Winsley fencing duo Sophie Williams and Philip Marsh are celebrating after picking up top honours at one of the largest events in Europe.

Williams, 18, was named Champion-at-arms at the Public Schools Championship in Nottingham, a prize given for success in all three of the sport’s disciplines – epée, foil and sabre.

She will now travel to the Junior World Championships in Belfast, which begin on Sunday, while Monkton Combe school pupil Marsh, awarded master-at-arms, has been named as a non-travelling reserve for the Northern Ireland showpiece.

“I’m very happy,” he said. “It’s the biggest competition I’ve ever done well in.

“I went there hoping to win the epée but it was my first time competing in the foil and the sabre.

“Across all three weapons I was very close to someone all the way through so it was a fight to the end.

“I’m very excited about the possibility of going to the world championships as it is my first year competing at this level.”

Marsh, who trains at the Bath Sword Club, took up the sport aged 11 on a friend’s suggestion but proud mum Penny revealed how he is lucky to be playing sport at all.

“He suffered a serious rugby injury three years ago and needed a hip replacement so his achievement is even more remarkable,” she said.