A Barnet fencer will represent his country in two major competitions.

James Brosnan will compete at the Cadet Europeans in Austria on March 1 and then at the Cadet and Junior World Championships to be held in Jordan in April.

Brosnan, a student at Finchley Catholic High School, is currently ranked third in the British Cadet (under 17) age category.

He will compete against the top fencers from around the world, but is confident he will do well.

Brosnan's goal for the future is to represent Great Britain at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Clare Halstead, of Finchley Foil fencing club, said: “James is a great asset to his local club, Finchley Foil, as our top fencer and also now as a junior coach, helping with the young beginners, with whom he is very popular. "He is a wonderful role model to all the younger fencers at the club both academically and as a talented athlete with immense potential."

Finchley Foil is dedicated to youth fencing and has a very successful track record of developing strong fencers, Richard Kruse being one of them. Kruse competed in both the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, and is currently ranked number one in Britain and seventh in the world. He has been a great inspiration to Brosnan who used to watch him train.