MALVERN youngster Lucy Henshall has been selected as part of England Fencing's Tomorrow's Achievers' epee team to take part in the 21st International Fencing Tournament to be held in Poland later this month.

Henshall, who lives in Malvern and is a pupil at Malvern College, started fencing when she was nine years old.

The 14-year-old, who used to live in Finland, has won a large number of medals over the last five years in both Finnish and British competitions.

She was the top-ranked epeeist in her age group in Finland, where she fenced regularly in international competitions and was runner-up in last year's British Public Schools Mount-Haes girls' epee.

Henshall has fenced regularly for West Midlands but this is the first time she has represented England.

Challenge Wroclaw is attended by hundreds of fencers, from most European countries and a few beyond.

In particular the Russians, Ukrainians and Hungarians, who have dominated world fencing for years, send extensive squads of youngsters to provide tough competition.

A spokesman for England Fencing said: "We have been watching Lucy's progress this season and there is no doubt that she shows great potential.

"We are very pleased to have her as part of our Tomorrow's Achievers' squad for Wroclaw."

The talented youngster's ambition is to fence in the Olympics.

She trains regularly at the Malvern College fencing club, where her coach, Lynne Melia, said: "Lucy has made great progress in British fencing since moving back to the UK from Finland in mid-2006.

"This invitation to join the England team of Tomorrow's Achievers' is fitting recognition of her efforts and achievements and is a great boost for fencing at Malvern College."

People interested in the sport of fencing can contact Melia on 07802-400116 or via e-mail at: coach@teammelia. org.uk.