10:39am Friday 27th February 2004
FENCER Tom Bennett has qualified for the World Championships for the third time in succession.
The Royal Grammar School student won his place on the British U20 team after achieving two top-32 places in international A grade events this year to qualify as the third Briton on the team.
He finished 27th in the Budapest championship and then bettered that with a 24th-placed finish at Nimes to book his seat on the plane for the World Championships in Bulgaria.
Bennett, who has competed in the last three U17 World Championships as an U17 year-old and also last year as an U20 year-old, now can't wait to pit his wits against the world's best.
The 17-year-old A level student is ranked 117th in the U20 world rankings for epee but is hoping to achieve a top-64 place at the championships in April.
He said: "I will know a lot more of what to expect this time. Last time I was a 16-year-old competing in the U20s and it was a big step up for me, but now I know what to expect and I think I will be much better prepared."
Bennett, who belongs to the Wellesbourne Fencing Club and the London Thames Fencing Club, won the Wycombe and District Council Sir Steven Redgrave Sports Bursary last year.
But before he can concentrate on the worlds he has got two other big events to focus on.
This week he is representing the RGS at the Public Schools Championships in Crystal Palace and he also has the London A Grade senior International next weekend to look forward to.
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