JAIMIE COOK WINS SENIOR FIE SATELLITE IN AMSTERDAM

Kamal Minott was second, with Senior Sabre medals coming home on the same weekend in a great GBR start to the international season.

Jaimie Cook of Salle Holyrood won gold at a Senior Foil event in Amsterdam this weekend, beating his GBR teammate Kamal Minott in the final.

Jaimie won 15-5 to take gold with Kamal taking silver, topping a field of 156.

After his win, Jaimie said: “What an incredible day for the GB squad! I’m absolutely thrilled to have won the 2024 Amsterdam Satellite. It was a challenging journey, but staying focused paid off. Two Brits in the final made it an even more special day for Team GB.”

It also marks thirteen years after his father Keith won the same event in 2011.

It’s the second medal in a row for Cook, who took a bronze at the Senior Men’s Foil Satellite in Bucharest the previous week, where David Sosnov also took a silver. Kyle Abay also took bronze at the Senior Women’s Sabre Satellite in Reykjavik on the same weekend.

The final was a rematch of the British Senior Championships final in Sheffield in April – that time, Kamal edged out Jaimie 15-13.

Afterwards, Kamal said: “It was my first competition of the new season, and my focus was on reinforcing the small positive habits I’ve been building.

“It was great to have FCL coach Pawel Osmanski by my side, helping me reflect on key details I might have missed during my matches. It was incredible to face my teammate in the final of an international competition. The fact that the hardest satellite in the world was a rematch of the British National Championships speaks for itself.”

It was a busy weekend for GBR at the open event, with 28 British men making the Saturday Senior Foil competition and 23 women at the Senior Foil on the Sunday. The best GBR women’s finish on Sunday was Amelie Tsang in 23rd.

On the same weekend, the FIE Senior Women’s Sabre event was held in Gant, Belgium. Caitlin Maxwell and Hui Xin Sezille both took bronze, with Kate Daykin also making the last eight.

“This was an amazing way to start my season, especially as it was my first senior satellite. It was an amazing experience and I am so happy!” said Hui Xin, still only 15 and making a senior podium.

“I’m happy to start the season this way,” said the more-experienced Caitlin.

“Obviously there’s always things to improve and I’m looking to build from the lessons I’ve learned here. Also great to share the podium with Hui Xin, as such a talented young fencer!”

The circuit continues – hopefully with further GBR success – with a Senior FIE Epee event in Geneva next weekend.

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