Are you giving your consent for us to use cookies to track the web statistics in order to improve the user experience?

News

SWITZERLAND’S BROCHARD CLAIM EUROPEAN TITLE 

22.02.2020 22:10

Competition

Mesmerizing Talent Takes Theo Brochard to European Cadet Crown

The Cadet European Championships began today in the seaside town of Porec in Croatia.  Before the first finals began Secretary General of the European Fencing Confederation (EFC), Jacek Slupski, led the Opening Ceremony speeches at the Zatika Sports Hall.  There were also speeches from the EFC Vice President, Nikolai Mateev, the City Mayor Loris Peršurič and Marko Kallay, President of the Croatian Fencing Federation, wishing luck and fair play to all of the participants.

The Cadet Men’s Epee tournament was the first event to be contested at this year’s edition of the zonal Championships and it was a special day for 16-year-old Swiss fencer, Theo Brochard, who took the title coming from behind.

Brochard, came into the tournament ranked second in Europe and with high hopes.  His day started well, winning all six fights in the ranking round.  He entered the direct elimination stages as the top seed and had a bye through the first match.  He went on to beat Diogo Onofore (POR) 15-9, Alexey Udovichenko (RUS) 15-12, Rahim Rashaida (BUL) 15-9 and Matteo Gregorcic (FRA) 15-10 to make the semi-finals.

He faced European number 32, Semen Zhukov (RUS) for a place in the final and led a tight first period 7-6.  After the one-minute break the Russian decided to employ a pressing game but this played into Brochard’s hands.  He diligently picked off his opponent, taking the fight 15-11.

The Swiss fencer’s gold medal match opponent was Italy’s European number three, Simone Mencarelli.  He had arguably had the tougher day.  Having blasted his way through the ranking round, he emerged as second seed for the elimination stages but had a much tougher draw.  He squeezed past Europe’s number 11, Christopher Kelly (SWE) 15-14 in the round of 16 before winning a dominant battle against Russian and European number four, Artem Zarkisian, 15-9.  Mencarelli then had to face Iino Heurlin-Vazquez (FRA) in the semi-finals.  The French fencer who came into the event as the twelfth best European Cadet Epeeist, took an early lead but the Italian showed great composure to fight back to level the score at the second break.  Mencarelli then snatched the lead in the final period before closing out the fight 15-12 as time ticked down.

So Europe’s number two and three came to the piste for the gold medal match with very little between them.  Brochard seemed intent on pressing the fight whilst Mencarelli – the taller fencer – was happy to maintain a long distance.  It worked well for the Italian in the first period and Mencarelli went into the first break 7-5 up.  After a minute with their coaches the fight resumed and the Italian looked like he wanted to capatilise on his lead.  He began to press but Brochard was ready.  The Swiss fencer quickly took the lead but Mencarelli kept pressing.  Working with a combination of blade actions and surprise fleche attacks, Brochard stormed to a 14-9 lead.  In a show of flourish the Swiss fencer fleched his way to the European title of 2020, 15-9.

Login