Report from the Budapest and Orleans Sabre World Cups
The 2014 senior international season continued at the weekend with a Men’s Sabre World Cup in Budapest, Hungary and a Women’s Sabre World Cup in Orleans, France.
Men’s Sabre World Cup, Budapest
A full compliment of twelve British athletes joined a field of 205 fencers in Hungary. Michael Clarke (V1D5), Chris Lawrence (V0D6), Curtis Miller (V1D5) and Tom Mottershead (V0D6) did not do enough to make the first round cut. Soji Aiyenuro (V4D2), Rubin Amsalem (V2D4), Alex Crutchett (V5D1), William Deary (V4D2), James Honeybone (V3D2), Brynmor Saunders (V4D2), Kirk Slankard (V2D4) and JJ Webb (V4D2) all made it through to the two-stage preliminary knockout round. Crutchett had a bye through the first fight and was joined in the second by Aiyenuro who beat Schwarz (AUT) 15-10, Slankard who took out Lambert (FRA) 15-13 and Webb who defeated Winiger (SUI) 15-12. Y. Apithy (BEN) beat Amsalem 15-7, Fotouhi (IRI) knocked Deary out 15-11, Chung (KOR) beat Saunders 15-6 and unfortunately Honeybone had to abandon his match against Kossuth (HUN), whilst in the lead, as a result of injury. Only Aiyenuro was able to progress to the round of 64, doing so by beating Tokunan (JPN) 15-9. Souders (USA) saw off Crutchett with a 15-8 victory, Iliasz (HUN) beat Slankard 15-8 and Van Holsbeke (BEL) defeated Webb 15-8. A tough draw in the round of 64 saw Aiyenuro face world number twenty-three, Nicholas Limbach. The German’s experience was too much for the British fencer and Limbach progressed with a 15-4 victory.
Bongil Gu (KOR) went on to beat Aron Szilagyi (HUN) 15-11 for the gold medal as Aldo Montano (ITA) and Alexey Yakimenko (RUS) took the bronze medals home.
Great Britain (Aiyenuro, Crutchett, Miller, Webb) were one of twenty entries in the team event on Sunday. A tight victory, 45-43, over Canada saw them face the mighty Russians in the round of 16. Despite a strong performance from the British team, Russia progressed with a 45-30 victory. Great Britain then lost 45-35 to Belarus before beating Belgium 45-43 and more impressively, Spain 45-40 to finish thirteenth. Romania beat Italy 45-44 in a thrilling gold medal match as Germany went home with the bronze medal, beating Russia 45-38.
GB individual placings: Aiyenuro 52nd, Crutchett 65th, Webb 74th, Slankard 95th, Deary 100th, Saunders 110th, Honeybone 116th, Amsalem 143rd, Miller 169th, Clarke 185th, Mottershead 192nd & Lawrence 198th.
Click here for full individual results.
Click here for full team results.
Women’s Sabre World Cup, Orleans
Despite being selected, both Zoe Robinson and Emily Ruaux had to withdraw from the event due to injury leaving Harriet Dixon to fly the flag alone in a field of 175. She won three of her six first round fights which was enough to get her through to the preliminary knockout stage. She fell 15-11 in the first match to Benitez (VEN). The Russian, Sofya Velikaya beat Rosella Gregorio (ITA) 15-12 in the gold medal match whilst Olena Kravatska (UKR) and Dagmara Wozniak (USA) settled for bronze medals.
Great Britain were not one of the nineteen entries to the team event on Sunday which Russia won, beating the USA 45-33. Italy took the bronze medal with a 45-40 victory over France.
GB Individual Placing: Dixon 86th.
Click here for full individual results.
Click here for full team results.
The 2014/15 senior season continues this coming weekend with the first Grand Prix (Foil) taking place in Turin.
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