Sheppard finishes 20^th at Grand Prix in Gdansk

All three of the men’s GB senior squad were in action this weekend with World Cups in Paris (Epee), Bonn (Foil) and Moscow (Sabre).  The women’s sabre squad joined the men in Moscow for a Grand Prix.

Men’s Epee World Cup – Paris

The Paris Men’s Epee World Cup field of 280 fencers included ten from Great Britain.  Allen (V1D5), Firth (V0D5), Gregory (V1D5), Lane (V2D4) and Tannock (V1D5) were cut after the first round.  The remaining fencers – Bennett (V5D1), Henderson (V3D3), Marsh (V3D3), Perry (V3D3) and Willis (V3D2) – made it through to the preliminary knockout stage, where winning three fights was the requirement to make the second day and the round of 64.

Bennett was rewarded with a bye through the first fights for his efforts in the first round.  Marsh beat Hirano (JPN) 15-7 and Willis beat Zia (CHN) 15-12 but Henderson fell 15-8 to Lahtinen (FIN) and Perry lost to Rami (MAR) 15-7.  In the second preliminary knockout Marsh lost to Rosello (SPN) 15-9 but Bennett and Willis progressed beating Staszak (POL) 15-7 and Ambroz (CZE) 12-9 respectively.  Sadly they both fell at the next stage; Bennett falling to Tourchine (RUS) 15-11 and Willis losing to An (KOR) 15-12.

The event was won by Confalonieri (ITA) who beat Kauter (SUI) 15-12 in the final.  The bronze medals went to Alexanin (KAZ) and Pizzzo (ITA).

Great Britain did not enter the team event on Sunday that was won by France.  They beat Italy 45-36 on home soil.  Switzerland beat USA 26-25 to take third place.

GB individual placings:  Bennett 66^th, Willis 87^th, Marsh 145^th, Perry 170^th, Henderson 188^th, Lane 224^th, Tannock 234^th, Allen 244^th, Gregory 245^th and Firth 273rd.

Full Individual Results Here

Full Team Results Here

Men’s Foil World Cup – Bonn

Nine British fencers headed to Germany to join a field of 204 at the World Cup in Bonn.  Jefferies (V2D4) did not survive the poules stages but Kenber (V5D1) and Rosowsky (V5D1) received byes to the round of 64.  The remaining British fencers – Cook (V3D3), Davis (V2D4), Kruse (V5D1), Mepstead (V4D2), Peggs (V5D1) and Tofalides (V4D2) – had to tackle a two-stage preliminary knockout to make the second day.  Peggs and Tofalides lost to Drobyshev (RUS) 15-13 and Telnykh (UKR) 15-14 at the first stage but Cook beat Gustinelli (GER) 13-12, Davis beat Cheung (HKG) 15-12, Kruse beat Teixeira (POR) 15-5 and Mepstead beat Anen (LUX) 15-5 to make it through.  Only Davis was able to join Kenber and Rosowsky on the second day.  He beat Majewski (POL) 15-9 whilst Cook lost to Meinhardt (USA) 15-5, Kruse to Jorgensen (DEN) 15-10 and Mepstead to Miyake (JPN) 15-12.

All three British fencers were unable to progress any further.  Davis lost to Le Pechoux (FRA) 15-11, Kenber lost 15-12 to Joubert (FRA) and Rosowsky fell 15-12 to Zawada (POL).

The event was won by Sedov (RUS) who beat Joppich (GER) 15-13 in a close final.  The bronze medals went to Baldini (ITA) and Hertsyk (UKR).

In the team event Great Britain (Davis, Kenber, Kruse, Rosowsky) had a bye through the round of 32 but then lost to the USA 45-41 in a very tight fight.  In the placing matches they beat Israel 45-26, Egypt 45-30 and Ukraine 45-27 to earn 9^th place.  Germany beat Italy 45-40 to take the gold medal whilst Japan edged to a close victory (43-42) over China to take the bronze.

GB individual placings:  Rosowsky 40^th, Kenber 41^st, Davis 64^th, Kruse 67^th, Mepstead 82^nd, Cook 89^th, Peggs 98^th, Tofalides 103^rd and Jefferies 160^th.

Full Individual Results Here

Full Team Results Here

Men’s Sabre World Cup – Moscow

Twelve British fencers joined a field of 170 at the Moscow World Cup, seven not making the first round cut – Anthony Crutchett (V0D6), Hutchison (V1D4), Rahimi (V1D4), Ratneswaren (V1D5), Rocks (V1D5), Sancroft (V2D4) and Ward (V1D5).  In the two stage preliminary knockout Alex Crutchett, Honeybone and O’Connell all received byes through the first fight whilst Clarke narrowly beat Ershov (RUS) 15-14.  Motterhead lost to Spear (USA) 15-8.  Only O’Connell made it through to the round of 64, comfortably beating Magraze (GEO) 15-4.  Clarke went out 15-6 to Hartung (GER), Alex Crutchett lost 15-9 to Marti (SPN) and Honeybone fell to Szabo (GER) 15-8.

In the round of 64 O’Connell faced world number three, Montano (ITA) and lost 15-4.  He finished up in 27^th place.  The event was won by Kovalev (RUS) who beat Pillet (FRA) 15-8 in the final.  Skrodski (POL) and Lopez (FRA) took the bronze medals.

In the team event Great Britain (Clarke, Alex Crutchett, Honeybone, O’Connell) lost 45-40 to Poland in the round of 32.  China won the gold medal in another exciting match against Russia – 45-44.  The USA beat Belarus 45-41 to take the bronze medal.

GB individual placings:  O’Connell 27^th, Alex Crutchett 74^th, Honeybone 75^th, Clarke 90^th, Mottershead 107^th, Sancroft 128^th, Rahimi 132^nd, Hutchison 134^th, Ratneswaren 145^th, Ward 148^th, Rocks 149^th, Anthony Crutchett 155^th.  

Full Individual Results Here

Full Team Results Here

Women’s Sabre Grand Prix – Moscow

Seven British women joined the men in Moscow for a Sabre Grand Prix where they faced a field of 114 fencers.  Unfortunately Kempe had to withdraw due to injury and we wish her a speedy recovery.  Bilardi, Bond-Williams, Nicoll, Williams (all V3D3) and Hutchison (V4D2) all made the cut but Watson (V1D5) did not.  In the single stage preliminary knockout Bilardi lost 15-7 to Hamada (JPN), Bond-Willams fell 15-4 to Bunyatova (AZE) and Nicoll went out 15011 to Kiraynova (RUS) but Hutchison beat Tamaura (JPN) 15-10 and Williams beat Nakayama (JPN) 15-14 to make the round of 64.  Both were knocked out at that stage with Hutchison narrowly losing 15-14 to Ozolina (RUS) and Williams going out 15-2 to world number 6, Kim (KOR).

The event was won by Velikaia (RUS) who beat Chen (CHN) 15-13.  The bronze medals went to Kharlan (UKR) and Zagunis (USA)

GB placings:  Hutchison 49^th, Willliams 59^th, Bilardi 69^th, Bond-Williams 74^th, Nicoll 76^th, Watson 100^th and Kempe (scratched).

Full Individual Results Here

Next up on the circuit is the Women’s Epee World Cup in St Maur and the Women’s Foil World Cup in Budapest.  This will conclude the qualification