The 2003 PTC Fencing Championships were held at RAF Cosford on 15-16 Mar 03, followed by the Inter Command team event against STC on 16 Mar 03.

A disappointing turnout (5 fencers on day1, 6 on day 2) was mitigated by the exceptional standard of fencing in PTC throughout the weekend. Due to the numbers involved, it was decided to have two rounds of poules, with everyone in one poule, followed by an incomplete 8 Direct Elimination. It was also decided that the fencers would fence as a mixed poule, with Men’s and Women’s titles being decided on placings from within the mixed event.

Sabre
Ann Gibson defeated Sharon Booth to earn her place in the semi-finals, where she met an on-form Phil McNulty. Phil booked his place in the final with a 15-10 victory. Meanwhile, in the other semi-final, Andy Alcock and Andy Cooke were having an extremely close battle. Andy Cooke had often had difficulties fencing epeeists, and Andy Alcock drew upon a large reserve of epee skill and experience, making the sabre fight difficult for the sabre specialist. A very tight fight ended with a relieved Andy Cooke booking his place in the final after a 15-14 victory.

The final between Phil and Andy see-sawed dramatically, with the two fencers taking turns to lead the bout. The close contest ended when Phil won six points in a row to win 15-12. The PTC Men’s Sabre Champion for 2003 was therefore Phil McNulty, with a silver medal going to Andy Cooke and a bronze medal to Andy Alcock. Ann Gibson took the Ladies title with silver going to Sharon Booth.

Foil
Following the poules for the foil competition, Sharon Booth captured the coveted first seed position ahead of Phil McNulty, with Ann Gibson taking the other automatic semi-final place. Andy Alcock and Andy Cooke had to fight for the fourth semi-final place, with Andy Alcock taking revenge for the earlier sabre semi-final, defeating Andy Cooke 15-13 in another close fight. Sharon ended his run however, with a 15-11 victory in the first semi-final. Phil defeated Ann in yet another close fight 15-13 to set himself up in his second final of the day.

The final was a surprisingly one sided affair. Phil seemed to develop a perfect attack-defend-attack strategy for use against Sharon, and won 15-5 to add the 2003 PTC Men’s Foil Champion title to his haul. The men’s silver medal went to Andy Alcock and bronze to Andy Cooke. Sharon Booth was the 2003 PTC Ladies Foil Champion, with Ann Gibson taking silver.

Epee
On the following morning, Andy Cooke withdrew from active fencing, while two epeeists arrived – David Orme and his son, Graham. Following negotiations between the respective Command Secretaries, the STC Secretary sportingly agreed to reduce the teams in the later Inter-Command championship to two fencers per weapon, enabling the PTC team to compete at full strength.

The epee was reduced to a single poule in order to ensure that the event would not run over on time. After the poule, Graham Orme was in first place, undefeated, David Orme second, Andy Alcock third, Phil McNulty fourth, Ann Gibson fifth and Sharon Booth sixth. Phil McNulty defeated Ann Gibson 15-8 in the first quarter-final, guaranteeing himself the PTC Master-at-Arms trophy for 2003. Andy Alcock dispatched Sharon Booth 15-11 in the second quarter-final.

Phil McNulty’s seemingly unstoppable run was finally halted in the semi-final of the epee event, as Graham Orme, reigning PTC epee champion, dispatched him 15-10. In the other semi-final, Graham’s father, RAFFU Coach David Orme defeated Andy Alcock 15-11. Graham then ensured that he would never again receive an allowance from his father by beating him 15-12 in the final to retain his trophy. The 2003 PTC Epee Champion was therefore Graham Orme, with the silver medal going to David Orme. Bronze medals were won by Andy Alcock and Phil McNulty. Ann Gibson won the 2003 Ladies Epee title, with Sharon Booth taking the silver medal.

Master-at-Arms
The 2003 PTC Master-at-Arms title was won by defending champion Phil McNulty, after two gold medals and one bronze, giving him a total of 22 points, ahead of Andy Alcock on 19 points from 1 silver and 2 bronze medals. The Ladies Master-at-Arms title was taken by Ann Gibson with 23 points ahead of Sharon Booth on 22.

Inter Command
As the PTC fencers waited for the Inter Command team championships, they were divided into weapon teams. Sharon and Phil were to take on the STC foil team, David and Graham would fly the PTC colours for epee, while the two Andys would fence sabre.

The foil event finished first, with Phil and Sharon beating Glenn Finnigan and Kat Jolly by 3 bouts to 1 to take the weapon victory for PTC. The sabre event was very close, with the score finishing on 2 games apiece to Andy Alcock and Andy Cooke against Mark Gumley and Dave Long. A count-back of indicators revealed that the PTC team had scored one point more than the STC team, giving them the weapon victory. In the epee, the Ormes defeated Nige Whittaker and Chris Garton of STC by 3 bouts to 1, to complete a PTC triumph. The Inter Command trophy was therefore retained by PTC.

Conclusion
The President of RAFFU, Air Cdre Nick Kurth awarded the medals and trophies at the conclusion of the championships.