A talented fencer from Wrexham is eyeing glory in his final junior competition this summer.

Owen Edwards, 19, has been selected for the five-strong Welsh junior Epee team for the Cadet and Junior Commonwealth Championships

The teenager's interest in the sport was piqued by a neighbour of his grandmother's, who encouraged Owen to sign up at Wrexham Fencing Club.

There he was coached by Mike Norfolk who nurtured the youngster's talent for the sport helped him successfully advance into junior competition.

Owen said: "Starting out I'd never even picked up a fencing sword before and I had none of the equipment.

"It was great way into fencing for me and the coaching I got there really helped me to improve quickly in the sport and helped me decide to take it up more seriously.

"I started out with the foil, which is the lightest of the three fencing swords, but progressed to epee after a while.

"I like the fact that with epee you can attack at any time and that you constantly have to remain alert to your opponent's actions.

"Fencing's a very mental sport and to be successful you need to keep a huge amount of focus in every bout."

Owen shared his passion for fencing with his late father who, prior to his sudden death from a heart attack in 2015, had driven his son to many competitive events.

Despite the tragic setback, Owen has advanced steadily in junior and senior competitions and by last year was ranked among the top 12 under-20 fencers in Britain after his selection for Junior World Cups in Italy and Serbia.

Currently a student at the University of East London, Owen trains twice a week with twice-world champion Jon Willis and other eminent coaches in Hendon.

He is also enrolled on a scholarship programme as part of the University's Elite Sports Department, which gives him access to specialist physio help plus strength and conditioning training.

And with selection for the senior commonwealth team now a realistic prospect, the Welshman is keen to impress in his final junior event in July.

"The requirement is to be within the top 30 fencers in Britain for your weapon" he added.

"I am placed currently placed 25th and the decision is made official sometime later in April, so I'm doing my best to stay in this position and even climb higher. This is because representing Wales at this level is something that was but a dream when I started seven years ago.

"My aim now is to do my best in the Junior Commonwealths. I cannot give any expectations of how I'll do as fencing is a sport that can depend on the mental and physical state of the fencer on the day.

"I hope I will give one of my pest performances of the year, but it really does depend on the day, but I'm ecstatic to represent Wales and will give my all.

"On a senior level I am currently aiming to represent Wales in the Senior Commonwealth games in Australia towards the end of this year. "