Date: SATURDAY 30th May 2015
Venue: University of Reading, Sports Park

Novice foil 9:45 check in
Adult foil 12:30 check in, 13:00 start.

For online entry click here (Late entry closes 4pm Friday 29th May

A Southern Fencing Region Novice is defined as aged 15 plus on 1/1/15, fenced for less than 4yrs and, if competed nationally, with national ranking of no better than 100, and no better than last 4 of region/county foil.

The novice is a friendly event and it is a good opportunity for beginners/novices to get more experience fencing different opponents in a more competitive environment. Please encourage your less experienced fencers to attend the Novice event.

The Lashmars Invitation Cup

Sunday May 3rd, 10am-3pm
Walhampton School, Lymington.
SO41 5ZG

A fun fencing day for all ages and abilities from 8 years +

• Three-weapon competition with Lashmars Cup awarded the best overall score in any weapon.
• Entry is £5 – please book early to help us plan the day.
• Refreshments available.

www.Lymingtonfencingclub.info
info@lymingtonfencingclub@gmail.com

Poster: Lashmars Invitation Cup poster (PDF file)

You can book into the competition, or any of our other hub development day activities these links:

• U10 Foil Competition
• Epee and Foil Development Training
  First Aid Course

U10 Competitors and parents are invited for a morning training session (optional) to get comfortable before the competition starts in the afternoon.

You will need a BF membership, but a social membership is sufficient to get started.

The competition will be using electrics, so please arrange to borrow equipment from your club or get in touch if you need help tracking it down.

The U10 Foil competition is proceeding as planned this Sunday, February 22nd.

If you have an u10 (on the 1^st Jan 2015) who would like to compete in foil and haven’t booked in yet, you have till noon on Friday to do so. 

Entry costs £15, online entry can be found at:  www.southernfencing.org.uk

Just to confirm the arrangements for the u10 fencers are:

• 10ish to 11am – warm-up, stretching, footwork
• 11ish to noon – chat about preparation and what to expect at a competition
• Lunch
• group warm-up
• competition
• medal presentation

You don’t need to attend the morning session to compete, but we highly recommend it as a way for younger fencers to get relaxed and comfortable in the environment and have more fun.

Meanwhile… parents, family members, we have  plans for you too. We want you to join us in an informal chat session over coffee about topics such as…

• looking forward to the different types of competition available
• what your fencer should take to a competition
• what happens at competitions
• some ideas about how to help your fencer and yourself
• what you might like to know about set-up, refereeing and armourers

Fencers, please arrive in comfortable clothes (t-shirt, tracksuit or similar) to do the first session.

To compete you will need to be in full kit and 0 size weapons. Let us know if you need help sourcing equipment!

Please make sure you all bring lunch along.

Tea, coffee and some tuck will be available

Please note this is a SFR Hub Development Day and there will be some others around working on their foil and epee. We hope this helps with the u10s and relaxes them as they are made to feel part of some of what happens at a HDD, whilst making it special for them

Any questions please feel free to email me and we look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Julie Bennett, Southern Region Fencing

31 January Team Manager Training  Copper Box, Olympic Park
Run by British Fencing, this is open to anyone who is interested – fencer, coach, parent of a competitive fencer… Full details are outlined below.

22 February Hub Development Day St Gabriel’s School, Newbury
Foil and epee training + first aid course + U10 foil competition

12 April  Hub Development Day St Gabriel’s School, Newbury
3 weapon training in preparation for the BYC’s.

19 July Hub Development Day St Gabriel’s School, Newbury
3 weapon training + armoury + referee course + more to be announced

We pleased to see so many “frequent flyers” at the hub days. The use of video seems particularly popular and we hope that more parents will be involved in this so that coaches back at the clubs can be shown what work has been done during the day

As we see the benefit of regular attendance, we would like to offer a discount against the July Development Day as follows:

• If you attended in January and attend in February and April then July will cost you £10
• If you attend in February and April then July will cost you £15
• If you attend in February or April then July will cost you £20

For those of you who have not attended a day before, more detail is attached.

Booking is via the website:  www.southernfencing.org.uk

Feel free to email any queries to Julie Bennett <juliejensonbennett@gmail.com>

British Fencing Safeguarding and Team Manager Training
31^st January 2015
Copper Box, Olympic Park, Stratford, E20 2ST

http://queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk/the-park/venues/copper-box-arena

We want fencing to be a sport where everyone involved can have fun and feel safe. We are offering two interactive workshops which will help people across the sport to understand more about their roles and how safeguarding applies to them.

