TWO brothers from Thixendale are set to battle it out to see who will become Yorkshire's current top under-14 sabre fencer.

Greg and Ben Beattie, aged 12 and 14 respectively, have each one won event of the three-match series in the Yorkshire Post Sporting Chance Youth League.

They could now go head-to-head in the final match at Sheffield on June 27 to see who will clinch the overall title.

In the first event at Harrogate back in February, Ben won gold to pick up 25 points, while brother Greg finished joint third with 22 points.

Greg got his own back last month in the second match in Hull, claiming 25 points in finishing first ahead of Ben, who picked up 23 points in second spot.

It means just one point separates the pair, who both attend the Ridings Sabre Club in Pocklington.

The friendly sibling rivalry all started when Greg became Yorkshire under-14 sabre champion in his first ever competition last year at the Yorkshire Youth Qualifiers in Harrogate - just two days after his 12th birthday.

As a result, he was chosen to represent his county at the British Youth Championships in Stoke in February.

This success inspired Ben, who clinched a bronze in the under-16 Yorkshire championship in the spring.

Their father, Alastair, said: "Greg's success really spurred Ben on and there is some good healthy competition between them."

May the best brother win!

Updated: 15:12 Wednesday, June 09, 2004