Tough weekend for British fencers in Russia

Seven British fencers took part in the last sabre Grand Prix of the season in Moscow this weekend

Men’s Sabre

Six British fencers lined up in a field of one hundred and twenty-eight for the first round in Russia.  Will Deary (V2D4), James Honeybone (V4D2), Curtis Miller (V2D4) and Jonathan Webb (V3D3) progressed through the poule stage but Harry Boteler (V1D5) and Kirk Slankard (V0D6) did not.  The small field meant that there was only one preliminary elimination fight to make the second day but none of the Brits made it.  Deary abandoned with a minor injury as Van Holsbeke (BEL) beat Honeybone 15-8, Mokretcov (KAZ) eliminated Miller 15-10 and Danilenko (RUS) knocked Webb out 15-12.

World number three, Kim Junghwan (KOR) beat Xu Yingming (CHN) 15-7 to claim the title as Vincent Anstett (FRA) and Nikolay Kovalev picked up the bronze medals.

GB individual placings: Honeybone 69, Webb 82, Deary 93, Miller 95, Boteler 109= & Slankard 126=.

Full individual results.

Women’s Sabre

Emily Ruaux was Great Britain’s sole representative in a field of one hundred and twenty-eight on Saturday.  She was unable to secure a first round victory so did not make it through the poule stage.

Olga Kharlan of Ukraine won a thrilling gold medal match, beating America’s Mariel Zagunis 15-13.  Yuliya Gavrilova (RUS) and Irene Vecchi (ITA) claimed the bronze medals.

GB placing: Ruaux 124.

Full individual results.