MORE than 100 fencers, including competitors from Russia, Hungary and Poland, took part in a tournament in Canterbury.

The inaugural Mendelenyi Memorial Sabre Competition was organised by Canterbury Fencing Club coach Paul Romang, at Simon Langton Boys’ Grammar School, with proceeds to be donated to the British Heart Foundation.

The event honoured Hungarian Dr Tamas Mendelenyi, who died from a rare auto-immune disease, which affected his heart, and his widow flew from Australia to attend.

Dr Romang said: “Tamas Mendelenyi was my mentor and friend and taught me much of what I know as a coach.

“He was an Olympic gold medallist in the team sabre in Rome, in 1960, and British Olympic coach for many years.

“The link with the British Heart Foundation is further enhanced by two life-saving operations I had two years ago. We don’t know how much we will have raised, yet, but we want to make it an annual event.

“We will hold it at the same time next year, and with the level of interest we have had I would expect to double the entry.”

For further information about fencing visit www.canterburyfencingclub.co.uk