KES took top honours at the West Midlands Youth Sabre Championships in both the under-18 and under-14 categories.

Robin Allen (16) from Stratford defeated Nick Vanston-Rumney from Coventry in a final dominated from the start by Allen.

At the younger end, Mike Turner (13) from Snitterfield saw off 12-year-old clubmate Robbie Malloy from Stratford, in a tough semi-final, finally beating him by the narrow margin 15-13.

Turner then faced David Musgrave, also 13, from Clifford Chambers and the two battled evenly for the winning hit. In the end Turner got a couple of hits ahead and managed to hold on until the finish to secure his victory.

KES-trained fencers also won both the under-16 boys' and girls' events, when Tom Brenda took on his brother, Richard, both 15 from Alcester in the final bout of their championships.

Richard was fresh from his quarter-final success in the foil event earlier in the day and fellow Alcester HS pupil Thomas had the advantage of a longer rest and the result was reversed.

Kit Vanston-Rumney, from Coventry and Mike Rogers from Kineton, both 15, were the semi-finalists.

Earlier in the day, 16-year-old Peter Kirby from North Littleton had taken on the best foil exponents in the region and trounced them all to make the final against nationally ranked Rupert Haines.

Kirby kept up the pressure throughout showing his superior fitness and footwork, as well as a clear head for tactical thinking. All he lacked was the ability to place his point as accurately with his foil as he can with his sabre.

Another Shakespeare's Swords member, Clara Ross (14) took the girls' under-16 championships by storm without losing a single fight.

KES's new recruits were out in force, with several Year 7 boys in their first competition.

Patrick Navein did particularly well in the elimination, taking Nathan Holdbrook to the last point in their last 16 bout. Max Crane (12) overcame Harry Bercis (11) at the same stage but was then dispatched by eventual winner, Mike Turner.

Chris Cox (12) had beaten Max's brother, Toby (11) before being knocked out by King Henry's Mike Read, another KES trained sabreur.

Matthew Chivers (11) fell to the greater experience of Adam Douthwaite (12) until he met silver medallist David Musgrave in the quarter-finals.

In total, Stratford's King Edward VI School picked up two gold medals, a silver and two bronzes. They had nine boys in the quarter-finals, while the KES club, Shakespeare's Swords, took 11 of the 12 available medals.