A BEXLEYHEATH fencer just missed out on a gold medal at a recent U17 international contest.

Blackfen School for Girls student Laura Gladdish was in the GBR A team which was defeated 45-44 by the B string in a nail-biting final.

The 15-year-old, who is a member of MX Malling Fencing Club, made the top 10 in the individual competition.

Club coach Phil Shepherd Foster said: “It just goes to show that all the hard work the fencers have put in over the last six months is really paying off.

“After this event Laura Gladdish is ranked in the top 50 in Europe, an amazing achievement.”

Gladdish has also been selected to fence for Great Britain at the European cadet championships in Budapest, Hungary, at the end of February.

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