A CARLETON fencer has qualified to compete in the men's senior epee GBR squad after Covid stopped competitions and thwarted his chances of competing at junior level.

In April last year Billy Shepherd was chosen to represent Great Britain in the Junior Epee World Championships in Salt Lake City.

Unfortunately this was cancelled because of Covid and he is now too old

Since fencing competitions commenced again the 21-year-old has qualified for the senior epee squad and is currently ranked 6th in the country.

He has also recently graduated from Nottingham University with a first in biology.

He will be making his senior team debut at the first senior fencing world cup event in Berne, Switzerland. He is hoping to qualify for more senior World Cups and Grand Prix this season.

He has trained throughout his fencing career with Jim Lockyer and competes for Skipton Fencing Club which meets every Monday and Thursday at St Andrew's Church Hall, in Newmarket Street, Skipton.

His family has expressed grateful thanks to sponsors Skipton Mechanics and Iain Harris from Physio Solutions in Cross Hills who has been helping him through injuries.

Anyone interested in more information about Skipton Fencing Club can go to the website or contact: info@skiptonfencingclub.org.uk