PLAISTOW S Lister Community School hosted the 2009 Newham Fencing Championships at the weekend, where a record number of 75 youngsters took part from local primary and secondary schools. Children competed in five age-groups, battling it out for nine trop

PLAISTOW'S Lister Community School hosted the 2009 Newham Fencing Championships at the weekend, where a record number of 75 youngsters took part from local primary and secondary schools.

Children competed in five age-groups, battling it out for nine trophies and 40 medals.

"The Newham Champs were a great success, not only because of the great turn-out, but also because of the fact that they helped unearth some talent for the future," said Olympic fencer and Lister School PE teacher, Linda Strachan.

"There is so much raw talent in this borough," continued Strachan, who also manages the Borough's successful Newham Swords Fencing Club.

Halim Boaziz (Canning Town) was victorious in the boys' under-nine event, while Ethan Appiah (Southern Road) finished second, and third was shared between Jerdane Calder and Nassir Omar (Hallsville).

Alice Campbell (Squirrels Heath) won the girls' under-nine event as Erica Boateng (Southern Road) came second and Naatunchida Kerdrai (Southern Road) finished third.

Steven Jake-Hadder (Portway) was the best performer in the under-11 boys' category as Nathan Dickenson (Portway) came second while Patrick Kaczmarek (Plaistow) and Jesse Isiko (Brampton) shared third place.

Rachel Shaw (Park) claimed gold in the under-11 girls' category, while Caitlin Nunez (St Winefrid's) won silver. Bronze was shared by Eugenia Appiah (Southern Road) and Andrea Morais (St Winefrid's).

Kamal Minnott (Rainham Village) won the under-13 boys competition, with Florian Kabasuabo (Brampton) finishing second. Robbie Shaw (Lister) and Joao Souza (Lister) shared third.

In the girls' under-13 event, Hannah Lyndsay was the top performer with Ruhi Singha (The James Olgothorpe) finishing second. Third went to both Saleemah Omadayo (Lister) and Jannai King (Lister).

The under-15 boys' event was won by Michael Koudou (Lister), with Dylan Nunez (St. Bonn's) finishing second. Jeffrey Cobblah (Lister) and Jason Brown (Lister) both claimed third.

Katherine Maranan (St. Angela's) won gold in the under-17 girls' event. Ellen Laur (Tower Hamlets College) was the silver medallist as Michaela Walsh (Lister) won bronze.

Arthur Duncan (Cannon Palmer) was the stand-out performer in the boys' under-17 category as Arnas Vaskelis (Lister) came second and Abdul Manna (Lister), third.