Dunedin siblings Kirsty, Jared and Emma Howlett are competition-winning exponents of the foil.
The trio, who attend Logan Park High School, have long enjoyed fencing, and at the weekend represented their school at the annual Otago secondary school foil teams competition in Dunedin.
Six teams, each of three members, took part in the contest, held at the Claymore Swords Club's premises in Bond St on Saturday.
The Logan Park team - comprised of the three Howletts - won the competition.
There are other fencers at the school, but the Howletts are all experienced competitors, having all been involved in the sport for six years or more.
Danny, a fourth family member who is also keen on fencing, is expected to begin his Logan Park studies next year.
A combined team from King's High School, Kavanagh College and John McGlashan College was second and the Otago Boys' High School B team was third.
The Howletts find plenty to enjoy about fencing and the Claymore Swords Club.
"It's just fun," year 10 pupil Kirsty (15) said.
Other fencers were supportive.
"It doesn't matter if you win or you lose," she said.
Year 13 pupil Jared (18) enjoys the combination of physical and mental challenge - "it's just so addictive"- and he loves those good days when all his training and instincts come together and "you've got everything going for you".
Emma (18), also a year 13 pupil, also finds fencing fun, and says the sport offers "a good environment", and a supportive approach from other participants.
Former club president, and former New Zealand sword representative Gareth Foley points out that, like the Howletts, many members of other families are also involved with the Dunedin club.
Organisers said the sport was enjoying increased popularity in Dunedin, with 70 participants at the swords club, up from 45 at the start of last year, when the club acquired its new headquarters in Bond St.
Competitors range in age from 7 to 80.
Fencing South media officer Vanda Symon said some young people who had become involved in fencing had initially been inspired by the dramatic sword-fighting in the Lord of the Rings films and light sabrebattles in Star Wars.
The sport offered the romantic fun of fighting with swords but fencing had also been described as "physical chess".
Its extensive requirement for strategy and tactics, as well as its physical intensity, also attracted many people.
