Eilidh’s Commonwealth hat-trick

Representing Scotland, RTWFC’s Eilidh Paterson, 15, returned from the Youth Commonwealth Games in New Zealand in July with an impressive personal medal tally of three medals – and 16-year-old team-mate Andrea Ross bagged a brace.

Eilidh completed her set with a bronze in the Junior (U20) team epee event alongside Andrea, but it was securing the other two medals that proved to be the most eyebrow-raising.

Medal number two was won in the Junior individual event, where Eilidh was up to five years younger than some of her opponents. She scored four wins in the poules, then clocked up two 15-8 wins then an excellent 15-12 victory in the quarters against an in-form fencer to secure her medal.

But it was in the Cadet (U17) team event that Eilidh engineered one of the great fencing comebacks. With her team – which included Andrea – trailing 40-31 going into the final leg of the quarter final against a strong Australian trio, Eilidh lit the blue touch paper to rocket back to 43-43 by the end of regulation time. Cue a priority minute, then cue pandemonium as Eilidh scored the final hit and the whole Scottish team went into orbit somewhere over the city of Christchurch.

Commenting on Instagram, Eilidh reflected on her Commonwealth experience as follows: “The comeback, not only in the team event, but from the shaky start in the poules, was nerve-wracking but definitely worth it for the reward. I’m extremely happy with my results.”

Eilidh’s fireworks have earned her a new nickname: ‘The Comeback Queen’. Fittingly, Eilidh then came to Britain and two days later won a bronze medal at an under-17 British Ranking Competition in Cardiff. This secured her selection for the British team travelling to Hungary in October for the European Cadet Circuit event, which is the first step on the journey to World Championship selection – one of Eilidh’s next big goals.