Jess fights back for first senior win

Jess Hawke, from Bradford on Avon and a member of Bath Sword Club, scored her first win at senior level in women's sabre at the recent inaugural Oxfam open in Cardiff. For the 15-year-old, who normally fences sabre at cadet level (fencers under the age of 17), it capped a successful first full season in the seniors. Hawke has seen her national ranking climb from 87 to 34 in the last year. Having made it through to the final, she started nervously, going two points down to her opponent in the early stages, before recovering to be just ahead at the break. In the second half of the fight, her increasing confidence showed as she eventually closed the bout 15... [read full story]