Our day comes in two parts. In the morning we are offering “En Garde Ready” this is for anyone – fencer, parent, coach, armourer, referee… It will take you on a journey through what safeguarding is and how it applies to you and what tools there are out there to help you with your role. The afternoon will be taken up with Team Manager Training which is for anyone who is or wants to become a team manager. EGR is a pre-requisite to attend this workshop

• Date 31^st Jan 2015, 9.30 – 16.30
• Course Tutor: Liz Behnke
• Cost: free
• Application deadline: 23^rd January 2015

Ideal prerequisites for joining the TM course (please indicate if you have not done any of the requirements for being a licensed British Fencing team manager) and note that this will be required before deployment:-

• A valid DBS certificate, obtained via British Fencing and with at least 12 months remaining
• Attendance certificate for a Safeguarding and Protecting Children course, with at least 12 months remaining
• Membership of British Fencing

Outcomes of TM Workshop:

• The roles and responsibilities of taking under-18s away to competitions and camps.
• The relevant legal and regulatory welfare and safeguarding frameworks.
• The planning, management, budgeting and evaluation process of trips.
• Risk assessment and situation management.
• Support Network​

This combines the Southern Region U10 foil competition with special training to help everybody relax and enjoy the thrill of competitive fencing. The U10 fencers will be working alongside our older foil and epee development fencers, and we hope the fencers will feel part of what happens at the hub whilst also making it special for them.

• 9:45 Arrive at St Gabriel’s School Dining Hall
• 10:00 U10 fencers join our hub day warm up
• Parents learn the basics about how competitions work and the type of support your fencer will need
• 11:15 U10 fencers get special training on what to do at a competition and how to behave
• Parents get hands on training on the piste
• 12:00 Lunch (bring your own)
• 13:00 U10 Competition poules begin, followed by direct elimination knock-outs
• 16:00 Competition completes (depending on numbers)

The competition is open to foil fencers who were under 10 years old on 1st January 2015. Cost is £15, and you can register at:

http://www.southernfencing.org.uk/contacts/competition-entry-foil-age-group

http://www.southernfencing.org.uk/calendar/southern-region-sabre-epee-age-group-qualifiers.htm

Check-in times will be published closer to the competition date.

Closing date for entries = 10pm on Monday 23 February

To help us plan the competition effectively, a late fee of £27 will be charged for any entries received after that.

Age of fencers

Years of birth for this season are:

U12  – Born 2003 or 2004   (It is not possible to accept younger fencers)

U14  – Born 2001 or 2002

U16  – Born 1999 or 2000

U18  – Born 1997 or 1998

British Fencing membership – Valid BF membership is required. Please ensure that you renew your membership if necessary before entering.

Southern Region – Fencers may only enter this Regional event if they have specified Southern Region on their British Fencing Membership. Fencers may only fence in a qualifying event in one region in any season.

UK residents – As these are the qualifying events for the British Youth Championships (BYCs), fencers must be UK residents.

BYC qualification and entry fee – At least the top four fencers in each competition will qualify for the BYCs. More will qualify in any competitions with 17 or more fencers. All qualifying fencers will be asked to pay the £21 BYC entry fee at the competition on 1 March.

In a change of rules for 2015, if qualifying fencers are unable to attend the BYCs for any reason, their place will be reallocated by the Region to the next ranked fencer. However I must be notified on the day if a fencer cannot take up their place.

EQUIPMENT 

Under 12/Under 14

• 800N or 350N plastron
• 350N mask jacket and breeches
• Two size 2 epees or sabres

Under 16/Under 18

• 800N plastron
• 350N mask, jacket and breeches
• Two size 5 epees or sabres

Additional requirements for sabre

• Lame jacket
• Electric glove or cuff
• Electric mask with headwire

Arrangements for Under 10s

The Region is looking into the possibility of running U10 foil and epee competitions as part of a regional training day. Details will follow once these are confirmed.

British Fencing will run BYCs for all 3 weapons – these will NOT be held on the same weekend as the rest of the Championships.

• Under 10 Epee Championships – 12th April 2015
• Under 10 Sabre Championships – 26th April 2015
• Under 10 Foil Championships – 17th May 2015

For further details see:  http://www.britishfencing.com/events/british_youth_championships/

Please contact me if you have any queries about this Southern Region competition.

