Alcester sabre fencing twins Richard and Thomas Brenda finished in the top 50 at the Cadet World Championships in Trapani, Sicily on Sunday.

Thomas, 16, (pictured, above right) finished 45th at the under 17s event, missing promotion to the next round by a single hit.

And brother Richard (above left), also a pupil at Alcester Grammar School, finished 50th.

In the competition they met fencers from 25 other nations with 32 of their opponents having appeared in previous World Championships.

In the preliminary rounds they eliminated the sole competitors from Israel and Iran.

Richard fenced well against the cotrolled moves of his Japanese, Kazakhstani and Korean opponents but fell victim to the more fluid play of sabreurs from the cavalry traditions of Russia and the Ukraine.

Thomas was unlucky to lose several fights by five hits to four but delighted his trainers by the sparing but effective use of his ace - letting his sword float above his opponent's arm only to bring it down into the shoulder.

Thomas was particularly impressive against the favourite, American Max Wlliams.

Team-mate Alex O'Connell, from Brentwood, finished 31st having been eliminated by one of the very strong Italian home contingent.

In a thrilling fight, Williams was eliminated by another Italian but the competition was eventually won by the Ukrainian Boiko, the number one European sabre fencer.

Richard has stayed on in Italy as reserve for the under 20 event.

Elder brother, David, aged 18, represents the West Midlands in the Senior Winton Cup in Stoke-on-Trent at the weekend.