SWINDON Fencing Club youngster Ben Simmonds has joined the England national squad’s youth development team, Tomorrows Achievers.

Simmonds successfully completed a trial session, being put through a series of fitness and blade skill exercises while demonstrating his fencing ability through competitive bouts against several of existing members.

The student from Prior Park School in Cricklade will now train with some of the country’s best young fencers working on all aspects of the sport including warm-up, competition strategy, footwork and blade work on a monthly basis with a network of coaches who have between them developed British champions and European and international-level competitors.

Coach Neil Bromley said: “Ben has reached the stage where he needs to increase his training to challenge his fencing further.

“Tomorrows Achievers is the next step offering him this opportunity whilst supporting his continued development in the sport. I am immensely proud of him and achievements to date and look forward to seeing him move up to the national level.”

Prior Park Headmaster Mark Pearce added: “This outstanding achievement by Ben and Neil is testament to the hard work and commitment both pupil and coach have put in over the years.

“Fingers crossed there will be others joining Ben over the coming years because together with Neil, we are putting together an excellent fencing structure at Prior Park to further widen the opportunities available to our pupils.”