Title hat-tricks for Usher and Berriman

Fencing

Quentin Berriman, of Haverstock Club, walked off with his third successive British men's epee title at the Metropolitan Police College, Hendon, on Saturday after defeating Steven Paul 15-7 in the final, writes Graham Morrison.

Chris Howser and Ian Jones went out 15-9 and 15-6 in the semi-finals to Paul and Berriman, respectively. The former Olympic foilist Tony Bartlett took the field by surprise knocking out several names to finish seventh in his first attempt at the weapon.

In the women's championship, Georgina Usher gained her expected victory as she pushed Reading's Debbie Catchpole into second place with a 15-7 victory. This is also Usher's third title win, having previously won in 1991 and '92. It follows her respectable fifth placing in last month's European Championships in France and will keep her at the top of the domestic rankings.

Anther past champion Carol Greenway lost 15-11 to Usher at the semi-final stage.

BRITISH PE CHAMPIONSHIPS (Hendon Police College): Men: 1 Q Berriman (Havertock); 2 S Paul (Haverstock); 3= C Howser (Duellist); I Jones (Wellesbourne). Women: 1 G Usher (Haverstock); 2 D Catchpole (Reading); 3= C Greenway (LTFC), H Nicholas (unattached).