Fiona Loughran
Competitions Secretary
Southern Region Fencing

Please register now

Development Day this Sunday, from 10-4 at St Gabriel’s in Newbury. 

• Foil and Epee Training
• Coached by Ian Lichfield
• Register at

http://www.southernfencing.org.uk/calendar/southern-regional-hub-january.htm

http://www.southernfencing.org.uk/contacts/competition-entry-foil-age-group

The competition will be held on Sunday 25 January, at Bradfield College, Bradfield, Berkshire, RG7 6AU.

Check-in times will be published closer to the competition date. We expect this to be a popular competition, so fencers may need to stay through much of the day.

Closing date for entries 10pm on  Monday 19 January.

To help us plan the competition effectively, a late fee of £27 will be charged for any entries received after that.

Age of fencers

Years of birth for this season are:
U12  – Born 2003 or 2004
U14  – Born 2001 or 2002
U16  – Born 1999 or 2000
U18  – Born 1997 or 1998

British Fencing membership – Valid BF membership is required. Please ensure that you renew your membership if necessary before entering.

Southern Region – Fencers may only enter this Regional event if they have specified Southern Region on their British Fencing Membership. Fencers may only fence in a qualifying event in one region in any season.

UK residents – As these are the qualifying events for the British Youth Championships (BYCs), fencers must be UK residents.

BYC qualification and entry fee – At least the top four fencers in each competition will qualify for the BYCs. More will qualify in any competitions with 17 or more fencers. All qualifying fencers will be asked to pay the £21 BYC entry fee at the competition on 25 January.

In a change of rules for 2015, if qualifying fencers are unable to attend the BYCs for any reason, their place will be reallocated by the Region to the next ranked fencer. However I must be notified on the day if a fencer cannot take up their place.

EQUIPMENT

Under 12 & Under 14
800N or 350N plastron
350N mask, jacket and breeches
NO LAME BIB OR MASK WIRE REQUIRED
Two Size 3 foils

Under 16 & Under 18
800N plastron
350N mask, jacket and breeches
ALL COMPETITORS MUST HAVE A LAME BIB AND MASK WIRES
Two Size 5 foils

Arrangements for Under 10s
Based on experience in recent years, the Region will be holding a separate competition for U10s. Details will follow once these are confirmed.

The BFA will be running British Under 10 competitions 2015. These competitions will be run separately from the BYCs and there will be no qualification requirement.

British Under 10 Foil Championships -17th May 2015

For further details see:  http://www.britishfencing.com/events/british_youth_championships/

Please contact Fiona Loughran (mailto:fiona.loughran@gmail.com) if you have any queries about this Southern Region competition.

Photo: Clive Turner giving an introduction to a tiny fencer! — at New Milton & District Rugby Club.

Registration is now open for the summer session of the Southern Region Development Hub on 20th July.

There is a great selection of sessions, including lunch for all attendees.

We have our usual stellar team of coaches for foil, epee and sabre. You don’t need to have attended a previous hub day to join in, and you don’t need to be a youth fencer either. The sessions are suitable for anybody looking to progress, at any level.

Register here: http://www.southernfencing.org.uk/contacts/southern-regional-hub-entry

There is a full day referee workshop with Peter Huggins, including the option to take the written test, working at  level 1/2 refereeing – the practical assessment to confirm the level can be done at a competition you next attend. There’s no minimum age, and this is a great opportunity for any of our youth fencers who are heading into the summer break to start their qualifications. It’s also a fun way for parents to get involved.

Coach development session in the morning will help kick off our new coach development track alongside fencer development.

Amoury workshop lets you drop in with specific questions  or equipment issues, or spend the day learning alongside our master amourer, Janet Huggins, on path to becoming an apprentice or journeyman.

Medieval swords in the afternoon with Alan Knowles provides a fun, fresh perspective on fencing skills. This session is suitable for anybody aged 14 and over. Places are strictly limited, so get your registration in early to confirm a place on this popular course. If you’d like to do fencing in the morning and medieval swords in the afternoon, let me know, and we can arrange accordingly.

Register for any of these sessions here: http://www.southernfencing.org.uk/contacts/general-sessions.

Parents are welcome throughout the day and encouraged to try their hand at reffing, armoury and medieval swords as well as join us for the summer lunch.

You can see more on the 2014-07 SFR Hub Development Day – poster. And please share this at your club!

Any questions about the sessions on offer, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Julie Bennett <juliejensonbennett@gmail.com>