Sharp move

Gareth Foley (Christchurch) attempts to strike Steve Martin (Wellington) during the semifinal of the veteran men's foil at the national fencing championships in Dunedin yesterday.

Martin won the bout and went on to beat Nick Ustin (Auckland) in the final.

The nationals were staged over three days. Organiser Vanda Symon said the event had been a huge success. It attracted 83 competitors, including six from Australia.

Symon was part of a competitive Otago contingent. She placed seventh and her team-mate, Simone Marshall, took fifth place in the women's foil won by Lena Jacob.

Dunedin's Sam Parish took fifth place in the men's sabre won by Australian John Chow, and was seventh in the men's foil won by Hamish Chan.

Otago's Suzy Cheng nabbed third-equal in women's sabre won by Australian Frances Chow.