World Cup Round Up: Orleans Women’s Sabre, Tauberbischofsheim Women’s Foil and Doha Men’s & Women’s Epee

A busy weekend of senior fencing action took place across the globe over the weekend including two World Cup events and two Grand Prix.

Women’s Sabre Grand Prix – Orleans

The weekend’s action started with the women’s sabre Grand Prix in Orleans, France.  Of the eight strong British team only three made it through to the round of 64 on the second day.  Angela Bilardi won four of her five first round fights giving her a bye through the first preliminary knockout.  She then beat Puda (POL) 15-11 to make the top 64.  Bilardi was then beaten comfortably (15-6) by Perrus (FRA) who is ranked 17^th in the World.  Louise Bond-Williams also had a fantastic first round winning five of her six first round matches.  This earned her a bye through to the round of 64 where she faced Liang (CHN) who she dominated, going on to win 15-8.  Unfortunately Bond-Williams was then knocked out by world number 7, Kim (KOR) 15-7.  Joanna Hutchison won four of her six first round matches giving her a bye through the first preliminary knockout fight.  She then beat Jammes (FRA) 15-12 to make the second day where she faced world number 16, Pundyk (UKR).  In a fantastic match, Hutchison took a commanding 8-2 lead into the break and then went on to lead 14-9.  Pundyk, dramatically levelled in the match at 14-14 but Hutchison showed tremendous grit to take the fight and make the round of 32.  Lucchino (ITA) knocked her out 15-11 at this stage.  The event was won by Mariel Zagunis (USA) from Sophia Velikaia (RUS), Olga Zhovnir (UKR) and Ji Yeon Kim (KOR).

GB placings:  Bond-Williams 23^rd, Hutchison 32^nd, Bilardi 42^nd, Kempe 73^rd, Roberts 77^th, Nicoll 113^th, Williams 126^th, Fairhead 129^th.

Women’s Foil World Cup – Tauberbischofsheim

Nine British fencers headed to Germany for their first World Cup of 2012.  Only five survived a tough first round and only two made it through the first preliminary knockout.  Natalia Sheppard, who won three and lost three in the first round, overcame Dunholter (GER) 15-5.  Unfortunately she failed to qualify for the round of 64, beaten 11-5 by Rashidova (RUS).  Martina Emanuel won four of her six first round matches earning a bye through the first preliminary knockout.  She the went on to beat Jelinska (POL) 13-11 to make the round of 64 where she was beaten 15-9 by eventual finalist Oh (KOR). Oncw again the Italians dominated the tournament with four into the final eight.  The event was won by Elisa Di Francisca (ITA) from compatriots Valentina Vezzali and Arianna Errigo.  The other bronze medal wnet to Hyun Hee Nam (KOR).

The Italians also cruised to victory in the team event, overcoming Russia 45-29 in the final.  Great Britain was knocked out in the round of 16 to eventual bronze medallist Poland.  In the placings matches the GB team then went on to take the narrowest of victories over China (17-16), lost 28-17 to Japan and then beat Canada 32-30 to finish 11^th.

GB individual placings:  Emanuel 50^th, Sheppard 89^th, Troiano 118^th, Bentley 123^rd, Ng 126^th, Bennett 138^th, Cook 142^nd, McKenzie 143^rd, Bryars 151^st.

Men’s Epee Grand Prix – Doha

Eight British men were amongst the field of 143 fencers who took part in the Grand Prix in Doha at the weekend.  Only Jon Willis made it through to the round of 64 on the second day.  He then faced Arede (POR) who he beat 15-7.  In the round of 32 Willis was beat 15-11 by Trager (ITA).  Kyoung Doo Park (KOR) beat Silvio Fernandez (VEN) in the final with Bas Verwiljen (NED) and Nikolai Novosjolov (EST) taking the bonze medals.

GB placings:  Willis 25^th, Marsh 67^th, Perry 84^th, Allen 92^nd, Bennett 94^th, Thomas 100^th, Henderson 127^th, Rowe-Haynes 128^th.

Women’s Epee World Cup – Doha

Eleven British women were selected to take part in the World Cup epee event in Doha.  Only two made the round of 64.  Corinna Lawrence faced world number 3 Del Carretto (ITA) and whilst she lost she should be immensely proud of her performance, losing 11-10.  Georgina Usher also had a fight against a top World seed in Sivkova (RUS) – 12^th in the World.

Usher also put in a gutsy performance and also only lost by a single hit, 10-9.  Mara Navarria (ITA) beat Hyo-Jung Jung 15-10 to take the title with the bronze medals going to Francesca Quondamcarlo (ITA) and Rosella Fiamingo (ITA).

In the team event Great Britain lost to Switzerland 45-34 in the round of 32.  Russia beat China 39-35 to take the gold medal with Romania beating South Korea 45-34 for the bronze.

GB individual placings:  Usher 58^th, C. Lawrence 61^st, McGeever 85^th, Cohen 95^th, Chang 128^th, Highton 148^th, H Lawrence 151^st, Radford 152^nd, Harvey 157^th, Payne 158^th, Smith 166^th.

Next up  

Next up on the circuit is the Men’s Foil World Cup in La Coruna and the Men’s Sabre World Cup in Padoua.

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