Solid start for GB modern pentathlon duo (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Solid start for GB modern pentathlon duo

11:31am Sunday 12th August 2012 in National Sport © Press Association 2013

Mhairi Spence and Samantha Murray produced decent performances in the fencing as they began their quest for modern pentathlon medals at the Copper Box on Sunday morning.

Great Britain have won four medals at three Games since the women's competition was first included in the Olympic programme in Sydney in 2000, and both home athletes had high hopes of continuing the run.

Scottish star Spence's tally of 19 wins from 35 bouts was a couple short of what she would have hoped for but good enough for joint 11th place. Fencing is often Murray's weakest event and she began by losing her first seven fights, but the Lancastrian recovered very well to end up with 18 wins and 17 defeats, putting her joint 16th.

The fencing was won by Latvia's Elena Rublevska with 25 wins, which earned her 1000 points, while Hungary's Adrienn Toth was one win behind.

The woman who was probably happiest, though, was Lithuania's world number one Laura Asadauskaite, who often makes up a lot of places in the final combined run and shoot, but she may not need to after finishing third in the fencing with 23 wins.

The next event is the 200 metres freestyle swim, where Murray is one of the strongest in the field, before the athletes head to Greenwich Park for the showjumping and the combined event.