Ray Harrison

In 1949, shortly after his 20th birthday, Ray Harrison finished sixth in the final pool of the Miller-Hallett Challenge Cup, the UK’s oldest épée competition and one of the most prestigious events in Europe. Harrison would later add the coveted trophy to his collection of prizes.

In 1950 Harrison finished seventh in the National Épée Championship and in 1951 and 1952 was a member of the Lansdowne Club team that won the Épée Team Championship. Harrison went to the first of two Olympics in 1952 and reached the quarter-final with the GB épée team.

After winning a tournament open to amateurs and professors at the Épée Club in 1954 Harrison went on to win his only British title when he became épée champion in 1955. He competed at the 1957 World Championships in Paris and won a team bronze medal.

After joining the Royal Air Force (RAF), where he became a flight-lieutenant, Harrison won the épée title at the Inter-Services Fencing Championships in three consecutive years 1957-59. He was chosen for his second Olympics at Rome in 1960 and won the épée team silver medal, after losing 9-5 to a strong Italian team in the final.