Young Foil Fencers Show Potential at Long Beach Fencing Grand Prix

By CFF • March 20, 2017

Both the Men’s and Women’s Foil athletes were in action this past weekend at the Absolute Fencing Gear Long Beach Foil Grand Prix in California.

The story of the weekend was the performance of some of Canada’s junior and cadet athletes in this very competitive senior competition.

Three of Canada’s foil athletes made the top 64. Eleanor Harvey (Hamilton, ON) finished in 33rd after unfortunately losing her 64 bout 15-10 to China’s Yiting Fu. Harvey had a bye to the 64’s due to her top 16 world ranking. Following the competition, Harvey is now ranked 10th in the world in women’s foil.

Kelleigh Ryan (Ottawa, ON) finished in 44th after finishing 4-2 in poules and defeating fellow Canadian Shannon Comerford (Saskatoon, SK) in an elimination bout, a close 15-13.   Ryan lost her 64 bout to Russian Leyla Pirieva 15-11.

Junior Sarah Filby (Winnipeg, MB) had a strong day, advancing to the elimination bout from poules and defeating Korean Song Ho Chae 15-10 to advance to the main draw. Filby lost her 64 bout to Ysaora Thibus from France 15-8 to finish 61st overall. An excellent finish for the junior-aged athlete. Cadet-aged Jane Caulfield (Edmonton, AB) also had a great day, with 3 wins in poules to advance to the elimination round where she lost to Xingxin Huo from China 15-7.

In the men’s competition, Maximilien Van Haaster (Montreal, QC) was Canada’s top athlete finishing 75th overall. Cadet-aged Blake Broszus (Canadian living in the US) advanced from Poules and finished an impressive 97th. He was Canada’s second best placer in men’s foil.

Canada’s Wheelchair fencing athletes were also in action this weekend at a World Cup in Italy. Canada’s Matthieu Hebert (Beauharnois, QC) finished in 16th place in Men’s Epee category A, losing to the eventual silver medalist in the 16’s. Camille Chai (Montreal, QC) was 11th in Women’s Sabre A after losing her top 16 bout to a home favourite from Italy. Chai was also scheduled to compete in Women’s Epee A on Friday but unfortunately had to forfeit due to flight delays caused by weather conditions.

-30-