OLYMPICS LONDON 2012: Dream over for Honeybone in first round

By Sean-Paul Doran, Sportsbeat, London 2012

GREAT Britain fencer James Honeybone expressed his disappointment as his London 2012 dream ended with a first-round sabre defeat to Valery Pryiemka.

Honeybone, Britain’s sole male sabre representative in London, fell 15-9 to the Belarusian at ExCeL to end the Truro-born fencer’s Olympic campaign.

And the 21-year-old, who fenced in front of the Queen during this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, apologised to the sizeable home crowd.

“I couldn't have asked for anything more from them. I'm sorry I let them down,” said Honeybone.

“It's very special being here. It's just a shame that I did not perform and I let everyone down.

“I let myself down. I'm good enough to be winning these fights and going a lot further.”

Honeybone went into the tie ranked 93rd in the world, 52 places behind his opponent, and was one of the eight members of Team GB’s fencing squad to be given a host nation spot.

The Games debutant admitted he could have performed better against the Belarusian but vowed to come back stronger in the future following his exit.

He said: “It's very hard to be positive right now, but I'm only 21 so it's been good experience for the future.

“This won't be the last you'll see of me.”

© Sportsbeat 2012