Great Britain finish fourth In Men’s Team Foil as Italy top the medal table

The Cadet and Junior World Championships 2013 finished today in Poreč, Croatia, with the team events in Men’s Foil and Women’s Sabre

Junior Men’s Foil

The Great Britain team of (Archer, Birch, Rattan and Tofalides) were ranked third for the tournament and had a bye through the round of 32.  In the round of 16 they took on China and came out 45-39 winners.  They then faced the tough prospect of Hungary in the quarterfinal and stalled somewhat before Birch came on for Rattan and fenced extremely well.  Britain rolled out 45-33 winners in the end.  In the semi-final they faced a USA team that boasts the world number 6 and 11 at senior level.  Great Britain held their own for long periods in the match but the USA were too strong in the end and won 45-41.    Italy won the other semi-final against Russia 45-32..Fencing for the bronze medal meant Great Britain had to beat a strong Russian team.  A terrible start saw them trail 5-0 after the first leg but by the end of the third they were 14-12 up.  All three British fencers were on form in the match but by the end of the sixth leg Russian had opened up a four hit lead.  They stretched that lead in the closing matches as Britain were forced to chase the match and Russia took the bronze medal 45-37.

The gold medal match between Italy and the USA saw the Italians lead after three bouts.  The lead changed hands twice before Italy opened up a three hit lead at the end of the sixth match.  In typical style they continued to open that lead, running out eventual winners 45-34.

Full Individual Results Here

Junior Women’s Sabre

Great Britain did not enter this event that saw the USA beat Poland 45-40 in the first semi-final and France beat Ukraine 45-28 in the second.  Ukraine led from the off in the bronze medal match and won 45-29 with some ease.  In the gold medal match the USA took on France, the reigning World Champions.  An extremely strong performance from the Americans, especially Russo, saw them lead 15-14 after three bouts.  The French turned the match around by the end of the sixth leg and were leading 30-27.  With Powers (USA) coming on for Palmedo and taking the seventh bout 8-5 she put the USA 35-31.  They did not look back from there and won the title 45-38.

Full Individual Results Here