Wagga fencers Toby Perry and Julian Smith have come away from the Commonwealth Veterans Championships honoured at the chance to represent their country and pleased with their rankings.
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Both took part in the sabre discipline in Canberra this week.
“It was all good fun. We are pleased with our rankings. It was nice to be able to get the green and gold on for Wagga,” Smith said. “I don’t think we’ve had anyone compete at the level probably since the 1970s when we had a young lad in the junior world pentathlon championships.”
After the pool rounds, Perry was ranked 20th and Smith 24th. Both then drew top 10 competitors in the first direct elimination round. They were unable to spring upsets but valued the opportunity to take on world-class fencers.
“It’s experience that is the difference,” Smith said.
“He was a beautiful fencer. Some of the moves, I was convinced I was going in for a hit and he moved slightly and came in on me. It was a lovely tussle but he had my measure.”
Being involved in a major international competition was a thrill in itself with the Australian Institute of Sport abuzz with some of the best in the world competing in foil, sabre and epee.
Smith said the competition was serious but the spirit and camaraderie at the event made it a memorable experience.
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