Evie Lawrence of Great Yarmouth & Waveney Fencing Club was placed third at the weekend at the Eastern Region Youth Championships.

It was an achievement which qualified her to represent her club and region at the British Youth Championships later this year.

The regional championships saw over 200 youngsters descend on Stevenage. For Evie, 11, who has been fencing for nearly three years, this was her second visit to the regionals.

After last year's experience she understood what it would take to claim one of the top spots and committed to training hard for this event.

Her efforts paid off and in the run-up to the regionals she has won both the Great Yarmouth Invitational and Suffolk County titles.

Evie's regional challenge started well, winning all but one of her preliminary matches, taking her through to the direct elimination stage.

Evie took control of her match and claimed victory, utilising an impressive display of footwork and tactics.

Now through to the semi-finals, she faced Isabella Johnson of Fencers Club London. This proved to be a tight match, with points passing between the two equally skilled opponents. However, on this day, Johnson came out on top and snatched victory by two points.

Evie is a true credit to her club. Not only is she a talented and dedicated fencer, she is also helpful and enthusiastic. Recently she has been helping her club coaches train their newest recruits and has additionally impressed the regional refereeing officer, Mike Ellis, with her skills at presiding over matches at such as young age. In recognition of this she became the youngest ever recipient of GYWFC's Club Person of the Year.

If you arre interested in following in Evie's footsteps, or are just looking to try something new for 2018, GYWFC runs regular beginners courses for those aged 7+ based at Ormiston Denes Community Sports Centre. For more information visit www.gywfc.co.uk or call 01493 602240.

Rugby Union: Great Yarmouth-Broadland play their first match in the Eastern Conuties Salver competition tomorrow when they welcome Haverhill to Cobholm. Their other opponents from the South and West sections will be Mistley, Stowmarket II and Saffron Walden II.