A superb performance at the British Youth Fencing Championships saw Rafael Rhys Pollitt claim the under-14 Boy’s Foil title on Sunday.

The May Day tournament, which was held at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, pitted Rhys Pollitt against the nation’s top young fencers. The Chesham Grammar School (CGS) student was understandably overjoyed by his success and took time to thank the support network which helped him achieve his triumph.

Rhys Pollitt said: “I have so much support from so many quarters and I harness it. I use it to maximum effect.

“I work hard but I must say thanks to my family, my fencing club, Fencers Club London and my coaches.

“I also have to thank Chesham Grammar where the entire school community back me to the full.”

The Year 8 pupil came into the tournament as the current England under-15 top seed and was handed an immediate test as he was drawn in a tough group.

The group put him up against number two seed Harry Gray and England’s number nine ranked fencer for the age group Dominic Simpson.

Rhys Pollitt came through the first stages unscathed, however, with wins in each of his fights to earn a route to the last 64.

Here he would meet fellow London Region competitor Alexander Jerome and record a 15-6 win. His last 32 match was equally one-sided as he eased to a 15-4 success over Joe Donaghue.

His next match would prove to be his most testing of the day as he held off a strong fight from Oliver Strange to narrowly come out on the right side of a 15-11 scoreline.

Respective 15-2 and 15-7 wins at the quarter-final and semi-final stage completed Rhys Pollitt’s progress to the final where he come up against Yorkshire’s Samuel Blair.

The CGS student started brightly and a commanding first three minutes allowed him to establish a 14-8 lead at the fight’s first break.

It would take him just seconds of the second phase of the match to earn the final point required to ensure he left Sheffield as the newly crowned Under-14 Foil champion.