WICKWAR-based fencer Tony Williams, 49, won a bronze medal in the 51-strong men's foil event at the recent British Veterans' Fencing Championships in Gloucester.

The format for these Championships, which are open to all fencers over the age of 40, is two rounds of pools, in which groups of six fence each other, followed by direct elimination.

This stage involves scoring ten hits within six minutes with a one-minute rest after three minutes.

Seeded 18th after the pools, Williams edged out the No 2 seed Dominic Chang 10-9 in the last 16 and then repeated the feat against Gerry Gajadharsingh to reach the semi-finals, where he met Paul Sibert.

Only one hit separated them to 5-5, but then Sibert picked up three hits in a row and.

Although Williams narrowed the gap to 8-9, he could not prevent a final attack getting through and had to settle for bronze.