Rafael Rhys Pollitt became a national champion on Saturday when he emerged triumphant in the under-13 section at fencing’s England Youth Championships.

The Chesham Grammar School pupil saw off competition from 85 off the best fencers in his age group from around the country to win the event, which was held at Hertfordshire Sports Village in Hatfield.

Rhys Pollitt began the competition in fine form and didn’t concede a single hit as he breezed through his six group matches.

His display in the poules earned him the number one seeding heading into the knockout rounds and that saw him handed a bye into the last 64.

The first three direct elimination rounds saw the 12-year-old defeat George Willis of Sussex House 10-4, Dominic Sampson of Kenilworth Swords 10-3 and Francesco Roccato of Eltham College 10-5, before he dispatched Jorge Waterfield of Plymouth’s Salle Lawrence in the quarter finals 10-4.

Making it to the last four of the championships meant Rhys Pollitt had earned the opportunity to represent England, as well as a golden ticket to represent the nation at under-15 level at the Challenge CEP Marathon Fleuret in Paris in February next year, where over 300 fencers from over 20 countries will compete.

But that was not prize enough for Rhys Pollitt, who swiftly overcame Jacob Haynes of Newham Swords 10-4 in their last four encounter to set-up a final against Jean-Baptiste Baigneres.

The Camden based fencer was no match for the Buckinghamshire youngster though, and Rhys Pollitt again racked up a 10-4 success to take the national title.