokes.

Bradford Fencing Club's recent grant will enable many more people the chance to try out the sport.

They meet every Tuesday at Thornton Recreation Centre. Check their website www.bradfordfencingclub.co.uk for details.

Leeds Fencing Club gather at Kirkstall on Mondays. Their website is www.leedsfencing.co.uk.