Skipton Fencing Club has had two of its younger members selected to take part in two of England Fencing's "Tomorrow's Achievers" international competitions.

Skipton Girls' High School pupil, 14-year-old Molly Jowsey, has been selected as part of the Tomorrow's Achievers team to attend an international competition in Paris, which starts on February 8.

Then Molly, and fellow club member James Loryman, 14, from Silsden, will both compete as part of the Tomorrow's Achievers team going to Poland in March.

In Paris Molly will compete using a foil weapon while both her and James will compete using their preferred weapon, the epee, in Poland.

Their coach at the club, Jim Lockyer, said that the pair are both in the top eight in the country in the epee, a weapon which he said is slower than the foil but requires its user to be more defensive as an opponent can score points by hitting anywhere on the body.

Molly, who started fencing when she was 11, has already achieved success, coming first in the Yorkshire Youth League and third in the British Youth Championships.

Ray Stafford, spokesman for England Fencing, Tomorrow's Achievers, said "We have been watching Molly's progress this season, and there is no doubt that she shows great potential, and we are very pleased to have her as part of our Tomorrow's Achievers team for Paris."

Molly's mum, Chris Jowsey, said: "This is her first time competing abroad. As her mother I'm very proud. Molly is excited as is her sister Amy, who also fences at the club."

James, who has been fencing for about five years, was a quarter-finalist at the British Youth Championships.

James' mum, Alison Loryman, said: "We're really chuffed he's doing so well."

Alison said James' fencing takes up a lot of time as the family travels with him all over the country but they do not mind as Skipton Fencing Club provides a good atmosphere and is very welcoming to all of its members, which also includes James' 16-year-old sister Hannah.

Lockyer said that the Tomorrow's Achievers is a new programme designed to give young fencers the experience of competing abroad, which he said is a good opportunity for his students at the club.

"It's a stepping stone to the next stage - the Great Britain squad."

Lockyer added that two other students at the club, 14-year-olds Adam Edwards and Philippa Harris, have recently competed for Great Britian.

Philippa fenced at a competition in Paris and Adam competed in Belgium under Great Britain's cadet scheme.

Anyone interested in the sport of fencing can contact Skipton Fencing Club at 3, Queen Street, Silsden, West Yorkshire.