WORLD FENCING: Wilson sees improvement in Italian finale

Posted: Friday 14th October 2011 | 18:23

SIMON Wilson helped Britain's wheelchair fencers bring the curtain down on their Italian adventure on day six of the World Championships, and insists there is plenty more to come after an encouraging finale.

TAKING PRIDE: Simon Wilson saw enough in his World Championships finale in Italy to beleive that Britain's wheelchair fencers are heading in the right direction

The 42-year-old was back in action in Catania alongside Craig McCann and David Heaton in the men's foil team event, looking to put individual disappointment in both the epee and the foil firmly behind him.

And he certainly played his part, helping the squad to a resounding 45-25 win over Argentina, sandwiched between defeats to Italy and Belarus to finish tenth overall.

Great Britain and Belarus have now faced each other in the last four tournaments, but after running them the closest they have ever done in a 45-35 defeat in Italy, Wilson insists it is only a matter of time until they get that winning feeling.

"This as a really positive way to finish my World Championships and it makes my whole trip just about acceptable now," said Wilson - who like the rest of Britain's fencing team is supported by Beazley.

"The win against Argentina was really good as we beat them comfortably and that is a really good as they were wild and unorthodox and it is difficult to fence those teams.

"And even though we lost to Belarus that is the fourth consecutive competition we have faced them in and this 45-35 loss was our best result.

"That shows that we are getting there and if we keep plugging away then we won't just close the gap but we will beat them I am sure.

"These World Championships has shown the team that we are heading in the right direction and now it is all about keep working hard to make sure we can keep doing what we are doing."

Meanwhile, the women's team of Suzannah Rockett, Gabby Down, Justine Moore and Vivien Mills also waved goodbye to Catania as they finished tenth in the women's epee team competition.

Elsewhere, Anna Bentley, Natalia Sheppard, Martina Emanuel and Sophie Trioano finished 14th in the women's foil team competition.

There were wins against Puerto Rico and Mexico but defeats to China, Germany and Poland and Bentley is adamant they couldn't have asked for a tougher route.

"If you had told me that we would be fencing Poland, Germany and China I would have thought we were in the top four," said Bentley.

"I am obviously disappointed with losing but we can't just wave a magic wand and be winning medals, it is going to take time.

"But we should we are getting there slowly but surely and I thought we actually looked pretty good in a lot of our fights.

"We are chipping away at the best all the time and these World Championships were no different and it is about having faith and sticking to it and I am sure it will come."

British Fencing is proudly supported by specialist Lloyd's insurer Beazley. Go towww.beazleybritishfencing.com for up to date fencing news, pictures and athlete blogs.