Avia takes school fencing title

Press, 14 July 1987, Page 29

Avia takes school fencing title

Linwood High School’s new gymnasium echoed to the clash of cold steel during the week-end when 60 fencers from 12 Canterbury high schools took part in their provincial championships. The organisers were pleased with the record entries, particularly the contingent of eight from Nayland College, in Nelson. The eight, coached by David and Aileen Ecclestone, were preparing for the New Zealand secondary school’s tournament- to be held in Christchurch next month. Karita Avia (Linwood H.S.) revelled in the familiar surroundings and won the girls foil event. Fencing on the piste, where she is coached by Vik Manuge, Avia showed drive and skill to out-fence her opponents. The boys’ foil was won by Martin Taylor (Mairehau H.S.), while Andrew Kell (Burnside H.S.) and Richard Bowles (Christ’s College) displayed sufficient skills to worry some of the senior competitors among the spec-

tators. Avonside Girls’ High School, coached by the former New Zealand women’s champion, Olga Jekyll, won its team event. Results — Girls’ electric foil: Karita Avia (Linwood) 1, Vivienne Clark (Avonside) 2, Jacinta Stein (Christchurch) 3, Jennifer Allen (Avonside) 4, Elesha Wells (Nayland) 5, Kristene Gedge (Avonside) 6. Boys’ electric foil: Martin Taylor (Mairehau) 1, Colin Peebles (Christchurch) 2, Richard Bowles (Christ’s) 3, Andrew Kell (Bumside) 4, Patrice Church (Mairehau) 5, Aaron Kitto (Christchurch) 6. Boys’ epee: Kell 1, Church 2,' Taylor 3, Bowles 4. Boys’ sabre: Kitto 1, Kell 2, Jonathan Thompson (Nayland) 3, Bowles 4, Stephen Davies (Christ’s) 5, Nicholas Claridge (Shirley) 6. Girls’ teams: Avonside A 1, Nayland 2, Christchurch Girls’ 3. Boys’ teams: Christchurch Boys’ 1, Burnside 2, Christ’s 3.