Report from the Sabre Grand Prix in New York

New York, USA hosted the first sabre Grand Prix of the season with both men and women competing in the event.

Men’s Sabre

Soji Aiyenuro, Rubin Amsalem, Alex Crutchett, James Honeybone, Chris Lawrence, Curtis Miller, Brynmor Saunders and Jonathan Webb represented Great Britain in the men’s event forming part of the one hundred and seventy-strong field.  Aiyenuro (V3D3), Crutchett (V2D4), Honeybone (V4D2), Saunders (V3D3) and Webb (V3D3) all made the first round cut but Amsalem (V1D5), Lawrence (V0D5) and Miller (V2D4) did not.

In the first of two preliminary knockout fights Aiyenuro defeated teammate Webb 15-10 and Crutchett beat Koch (GER) 15-8 but Saunders fell 15-14 to Wester Reyes (DOM) and Honeybone withdrew against Spear (USA).  Unfortunately no British fencers made the round of 64 as Szatmari (HUN) knocked out Aiyenuro 15-9 and Crutchett lost 15-13 to Teodosiu (ROM) 15-13.

Junghwan Kim (KOR) defeated Aldo Montano (ITA) 15-10 to take the gold medal as Diego Occhiuzzi (ITA) and Aron Szilagyi (HUN) settled for the bronze medals.

GB individual placings:  Aiyenuro 88^th, Crutchett 96^th, Honeybone 97^th, Saunders 101^st, Webb 109^th, Miller 128^th, Amsalem 152^nd & Lawrence 163^rd.

Click here for full individual results.

Women’s Sabre

Four British fencers competed in this event joining a field of 148.  Harriet Dixon (V4D2), Aliya Itzkowitz (V4D2) Katherine Kempe (V3D3) and Sophie Williams (V3D3) all progressed through the first round.  Dixon, Itkowitz and Williams all received byes through the first of two preliminary knockout matches but Kempe fell 15-11 to Johnson (USA).  None of the remaining British fencers could make the round of 64 as Choi (KOR) defeated Dixon 15-12, Marton (HUN) beat Itzkowitz 15-11 and Gavrilova (RUS) knocked out Williams 15-10.

Olga Kharlan (UKR) took the title beating Sofya Velikaya (RUS) 15-12 in the gold medal match.  The bronze medals went to Maria Perez Maurice (ARG) and Mariel Zagunis (USA).

GB Individual Placing:  Itzkowitz 70^th, Dixon 74^th, Williams 81^st & Kempe 107^th.

Click here for full individual results.

The 2014/15 senior season continues in the New Year after a short Christmas break.