Surrey Novices And Intermediates Championships were held at Beverley School, New Malden, on 21^st March 2004. The text of the press release is given below.

Fencing has been growing in popularity recently, and to encourage new fencers, Surrey County Fencing Union introduced epee to their Novices and Intermediate championships, as well as the existing foil. Epee is derived from the rapier, the duelling weapon. The move was an immediate success, attracting over sixty fencers from across the region to Beverley School in New Malden

In the Men's Novice Foil, Mark Griggs of Woking held off Brain Marshall of Tenterden with Vilya Harvey (Guildford) and Mark Inger (Salle Coton, Tooting) taking third place. Vilya then turned his hand to epee, winning the Novices from club mate Andrew McNeil, in a closely fought contest.

In the Women's Novice Foil, honours went to Louise Trillwood (Aldershot) who defeated Natlie Atkin's of Egham. Louise then stepped up to the Intermediates to take joint third place with Nikki Lewis of Wimbledon, while team-mate and fellow teenager Sophie Elands of Aldershot defeated the experienced Sophie Cope (Kingston)in the final. Wimbledon saw further success in the Novices Epee where Oliver Warner beat Natasha Lewis-Oliver (Reigate).

Holder Dennis Moody (Egham) could only achieve third place in the Captain's Cup (for Intermediate Foil), despite a dramatic fight back from 10-2 down to overcome Streatham's Alwyn Coates 15-14 to gain his semi-final place. The final saw Rick Opie of Kingston defeat Martin Smith of Salle Coton. The Men's Intermediate Epee was taken by modern pentathlete Ben Measures (Reigate) with Mike Gadston (Kingston) and Conrad Cotton-Barratt (Woking).in third place.