VETERAN fencer Malcolm Fare of Hanley Swan was runner-up in the Civil Service épée championship, held at Loughborough University.

During his years at the Central Office of Information, Fare won both the CS foil and épée titles more times than he can remember, but these days the legs no longer provide the springboard for the formidable fleche of old.

Nevertheless, he managed to beat Christian Kennedy of the Prison Service 15-13 in the semi-finals. Kennedy pointed out that when he was born 35 years ago, Fare was already CS épée champion.

In the final he faced an even younger opponent, 25-year-old David Hillier of the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston and it proved to be a bout too far.

Although Fare had beaten Hillier in a preliminary round, the young scientist had learnt from the experience. Fencing intelligently, he avoided the traps set for him and used his reach and speed to pull out a 15-10 victory and claim his first CS title.

Malcolm Fare, who fences at Worcester Fencing Club, has qualified to represent Great Britain at the World Veterans Fencing Championships in Bath in September.