BILLY Shepherd, from Carleton, has been selected to fence at the European Championships next month.

Aged 17 and currently ranked fifth in the under-20 age group, he and four other fencers were invited by British Fencing to fence in Sochi, Russia.

There he will compete in what was the Ice Palace at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

This season he has already represented Great Britain in Latvia, Luxembourg and Serbia and last month retained his title as Yorkshire Senior Epee Champion. He is 22nd in the UK's senior men's epee rankings.

All his international selections this year have been gained through hard work and dedication as well as the support from his Skipton Fencing Club colleagues.

He is coached by Jim Lockyer and has access to the gym at Aireville Leisure Centre thanks to Craven District Council's FANS scheme and has sponsorship from Skipton Mechanics.