BUDDING fencing champion Nat Fidler will make his international debut later this year after being picked to represent England.

The Year 8 pupil at Rivington and Blackrod High School will travel with the England team to Challenge Wratislavia – a prestigious annual tournament held in Wroclaw, Poland, for children aged under 15.

Nat, aged 12, qualified after ending last year sixth in the national rankings for under-13s.

He will be amongst friends, with four of the six-strong team picked from his club, Marshall Fencing, which trains at the Manchester Fencing Centre in Chadderton, near Oldham.

Nat's qualification for the England squad followed a successful year on the national circuit competing at events across the country, the highlight of which was a seventh-placed finish at the 2015 British Youth Fencing Championships.

That result, together with high-placed finishes at other ranking events throughout 2015, including third at the prestigious Camden tournament, sealed his place on the team, which was confirmed on Christmas Day.

Proud dad Jason Fidler is understandably delighted with his son’s progress, and believes the discipline involved in fencing has helped Nat develop not only as a sportsman but also as a person as well.

“We’re all so proud of his achievements," he said.

"It’s good that he has been given this chance to try out an alternative sport at an early age.

"Most kids go for conventional sports, but I think the life skills he has obtained in fencing have helped support his education at Rivington and Blackrod.

“Sport for me is as much about developing as a person. The life skills he has gained from sport have really helped Nat grow."

Nat has progressed remarkably quickly in the sport after only taking up fencing in 2013. He excels at sabre, the most all-action form of sport, which he will be competing in in Poland on March 21.

His interest was first pricked aged eight, when England-affiliated coach Nick Murphy visited his primary school, St David's Haigh and Aspull.

After completing a six-week course at the school, the youngster was keen to continue and his mum and dad went in search of a local club.

"As a dad, I was always trying to introduce Nat to sport – just to make friends and develop yourself.

"But because Nat was into all kinds of other sports we resisted at first when he asked to take up fencing.

"He said he would be willing to concentrate solely on fencing so we enrolled him at Rivington Park fencing club and he just really blossomed from there.

"Nat advanced really quickly and last year he moved to Marshalls, who have been really good for him.

"He trains there twice a week with his coaches Stuart Marshall, Dave Taylor and Mike Swiffin.

"It is great because three of the other lads picked are from the club so that will make his first trip away from home easier.

"We are going to cheer him on, but independently of the group, so it will be a great experience for Nat and I know he is really excited."