A medal might have evaded Corinna Lawrence at the European Games but the Team GB fencer believes she is in good shape for next month’s World Championships.
Lawrence got things started for the Brits in the women’s epee on the first day of fencing action in Baku and kicked off with a 5-3 victory over Serbian Romana Caran in her first pool match.
Another 5-3 win over Reka Bohus of Hungary followed before Italy’s Camilla Batini got the better of Lawrence, coming out on top 5-2.
Defeats to Erika Kirpu and Olga Kochneva put the pressure on the Brit but victory over home favourite Samira Huseynova assured Lawrence’s position in the table of 32.
There she produced a solid performance to see of Romania’s Amalia Tataran but that was the last of her victories as Italian Giulia Rizzi put an end to her competition with a 15-12 triumph.
But Lawrence was happy with her showing and is confident she can show her finest form when the World Championships roll around next month.
“I fenced really well in the first few minutes, took my time quite a lot and committed to the actions which is always the aim of the game when you’re fencing,” she said.
“She changed a little and I was trying to keep up with her timings and distance but I couldn’t suss it out and she gained a couple of hits lead.
“I had to take more risks then and unfortunately for me those risks didn’t quite pay off today.
“Looking back I fenced really well today, there’s been a couple of points where technically I could have been a little bit better.
“But I’m pretty sharp and I’m looking forward to going to the World Championships in a few weeks and this is a good warm up for that.”
James Honeybone was also in action in the men’s sabre but similarly lost out in the last 16 of the competition.
The 24-year-old produced some good early performances but came unstuck against Romania’s Tiberiu Dolniceanu.
“It’s frustrating because the score was 10-10 and I felt like I was in the match and maybe just one or two sloppy hits and I didn’t attack as strongly as I could have done,” said Honeybone.
“I was too eager to finish the hit before I should have rather than having a little bit more composure and patience and he’s an experienced enough guy to pick me off. It’s disappointing.
“While it’s disappointing to lose I’m feeling pretty good in my fencing and if I can fence to the same level at the World Championships there’s no reason I can’t get a good result there and move closer to Rio.”
© Sportsbeat 2015