CHRYSTALL Nicoll led the British sabreurs at the Senior European Championships individual event on Saturday.

The Wickford sabre fencer finished 30th in Legnano, Italy, and was the highest ranked of the three Brits competing in the discipline.

Nicoll progressed through the pool stage and put in a decent performance in the round of 64 to overcome Romania’s Bianca Pascu.

The British fencer was leading 8-5 at the break and stretched her advantage to win the fight 15-10.

Nicoll was drawn against world number 18 Ilaria Bianco and took an early lead.

But Bianco, who is third highest ranked Italian sabreur, recovered to lead 8-6 at the break.

Nicoll put up a good fight after the interval but eventually lost 15-11 to Bianco, who was knocked out in the quarter-finals.

The event was won by world number three Olga Kharlan, from Ukraine, who defeated Greek number one Vassiliki Vougiouka 15-14 in the final.

Nicoll’s fellow Brits Sophie Williams and Joanne Hutchison finished 33rd and 42nd, while Louise Bond-Williams, who will represent Team GB with Williams in the women’s sabre at the London Olympics, did not fence.

The Brits will be in action again tomorrow in the team sabre event.

Britain’s number one foil fencer Richard Kruse got the team’s first medal at the European Championships with a bronze in the individual event.