MYLES Ashforth struck gold at the Essex County Youth Championships, in Chelmsford.

The Kirby fencer was competing in the under-14 boys' foil event and, in an exciting final, he defeated fellow Colchester Fencing Colchester and District Fencing Club member Alexander Brincklow.

Ashforth won three of his five poule fights to be ranked seventh in the direct eliminations (DEs).

In his first DE, against the tenth seed, he dominated the fight, winning the bout 15/3.

In the next DE, Tendring Technology College student Ashforth faced the second seed and showed his sense of fair play by correcting the referee when awarded a hit that was in fact his opponents, amending the score to 9/8.

Ashforth then stepped up his game to beat the Brentwood fencer 15/10.

In the semi-final, he fought the sixth seed and a speedy win of 15/6 helped keep his energy for the final, which was a rematch of the Eastern Region Championship final that he won in March.

Having fenced confidently through his DEs, Brincklow was looking to change the result this time and he took the first two points.

Ashforth then levelled the score.

Brincklow put up a furious fight, trading hits up to the first break.

In the second break, Brincklow took the lead again but a determined Ashforth redoubled his efforts to take the lead into the final leg and he used his fitness, skill and experience to bring the fight to a 15/10 finish.

It was Ashforth's last foil match of the year, having secured enough points to earn a place in next year's under-15 England foil squad.