TEENAGER Hugh Kocan is Gwent Sword Club's new foil champion.

Kocan, from Abergavenny, defeated Wales Veterans fencer Richard Thomas 15-5 in the final of the competition, held in Chepstow last weekend.

This is the third year the youngster has emerged from the contest with a medal, but the first time he has taken the title.

Seeded number one after the pool stage of the competition, in the knock-out stages he defeated relative novice Naoise Williams 15-1, Chris Platt 15-10 and then Jordan Thomas - Richard's son - 15-6 in the semi-finals.

Richard Thomas had a harder route to the final, which included a nail-biting 15-14 won over left-hander Mike Cox before he got the better of fellow Wales Veterans fencer Catherine Fisher 15-9 in his semi-final.

In the under-16 competition, Oliver Nash emerged a comfortable winner, with Rhiannon Craig taking silver and Owain Meek and Ryan Morgan sharing bronze.

Another promising teenager - Iwan Hazlewood took the prize for most improved fencer, finishing sixth this year after being 16th in 2014, while Louise Sadler was the best novice fencer, finishing seventh in the junior competition in her first year in the sport.