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Stourbridge Fencing Club enjoyed a tremendous weekend with a host of members picking up medals.

During the weekend two members were involved with the national Veterans Age Group Championships, whilst on Sunday the club ran the revived Crystal Open teams event.

As far as the Crystal went it was a success on two fronts.

Following last year's successful re-introduction of the event with around a dozen teams, this year's attracted 17 teams from all over the country - one of the highest totals it has managed in its almost 20-year history.

Stourbridge's own teams, a strong first team and two featuring several recent recruits sampling their first taste of competition, also found success. The A team made up of Marek Sebesta, Steve and Emma Potter, couldn't quite manage the ultimate but came away with the silver medal.

The B and C teams also performed creditably, finishing in seventh and 10th respectively.

On the individual front the club also took two out of the three medals for the best placed fencer in each weapon. Sebesta took the epée prize and Steve Potter the sabre one, with only the foil eluding the club's clutches.

On Saturday, John Morris warmed up for the Crystal with the Veterans' event, taking 12th place in the 50 plus men's epée.

Meanwhile on Sunday, Peter Baron competed in the 60 plus sabre Having finished as fourth in the age category in the Nationals in March, a place in the top two or three might have been good enough to win a place in the World's in October, depending on who took the other places. However, the only certain way was to win the event, which brings automatic qualification. The day started off with some scratchy wins against less fancied opponents and then two 5-0 wins over main rivals put him in a much stronger position. The victories continued to roll in until the penultimate fight which, on paper should have been a stroll but turned into an unexpected defeat. As he came to his last fight he remained the only competitor with only one defeat but his opponent and one other had only two each. A win would mean gold medal, while defeat would mean a three-way barrage. Jumping into an early lead, he was clawed back but despite the rocky period, managed to clinch the final hit to gain himself the gold medal and a ticket to return to Limoges, scene of his 2003 triumph in the World event.

11:09am Thursday 1st May 2008

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