A HEREFORD Cathedral School pupil is excelling in the sport of fencing after being crowned county and regional champion.

Year 7 pupil, Jake Morris, was crowned under-12 foil fencing Hereford and Worcester County Champion recently.

Morris also fiercely won the West Midlands Under-12 foil and qualified to compete at the British Youth Championship; finishing 35 out of 71 fencers.

“Jake took up fencing when he was just eight years old as he wanted to give the unique sport a try," said proud parents, Karen Morris and Robert White.

"Four years later, it’s wonderful, yet a little nerve racking, to watch his dedication during competitions.

“The sport requires many hours of training and regular travelling around the country to compete. "He is very lucky to have such amazing coaches.”

One of Jake’s coaches, Dan Robinson (Head of Herefordshire Fencing club and West Country swords), recently took Jake and other club members to a fencing camp in Germany and runs a regular summer camp through West Country Swords in Malvern. “Fencing is the fastest combat sport there is,” said Robinson, “combining speed, power, agility, reflexes, stamina, and strategy. The modern Olympic sport requires fencers to be the fittest of athletes. Jake’s natural talent combined with his determination and dedication, has seen him progress exponentially in the sport.”