World Cup - Mexico - 2010

The fencing event ended in a 3 way tie for the lead with Evdokia Gretchicnikova (RUS), Elena Rublevska (LAT) and Olympic Champion Lena Schoneborn (GER) with 27 wins and 10 losses a piece.  Swimming winner Louise Helyer (GBR) finished the event in 16^th to drop down the leaders board. Polina Struchtkova’s (RUS) second placing in the swimming event and 4^th place in the fencing means she goes into the riding event with a 56 point lead over Egypt’s Aya Medany.

The Women’s final in World Cup #1 begun in perfect sunny conditions in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico today. Great Britain continued their dominance in the pool with Louise Helyer clocking 2:15.01 to win the event over Russia’s Polina Struchtkova. Event favorite Aya Medany (EGY) had a solid swim to finish in 7^th position and Olympic Champion Lena Schonenborn (GER) having some making up to do in the other disiplines after finishing in 12^th. Full results are availiable here.

The Women’s final in World Cup #1 begun in perfect sunny conditions in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico today. Great Britain continued their dominance in the pool with Louise Helyer clocking 2:15.01 to win the event over Russia’s Polina Struchtkova. Event favorite Aya Medany (EGY) had a solid swim to finish in 7^th position and Olympic Champion Lena Schonenborn (GER) having some making up to do in the other disiplines after finishing in 12^th. Full results are availiable here and watch the highlights here!

David Svoboda (CZE) has taken gold in the first major event of 2010 World Cup #1 in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.  This was the first World Cup victory of the World Number 2 Czechs career. After the event Svoboda says that ‘this was my perfect event from start to finish, and am ecstatic with the result.’

The World Cup started with a splash in sunny conditions at the swimming facility. The event was dominated by Great Britain with 19 year old World Cup debutant James Cooke winning the event in a fantastic time of 2.00.70, just touching out team mate Nick Woodbridge. Egyptian Amro El Geziry continued his strong swimming form from 2009 to finish 3^rd. World Champion Adam Marosi (HUN) had a good swim finishing in 6^th position with overall event champion David Svoboda finishing 11th.

2000 and 2004 World Champion Andrejus Zadneprovskis (LTU) won the fencing event with 26 wins and 9 losses. Zadneprovskis had a slow start but came home strong to beat Omar El Geziry (EGY) and Dmytro Kirpulynskyy (UKR) who finished equal second with 24 wins and 11 losses each.  Adam Marosi improved on his fencing from the qualification round to finish in 8th to put him a solid position going into the ride.

Seven athletes including double Olympic Gold Medallist Andrei Moiseev (RUS) scored a perfect 1200 in the riding event on a tricky course. Zadneprovskis needed all his 20 years pentathlon experience to tame a tough horse to also score a perfect 1200 and extend his lead over the field going into the combined event.

The combined event started under a mass of clouds, a stark difference to the picturesque conditions for the mornings swim. Zadneprovskis was awarded for his efforts in the previous events by getting a 25 second handicap lead over Omar El Geziry (EGY) and a 32 second lead David Svoboda (CZE). This wasn’t enough, as poor shooting cost Zadneprovskis the lead as Svoboda caught him by the 3^rd shoot where Svoboda was able hold his nerve better and opened up a winning lead and ran to the gold. Zadneprovskis was overtaken on the final leg of the run by Serguei Karyakin (RUS) who grabbed silver and Zadneprovskis the bronze. Local favourite Ismael Hernandez (MEX) clocked the fastest combined time with Nofal Mustafa not far behind in second.