Point to Prove: Bronze for Ragland on European Veterans Circuit

Becky Ragland claimed a bronze medal at the European Veterans Circuit event in Guildford in January 2026, continuing an impressive return to international competition.

Just two months after competing in her first Veterans World Championships in Bahrain—where she finished 34th – Devon fencer Ragland was back on the campaign trail. Guildford marked her second appearance at the event, the opening competition of the European veterans season.

Last year, only five months after coming out of retirement, Ragland placed 12th in Category 2 (Veterans aged 50–59). This time, buoyed by her National Veterans Champion title and valuable experience gained at the World Championships, she arrived with a target of reaching the last eight.

Ragland, who trains in Truro and at Exeter St Thomas Fencing Club, delivered a steady performance in the poule rounds, facing a strong Italian Category 2 fencer (Veterans 40–49) and an experienced Irish foilist of German descent. Two victories against fellow British competitors earned her a bye into the quarter-finals, where she met Denmark’s Lene Jensen. After an evenly contested start, Ragland pulled clear in the latter stages to secure a 10–6 victory.

The semi-final presented a formidable challenge, with Ragland drawn against Italy’s Francesca Zurlo, silver medallist at the World Championships in November. “I knew this would be tricky,” Ragland said. “I scored a couple of hits I was really pleased with, but Francesca had a strong win against me. I’ve got plenty to work on for next time we meet.”

A 10–2 defeat placed Ragland joint third, alongside fellow Brit Kate O’Connell.

The bronze medal at Guildford, combined with ranking points from her national title last summer, puts Ragland in a strong position for selection to the European Championships in May. She currently leads the Category 2 rankings with 93 points, with one qualifying competition remaining in March.

Qualification for the 2026 World Championships is also within reach. Ragland presently sits second in the standings, with two qualifying events still to come.

Next on the schedule is the second European circuit competition of the season in Fâches, northern France. “This is going to be a great trip, with at least 15 committed Brits heading out via the Channel Tunnel,” Ragland said. “It’s such a great bunch of people who support each other really well.”

Ragland enters the competition ranked second and will be aiming to hold that position.