MANNINGTREE High School student Lex Brincklow travelled to Poland to represent England in the Wratislava Challenge Cup.

This was an international competition for under-15 fencers.

With just a hint of nerves, he started the competition perfectly, confidently beating his German opponent 5-1.

Great Bromley's Brincklow then went on to win against fencers from the Czech Republic and Poland.

He finished second in his poule after narrowly losing only one fight (5-4) to a local fencer.

He was ranked 34th after the first round.

A brutal cut sliced fencers ranked 157 to 220, leaving Brincklow with a bye into the last 128.

Brincklow faced German Wohlmacher again and used his knowledge of the fencer from the poule fight to secure a victory.

Brincklow showed nerves of steel in the next match.

After trailing one point throughout the match, Brincklow levelled the score at 14-14.

After intense scrutinization of the last point, Brincklow was finally declared the winner to an excited English crowd.

Brincklow now faced Russian left-hander Moskvin, ranked second after poules.

The pair were evenly matched during the first period but then Moskvin stated to slowly pull away. Brincklow fought furiously and at one point attacked along the length of the piste, pushing the Russian off the end to the delight of the English supporters.

Brincklow lost the match 15-10.

The final result was an incredible 23rd place.