Fencing Canada – Canada’s top Senior fencers in foil and epee were in action this past weekend around the world. Canada’s women’s foil athletes took part in a World Cup in Tauberbischofsheim, Germany, the first Olympic qualifying event for women’s foil on the FIE circuit.

Canada’s women’s foil team of Alanna Goldie (Calgary, AB), Jessica Zi Jia Guo (Toronto, ON), Eleanor Harvey (Hamilton, ON), and Kelleigh Ryan (Ottawa, ON) finished in 6^th place overall in the Women’s Foil Team event.  Canada defeated Hungary in the 16’s by a score of 42-39 but lost to France in the quarter-finals 45-35.  The team then competed in the 5-8 seeding bouts and defeated Korea in an exciting overtime 40-39 to advance to the 5-6 ranking bout.  Canada lost to Japan in the last bout 42-29 to take 6^th place overall.  Canada’s world ranking moved up to 7^th overall as a result of the weekend’s performance.

Three of Canada’s women’s foil athletes made it to the main draw of 64 in individual competition.  Eleanor Harvey qualified directly to the 64’s based on her world ranking and finished 36^th overall.  She lost her bout to Qingyuan Chin of China a heartbreaking 8-7 to advance.  Chin went on to finish 8^th overall in the event.  Jessica Zi Jia Guo finished in 61^st overall.  The thirteen year old won both of her elimination bouts 15-8 after poules to advance to the top 64, where she lost to the eventual bronze medalist Ysaora Thibus of France a close 13-11. Alanna Goldie finished in 62^nd place. She won both elimination bouts 15-8 and then lost in the 64’s to 7^th World ranked Leonie Ebert of Germany 15-11.

Canada’s Men’s Foil Team was at the World Cup in St. Petersburg, Russia.  The team of Blake Broszus, Alex Cai, Eli Schenkel and Maximilien Van Haaster finished in 16^th place overall after defeating Belgium 45-35 in the 16’s.  The team eventually finished in 16^th place after the placing bouts.  Maximilien Van Haaster (Montreal, QC) was Canada’s top finisher in the Individual competition, placing 83^rd overall.

Canada’s men’s and women’s epee athletes were in Cali for a Grand Prix competition in their first Olympic qualifying event.  Marc-Antoine Blais Belanger (Montreal, QC) had Canada’s top men’s epee result finishing 73^rd while Alexanne Verret (Quebec, Quebec) finished in 87^th in the women’s competition.

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