| Well, funny you should ask...my French informant, Pierre du Snail-Slurpeau, has just filed a report from the land where geese run in panic from anyone with a funnel, a long hose, and an intent look:
Once again the American women sabrists go 1-2 at Senior World Cup competition...last week in London, today in Orleans, France. Once again, the US squad is its own worst enemy.
Caity Thompson of Penn St surprises 2006 Senior World Cup champion Mariel Zagunis in the round of 16 and wins a trip to the night time Big Show...a fencing event Orleans does the way every fencing event should be held. Fellow Americans Sada Jacobson and Becca Ward accompany Caity into the top 8.
Caity falls to English-type-person Louise Bond Williams, who is then pounded by Sada in the semis. Becca draws Olympic silver medalist Tan Xue of China, and prevails for the other semi final berth, where she meets Mary of France, a member of the French team that upset the Americans at the World Championships in Torino.
Becca defeats the hometown favorite Mary in front of a raucous crowd to set up a rematch with Sada, who has had significant success recently in matches against the younger Senior World Champion.
This time, Becca outlasts Sada in a sparkling bout for both fencers, 15-13.
There is applause for the two Americans, snails and elderberries are catapulted into the air in celebration, many autographs are signed by the two Americans, who are unable to resist the earnest faces of the young French fencers thronging the medals stand.
French fencer Anne-lise Touya, who knocked off both Becca and Mariel at this event last year, does not compete due to an injury.
__________________
"Fraud is the creation of trust. And then: its betrayal."
William Black, Ph.D.
Last edited by Capt. Slo-mo; 02-10-2007 at 06:52 PM.
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