DRENNAN Team England put up a terrific performance in the 34 nation CIPS World Championship to take silver on the River Arno near Florence in Italy but the reigning European champions could not overturn the host country. Hungary, third in the European Championship in England, also claimed the bronze medal in this event.
But there was joy as England’s William Raison matched the best in the world to finish on two points and take the silver individual medal, Italian Jacopo Falsini landing gold only by a superior weight. Raison, (25) from Farnborough burst into the England team less than four years ago and has now proved himself on the world stage and surely it is just time before he lifts gold.
Earlier the juniors were among the medals with Barnsley’s Paul Starbuck getting a perfect two points to land the gold individual title to beat Italy’s Luigi Sacco who was a point behind. Italy’s home advantage proved to be decisive again as they finished with 18 points to England’s 33 and Slovenia’s 50.
And the ladies were not to be left out either claiming the Bronze team medal, their highest placing being the 1999 World Champion Gillian Foy who was sixth overall.
Men’s Individual:
1 Jacopo Falsini, Italy, 2 pts (31.920 Kg)
2 W Raison, Drennan Team England, 2 (28.360 Kg)
3 Pierre Jean Fougeat, France, 4 (23.300 Kg)
4 A Scotthorne, Drennan Team England, 4 (22.700 Kg)
5 Guido Nullens, Belgium, 5 (24.600 Kg)
6 Thomas Engert, Germany, 5 (23.500 Kg).
Teams:
1 Italy, 37 pts
2 Drennan Team England, 59.5
3 Hungary, 89.5
4 Wales, 99.5
5 Germany, 99
6 Czechoslovakia, 131.
Enquiries: Dave Harper: 020 8777 9875 or 0956 163414
