Fencer Lt Sacha Brooks RNR brought back a medal as the highest-placed female at the annual RAF one-hit epee competition held at Cosford.

Lt Brooks collected her medal as a member of the Royal Navy B team in the contest where competitors fence for the team trophy and individual medals in 30 fights in which the winner is the first to score a point against their opponent.

Despite a promising start, RN A, led by Lt Cdr Matt Clark (JSCSC) with former Combined Services Master-at-Arms LAEM Mark Needham (814 NAS) and S/Lt Ralph Coffey (Sultan), failed to find the form which had brought the one-hit title home for three consecutive years.

The team finished halfway down the table.

The RN B side – the only all-female team in the contest, comprising Lt Brooks, current Combined Services fencing champion S/Lt Amanda Hale (King Alfred) and NA(SE) Ellie Walls – ended in eighth place out of ten teams. And 31 fencers

Lt Brooks and NA(SE) Walls passed on their fencing expertise to RN reservists at HMS Flying Fox in Bristol, including unit Commanding Officer Cdr David Kay – a former epeeist – as part of a series of taster sessions for the sport at reserve establishments.

All 30 beginners, aged between 17 and 45, who attended the 45-minute session, said that they would be interested to know more.

Lt Brooks said: “If the Royal Navy Amateur Fencing Association can attract a crop of new fencers through sessions like this one every year, we can balance the natural outflow from the Service team.

She added that a number of other taster sessions were planned for the near future.

Meanwhile, the RN Amateur Fencing Association celebrates its 85th birthday with a black tie dinner this month and the 100th anniversary of competitive fencing in the Senior Service.