COMPETING against 150 top junior athletes from across the world might faze many people but fencers Ed Scott-Payne and Charlie Robbins are taking it all in their stride.

With more than 25 countries taking part, the Swindon Fencing Club pair, who attend Prior Park Prep school in Cricklade, were travelling to face fencers from countries such as Finland, Denmark, Israel, India, Russia and Turkey at the Challenge Wratislava event in Poland this week.

An annual elite competition, hosted in Wroclaw, Poland over three days, children of all ages compete in the disciplines of foil (chest target), epee (whole body) and sabre (top half).

The duo are representing England in the U13 age category for foil and epee and Scott-Payne said: “We’ve had good preparation fencing in different national standard competitions around the country over the past 18 months and are looking forward to stepping up to the next level to challenge ourselves again.

Coach Neil Bromley, who also runs Swindon Fencing Club, is accompanying the pair’s families on the trip and added: “I am thrilled for both Ed and Charlie, who have trained exceptionally hard over the past 18 months in order to represent England at the highest level.

“They put in the work in training and then honed the skills they learn when sparring, ready to be put into action on the piste when it really matters. 

“In the preliminary rounds, both are seeded in the top quarter in both foil and epee which shows they are not being taken lightly.

“On their day they are a handful for any fencer in their age group and this will be great experience for them as they develop.’’