The international season resumed last weekend after a month-long break.

Men’s Foil World Cup – Seoul

There were 169 male competitors in Seoul, Korea at the weekend including four from Great Britain.  James Davis had a bye through to the round of 64 by virtue of his world ranking.  Jamie Fitzgerald (V4D2), Richard Kruse (V4D2) and Alex Tofalides (V2D4) all progressed through the first round and faced two preliminary elimination fights to make the second day.  In the first of those rounds Kruse overcame Cusack (IRL) 15-4 and Tofalides beat Nakashima (JPN) 15-11 but Fitzgerald fell 13-12 to Sakano (JPN).  In the second preliminary fight D. Kim (KOR) knocked out Tofalides 15-8 but Kruse went on to make the second day of the event beating J. Kim (KOR) 15-4.

With just two British fencers in the round of 64 it was disappointing that they drew each other in the 64 match.  Kruse beat Davis 15-8 and then victories over Le Pechoux (FRA), Luperi (ITA) and Ma (CHN) saw him face Imboden (USA) in the semi-finals.  Imboden went on to make the final beating Kruse 15-8.

The all-American final between Race Imboden and Alex Massialas saw Massialas secure his first World Cup win 15-11.  Ghislain Perrier (BRA) shared the bronze podium spot with Richard Kruse.

In the team event Great Britain had a bye through the round of 32 but then lost 45-36 to Poland in the round of 16.  The GB team then faced Italy in the first placings match who were surprisingly knocked out 45-44 by Brazil.  GB lost 45-23 but then went on to beat Austria (45-40) and Japan (45-28) to finish 13^th.  France beat Russia 45-40 to take the gold medal whilst Germany overcame Poland by the same score for bronze.

GB placings:  Kruse 3^rd, Davis 35^th, Tofalides 95^th & Fitzgerald 100^th.

Full individual results here.

Full team results here.

Women’s Foil Grand Prix – Seoul

Only Natalia Sheppard took part in this event for Great Britain and joined a relatively small field of 72.  Her four first round victories from six fights were enough to see her straight through to the round of 64.  A heavy, 15-3 defeat by Wachter (GER) was a disappointing end to her tournament.

Valentina Vezzali (ITA) defeated her teammate and World number 1, Arianna Errigo, 15-9 to take the gold medal with Martina Batini (ITA) and Gil Ok Jung (KOR) sharing the bronze medals.

GB Placing:  Sheppard 39^th.

Full individual results are here.

Men’s Sabre World Cup – Athens

Seven British fencers were part of the field of 168 in the Mens’ Sabre World Cup in Athens, Greece.  Soji Aiyenuro (V2D4), Curtis Miller (V2D4), Tom Mottershead (V1D5) and Brynmor Saunders (V1D4) did not make the first round cut but Alex Crutchett (V4D2), James Honeybone (V6D0) and Kirk Slankard (V2D4) did.  Honeybone earned a bye straight through to the round of 64 whilst Crutchett had a bye through the first of two preliminary qualifying fights.  Slankard faced Tilenshiyev (KAZ) in that round and progressed with a 15-14 victory.  In the second qualifier, Crutchett lost 15-5 to Decsi (HUN) and Prochniak (USA) knocked Slankard out 15-11.  In the round of 64 Motorin (RUS) just beat Honeybone 15-14. 

Aron Szilagyi (HUN) beat Junghwan Kim (KOR) 15-8 to take the gold medal whilst the Russian pair of Veniamin Reshetnikov and Alexey Yakimenko took the bronze medals.

Great Britain was one of twenty-five teams entered into the competition on Sunday.  A cracking 45-44 victory over Spain saw them make the round of 16 where they lost 45-30 to Italy.  In the placings matches they lost 45-43 to Canada before losing 45-39 to Kazakhstan to finish 16^th.

GB individual placings:  Honeybone 38^th, Crutchett 78^th, Slankard 96^th, Aiyenuro 132^nd, Miller 135^th, Saunders 137^th & Mottershead 138^th.

Full individual results here.

Full team results here.

Women’s Epee Grand Prix – Xuzhou

There were no British entries in this event in China that saw Yujie Sun (CHN) beat teammate Anqi Xu 6-5 to take the gold medal.  Marie Florence Candassamy (FRA) and Britta Heidemann (GER) shared the bronze medals.

Full individual results here.

The senior circuit continues this weekend with a Men’s Epee World Cup in Paris, Women’s Foil World Cup in Shanghai, Men’s Foil Grand Prix in Tokyo and Men’s and Women’s Sabre World Cups in Chicago.