Competitions & Guide to Competing
Local Fencing
"Leon Paul Junior Series" otherwise known as LPJS & "NewhamSwords series" ; a nationwide circuit of regular regional/local competitions for entry level competing, and for national rankings at u12/14!
https://newhamswords.org.uk/newham-swords-junior-challenge-series/
https://leonpauljuniorseries.co.uk
TFS generally advocates that fencers travel to competitions and do them as a group, especially the first one!
Competing is extremely stressful at first. Injuries and upsets are common, however after a while they will be enjoying a long day of sport out with friends. It's our focus to ensure your child learns to lose (and win) with grace. There is a long period of small incremental improvement which leads to a lasting enjoyment.
(Dates differ every year and are approximates, therefore please be sure to check the Leon Paul Junior series website as well as Newhamswords website, and the Britishfencing Sport 80 calendar. Entry is online and you need to have Britishfencing licence / association membership)
https://www.britishfencing.com/become-a-member/ (in options pls select u14 compete category, then when filling out form select region 'London', and club affiliation 'Battersea Foil')
BECOME A MEMBER - BRITISH FENCING
Recreational. Basic Recreational for Fencers in Clubs & Schools. Price (2023): £32.50 (Over 18) £20.50 (Under 18) Sign Up Now
www.britishfencing.com
Region Fencing
The LYC (London Youth Championships) is a once a year event. It is normally early March and is a qualifying event for the BYC (British Youth Championship), which are early May bank holiday weekend.
England Fencing
The EYC (England Youth Championships) is again once a year. There is no qualifying round and a last 4 placing in U.13 or U.15 guarantees selection for England squad. Held end of June.
British Fencing
All 'open' (senior) events are listed on the calendar page of the British fencing website, but the ones we are concerned with are the BRC (British Ranking Circuit) events. These are split into cadet (U.17) and Junior (U.20) categories and are the next step up for serious fencers after LPJS. Very strong performance in EYC, BYC and BRC leads to selection for overseas trips representing England / GB.
European Fencing Confederation
The EFC tournaments are for the most able students. Normally only fencers selected for GB squad by the BFA (British Fencing Association) enter these (GB squad being top 20 or 14 fencers variously). The goal being to gain EFC points in order to be selected for the European and World Championships in Spring to which only 4 fencers from each nation go. For those wishing to gain international experience early on cadet pathway some of these EFC events are non nominated by the national federation, BritishFencing. There are also a number of events round europe that are not EFC ranking events and are an alternative way to gain early exposure to international competing, some of which have lower age categories, eg U15.
Competition Notes
Serious competing for those aiming at squads requires travel outside of London 6 to 10 times per year. If aiming for cadet selection then it is good to try and do all events as they operate a system whereby the more you go, the more points you are awarded (subject to planning well and according to the calibre of competition entries that year). This is so the federation can assess both the commitment and consistency of a fencer's performance.