BRANDON Jack – a rising star of Swindon Fencing Club – has experienced an encouraging start to the season after scooping two county medals and placing in the top 10 in national competitions.

The Royal Wootton Bassett Academy pupil has only started the sport two years ago, but that didn’t stop him from finishing seventh at the most recent Elite Epee in Millfield, Somerset.

Remarkably, Jack almost beat the number two seed – eventually losing 15-12 despite leading 9-7 at one stage.

Then, at the Leon Paul Cardiff competition, the Swindon talent won bronze in the U13 category after losing his semi final 10-9.

A ninth placed finish in the London round of the series concluded his latest efforts with the British Youth Championship Finals in Birmingham on the horizon.

Jack said: “The more I learnt, the more hooked on the sport I became.

“Fencing combines strategic thinking with fast reflexes to catch an opponent off guard.

“Fighting with swords is great fun and over the past year I have been getting better and better so I want to see how far I can go.”

Because of his consistent high-ranking results, Jack was asked to join the England national squad’s youth development team.

He successfully completed a trial session, to the delight of coach Neil Bromley.

Bromley said: “Brandon is a natural fencer whose patient style serves him well.

“He mixes timing and distance with an instinctive ability to catch an opponent off-guard and score hits.”