It was a busy weekend for Canada’s Senior National Team fencers as they competed in a variety of International competitions in all weapons and came away with several medals and a top 8 finish in a Grand Prix, fencing’s highest level event outside of World Championships.

Hamilton’s Eleanor Harvey led the charge with a 6^th place finish in the Women’s Foil Grand Prix in Shanghai, China. After winning two overtime bouts in the top 64 and top 32, Eleanor then went on to defeat Adeline Zagidullina from Russia 15-13. Her day finished with a loss in the quarter-finals to Ysaora Thibus from France by a score of 15-11 to finish in 6^th place overall out of over 135 of the world’s top fencers. Harvey is now ranked 6^th in the FIE World Rankings for women’s foil.

Canada had two Canadian women reach the podium at the FIE Women’s Epee Satellite competition in Split, Croatia. Rio Olympian Leonora Mackinnon (Canadian living in the UK) took gold defeating Croatian Ana Mesic in the final 15-8. Junior Cindy Gao (Toronto, ON) also had a great day, taking home bronze after losing a close bout to Mesic in the semi-finals.

Canadian Pascal Heidecker (Gatineau, QC) also made the trek to Split, Croatia to take part in the Men’s Epee Satellite competition and he too reached the podium. Heidecker won his semifinal bout against Calum Maynard of Great Britain 15-11 to advance to the final. There he faced Alin Mitrica of Romania and lost a close 15-13 to take home silver for Canada.

Canada’s Men’s Sabre team of Joseph Polossifakis (Montreal, QC), Fares Arfa (Laval, QC), Shaul Gordon (Vancouver, BC) and Cedric Boutet (Rosemere, QC) finished 13^th at the Men’s Saber Team World Cup in Madrid. Canada defeated the Ukraine in the 32’s by a score of 45-42 to advance to the top 16, where they lost to Russia 45-26. They lost their first placing match to Georgia 45-36 but then won two in a row to take 13^th place overall. They defeated Kazakhstan 45-41 and Spain 45-36 to end their day on a strong note.

“It was an encouraging finish to the day,” noted Men’s Sabre Head Coach Benjamin Manano. “It’s a great confidence booster as we head into the Senior Pan Am Championships, scheduled to take place in Montreal in June.”

Canada will be host to the Senior Pan American Fencing Championships from June 13-18 at Centre Pierre Charbonneau in Montreal, QC. The event features the top fencers in the Pan American zone competing for FIE points in preparation for the Senior World Championships.

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