WINSLEY fencing star Philip Marsh will be looking to retain his world junior epee title in Moscow next week and says he’s approaching the competition with the pressure firmly taken off.

The 17-year-old wrote his name in the history books by becoming Great Britain’s first-ever junior (under 20) men’s epee champion at the World Junior and Cadet Championships in Jordan last year, and will defend his title in this year’s individual competition next Thursday. But Marsh’s focus will be on Easter Sunday’s team competition.

Marsh, a member of Bath Sword Club, said: “I’m going into it looking to retain my title but I’m really going there to enjoy it.

“We’ve got a really good team going this year and we’re looking to try and win a medal so we’ve been concentrating on that. Whatever happens in the individual competition happens.

“I’ve been concentrating a lot on the Olympic qualifiers recently too, so I haven’t really had much time to think about this competition and feel any pressure.”

Marsh was slightly disappointed with his performances in his last two Olympic qualifiers – men’s epee World Cup events in Paris and Talinn, Estonia – but the British number two is hoping that he could still receive a surprise call-up for London 2012.

The youngster was 145th in Paris and 120th in Talinn and he added: “There’s a zonal qualification tournament to come but I don’t think I’ll be selected for that. I think that the final selection will happen in May.

“In the past, people who’ve done well at the Olympics have had the experience of having gone to the Games before, so hopefully I can get selected to give me experience for Rio 2016.”