Senior European Championships 2012 – Day 4
Two Russian gold medals for the second night in succession
It was back to the individual events on day four of the European Championships with competitions in Women’s Foil and Men’s Epee.
Women’s Foil
The women’s foil event began the action on day four of the European Championships with 40 competitors in round one including Anna Bentley, Martina Emanuel, Natalia Sheppard and Sophie Troiano from Great Britain.
In sweltering conditions Bentley finished V2D4, Emanuel V3D3, Sheppard V2D3 and Troiano V0D5. Bentley and Troiano didn’t make the cut. Emanuel and Sheppard were given byes through the incomplete round of 64. In the round of 32 Emanuel lost 9-1 to Golubytskyi (GER) and Sheppard lost 15-5 to Korobeynikova (RUS), the eventual bronze medalist.
The semi-finals featured three Russians and one Italian. First up was Korobeynikova (RUS) and Gafurziankova (RUS). After a tight first period which ended 3-2 to Garfurziankova, she stormed ahead and eventually won 15-8. The second semi final between Deriglazova (RUS) and Errigo (ITA) was a much tighter affair. The Russian led 11-10 at the break but Errigo fought back to 14-14. Both fencers attacked for the last hit but Errigo missed putting Deriglazova through to the gold medal match. It was one-way traffic in the gold medal match with Deriglazova leading 9-6 at the break. A tremendous display of attacking fencing saw her take the European title 15-8 from her compatriot, Garfurzianko.
GB individual placings: Emanuel 22nd, Sheppard 26th, Bentley 31st, Troiano 38th.
Men’s Epee
The second event on day four of the championships was the Men’s Epee individual event where 93 fencers including Jon Willis fought to become European Champion 2012.
Willis finished the first round V3D2 and made the cut. He recieved a bye through the incomplete round of 128. In the round of 64 it was a tight fight against Salm (EST) during which Willis came from behind to win 15-14. Next up was Backer (NOR) in the round of 32 and Willis fell behind so had to chase. He fought bravely but in the end ran out of time losing 12-7.
The first semi-final between Hienzer (SUI) and world number one, Novosjolov (EST) started cagily with the Estonian leading 5-4 at the first break. He pulled away in the second and eventually won in the third 15-9. The second semi final between reigning champions Fiedler (GER) and Sukhow (RUS) went to priority. The German had the priority but Sukhov performed his third successive and successful fleche attack to take the fight 9-8. The final between Novosjolov (EST) and Sukhov (RUS) started at a frenetic pace with the Russian leading 10-9 at the first break. All the pressure was on Novosjolov but Sukhov kept up the pressure and went 12-9 up. Novosjolov rallied but Sukhov, the world number 67, was not going to let this opportunity go and took the Euorpean title 15-12.
GB Individual placings: Willis 29th.
The fifth day will feature team events in Men’s Foil and Women’s Sabre.
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