May 25 - The outstanding form of Britain's Richard Kruse (pictured) has continued with him winning a silver medal in the foil event at the Grand Prix event in St Petersburg, helping lift him to seventh in the world rankings after he defeated world champion Andrea Baldini.


It was the third week in a row that British fencers have brought home medals from top-flight international events and the first time that Kruse has won back-to-back Grand Prix medals, having won a silver medal in Seoul earlier this month. 

He only missed out on the gold medal, going down 15-10 to world number two Sheng Lei from China.

Along the way, Kruse defeated Baldini, the Italian who is also the European champion, 15-13.

He said: "Taking Baldini, the current World and European Champion and world number one, is something special. 

"I believe I’ll be able to win a major world competition this year.”

Britain's lead national foil coach Ziemek Wojciechowski said, "This is third consecutive podium result from the GB men's foil team which shows our consistency and that medals at the 2012 Olympics are in sight.”

Piers Martin, British Fencing's chief executive, said: "This result tops off a special few weeks for British Fencing. 

"The results coming from all weapons is promising not only for 2012 but also beyond."


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