Auckland fencer Kwok Yi Lee has created a fantastic training video for how to gear up to fence Foil. All fencers should watch this before their first bout. Watch the video below!

It might seem weird that this is big news for us - but we have kicked out paper and finally have a completely online affiliation system!

Fencing New Zealand requires all fencers to be affiliated, and we try to make this as easy as possible for fencers. Our new system makes it easier than ever before for fencers and supporters to join Fencing North and Fencing New Zealand, all through an online form with payment through paypal or by credit/debit card. When you sign up you will create a login to this site that lets you manage your membership information and easily renew each year with as little hassle as possible - and if you're logged in and entering events, some of your basic information will be autopopulated in the entry forms!

Memberships are open for the year and due by 31st March or before your first competition - you can sign up on our memberships page: https://www.fencingnorth.com/membership

There is a large range of opportunities for all levels. There are lots of different competitions in Australia that New Zealanders attend: starting with the age groups U11/U13, U15/U17, U20 and a range of Open and Veteran competitions throughout the year.

In 2015 a group travelled to South Africa to compete in the U17 and U20 Commonwealth Championships. Every year New Zealand fencers travel around the world to compete in different competitions like the World Championships.

We have even had a few fencers compete in the Olympics with the most recent being Jess Beer in 2004.

In New Zealand there is a large range of competitions all throughout the country. Each region (North, Central, Mid South, and South) has their own regional age group and Open competitions with the regions also hosting national and international competitions each year.

Lame Care Guide

• Hanging up a lame after use will help air dry it and ensure it lasts longer
• When packing your lame, try not to fold it as this can break the metallic threads causing the lame to loose conductivity, instead lay it on a towel and roll it up.
• Washing the lame can help make it last longer:
  • Check the label on the lame to make sure it can be washed; sometimes they will have symbols indicating this.
  • If the lame label gives instructions on how to wash then always follow those, as the manufacturers probably know best.
  • Hand wash the lame in the sink with some detergent, but make sure the detergent does not contain bleach as this will ruin the conductivity of the lame.
  • Rinse thoroughly to get all of the detergent out, try not to ring it as this will break the metallic threads.
  • Hang on a coat hanger to dry.

Jacket, Plastron, and Breeches Care Guide

• After training or a competition hanging out your whites to dry.
• To wash:
  • If you have your name printed on the back, or country printed on the breeches turn it inside out to avoid fading over time.
  • Machine wash on cold using a detergent that doesn’t contain bleach.
  • Hang on a coat hanger to dry, avoiding the sun.

Mask Care Guide

• After training and competitions taking your mask out of you bag to air out will help to reduce the smell.
• Using an old pillow case or material bag to put your mask in in your bag will reduce sweat transferring from the rest of your gear onto your mask.
• To wash your mask:
  • If it has removable padding, remove this and wash.
  • If your mask does not have padding that cannot be removed hand wash with detergent, work the soap into the padding with your hands. Make sure to rinse all of the soap out.
  • Let air-dry.

Weapon Care Guide

• There are three different types of weapons; foil, epee, and sabre.
• Whenever putting your weapons in your bag always try to keep separate from other gear as rust could transfer from the blade onto your whites (which is impossible to get off) and keep the sweat off the blades.
• If you don’t have a bag that has a separate weapon pocket you can use thin pvc pipes with some elastic on one end to protect your blades. (This is also helpful to protect your weapons during travel.)
• A good guide for troubleshooting problems that may occur with your weapons:
  • Foil
    • http://www.fencing.net/424/foil-troubleshooting/
  • Epee
    • http://faculty.fmcc.suny.edu/mcdarby/pages/fencing_club/Epee-Repair.htm
  • Sabre
    • https://gethylogic.wordpress.com/2014/10/03/fixing-fencing-weapons/

Nominations are invited from U15 and Cadet fencers wishing to be selected to attend the Australian U15 and Cadet Championships being held 6 - 10 July 2016, Sydney, Australia.

Fencers and their parents should read the Selection Criteria that apply for this competition, which can be found in the Downloads section of the Fencing NZ website (www.fencing.org.nz).

Nominations should be made on the Nomination form also in the Downloads section, and include deposition of the nomination fee. In the event that a fencer is not selected, this nomination fee will be refunded.

Fencing North and Fencing New Zealand Present:
National Under 15 and Under 17 Championships 

Dates

Saturday 23rd April - Monday 25th April (Anzac Day)

Venue

Jack Adam Gymnasium, Massey High School, 274 Don Buck Rd, Massey West, Auckland

If you're travelling from the Airport, look into booking a shuttle to save money. Talk to other fencers and see if they want to share! https://www.supershuttle.co.nz/Default.aspx

Timetable

Saturday 23rd April:
New Zealand Under 15 Fencing Championships. This event is for Foil only, both genders will compete on Saturday.

Sunday 24th & Monday 25th April:
New Zealand Under 17 Fencing Championships. This event is for all weapons. Epee and Sabre will be on Sunday, Foil will be on Monday. Both genders will compete on the same day.

Format

Poules followed by an elimination round. Initial seedings for the poules will be based on national rankings.

Entries

$40 for first weapon, $10 for additional weapons. Entry forms will be available soon.
 

Please note that the New Zealand Under 15 and New Zealand Under 17 Championships are separate events and entry fees are to be paid at each event (eg, fencing one weapon at each event will cost $80 total).

Age Applicability

NZ U15s is open to any fencer who was under 15 on the 1st January this year. For U17s you need to have been under 17 on the 1st of January this year

Gear Requirements

Check out the list here for Fencing NZ Gear Requirements. 

Queries

Organiser: Oliver Agnew: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The first fencing competition of the 2016 season will be on the 5th March at Massey High School. Click through to the event information page to find out more and enter: https://www.fencingnorth.com/events-rankings/competitions/355/w-dawn-5th-march-2016

Check back soon for 2016 regional rankings