03 May 2025

Fencing North

Secondary Schools Competition Programme

2025

 

 

1.         Introduction

 

Welcome to all those taking part in Fencing North’s 2025 Secondary Schools Competitions. We look forward to a great series.

 

 

 We look forward to welcoming our Secondary Schools community and whanau this year.

 

 This guide is designed to cover all the key issues for a successful program and eliminate any confusion about the process.

 

2.         Competition Calendar

 

Individual Competitions

Secondary Schools #1 – 25 May 2025

Secondary Schools #2 – 27 July 2025

Secondary Schools Championship – 10 August 2025

 

Teams Competitions

Secondary Schools Sabre & Epée Teams - 08 June 2025

Secondary Schools Foil Teams – 15 June 2025

 

3.         Individual Competitions

 

SS#1 & SS#2 are designed to be fun competitions welcoming new and experienced fencers alike.

Secondary Schools Championship – The winners of this competition will be recognised as the Fencing North Champions for 2025.

 

Events (Each Competition)

o   Men’s Épée

o   Women’s Épée

o   Men’s Sabre

o   Women’s Sabre

o   Men’s Foil

o   Women’s Foil

(Should competition entries be low for any weapon, the DT reserves the right to run mixed Events/Pools. Individual gender placings will still be awarded)

 

 

 

Competition Structure

Each event follows this format per weapon and gender:

Stage 1: Poules

• Round-robin format.
• Fencers are placed in pools (usually 5-8 per group)
• Bouts are to 5 points or 3 minutes.
• Results determine seeding for DE (direct elimination) round.

 Stage 2: Direct Elimination

• Standard DE bouts (15-point bouts). Winner moves to next round. Loser is eliminated.
• All Fencers receive a placing.

 

Fencing North utilises Internationally recognised software, ‘Fencing Time’ to manage its competitions. Participants can follow progress through their website ‘FencingTimeLive’

https://www.fencingtimelive.com/

 

Individuals may enter 2 events by prior agreement with the DT but will be asked to prioritise the first event fenced. Should the fencer still be involved in the 1st event The DT may ask you to withdraw from the 2nd weapon event if continuation compromises the timetable.

 

        All competitors should direct questions to their Coach in the 1st instance.

 

Entry

All competitors must enter the competition via the Fencing North Registration Page, accessed via the event listing on the Fencing North calendar.

Note the cut-off dates and familiarise yourself with all conditions of entry on the registration page, including Rules and Clothing requirements.

 https://www.fencingnorth.com/

 

Entry Fee

$30 per person per weapon.

 

Refund Policy

Refunds are usually only given if we have to cancel an event.  A discretionary refund may be made in the case of sickness or a family emergency. Please contact the DT before the event check-in time.

 

Affiliation.

All entrants must be Affiliated Members of Fencing NZ

If signing up for 1st time please use the name on your Passport or Birth Certificate.

https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/333662

The DT checks all entries to ensure affiliation prior to each event. Unaffiliated entry breaches Fencing NZ regulations.

 

 

Ranking

From the 1st of January 2025 Secondary School results are NOT  included in the FeNZ National Ranking system.

 

FNSS Ranking Competition (FNRC)

In response to the Ranking amendment from FeNZ, Fencing North is introducing its own Ranking Competition across the 3 Individual SS tournaments of 2025.

This is a new initiative in addition to the 2025 FN Championship event on August 10th and can be considered a trial for 2025.

 

Objective

1.         Recognise & celebrate fencers who perform consistently over the 3 events.

2.         Create another level of interest over the course of the competition.

 

How it works:

 All fencers are ranked based on cumulative performance over the three events. The Fencer with the highest number of accumulated points in each weapon/gender will be announced the winner of the FNRC.

 

Ranking & Scoring System

Each Fencer will be awarded points for each competition entered.

Points allocation dependent on entries.

Eg – 15 Entries

• 1st place: 15 points
• 2nd: 14
• 3rd: 13
• …..
• 14th: 2
• 15th:  1

 

Eg - 4 Entries

• 1st place: 4 points

·       4th: 1

 

Cumulative Ranking:

• Each fencer accumulates points over three events.

• Final rankings published per category (e.g., "Top Men’s Foil Fencer", "Top Women’s Sabre Fencer").
• At the conclusion of the SS Championship event, in addition to the Champion Presentation there will be a second presentation for the Ranking Competition recognising
• Best Ranked Competitor for each weapon.
• Places 1 – 3  recognised. Each will receive an award.
• In the event of a draw both competitors will be recognised.

 

1.         Team Competitions.

 

Secondary Schools Sabre & Epée Teams

Secondary Schools Foil Teams

 

Entry Requirements

         

·       Team entry is by School Team Managers and Coaches only via the Fencing North booking portal. (if you are the team manager of a composite team, please contact the DT for assistance)

·       Team members must be from the same school and their entry endorsed by their School.

 

·       Composite (Mixed School) Teams may be formed ONLY when there are not enough fencers at the school to field the minimum team size of 3 fencers (Maximum team size is 4 fencers)

·       Each Team Must appoint a manager to communicate with the DT (usually TIC or coach, but may be a parent)

·       Composite teams are allowed to win the competition and claim the title of regional champions.

·       The winning school team will be awarded the top regional school award.

·       All entrants must be affiliated to Fencing NZ - No Affiliation, No Fencing.

·       FN will allow a competitor who is Fencing in a SS competition for the first time to enter under the Recreational Fencer category ($0) To enter further competitions, the affiliation must be upgraded to the ‘Full Competitive Member’ category.

·       Team Entry Fee = $120.00

·       Invoices will be issued 1 week after the competition. It is the responsibility of the team manager to ensure FN is paid.

 

Further details about our competitions will be supplied to School Managers and Coaches.

 

Any questions you may have should be directed to them in the first instance.

 

Equipment Standards

 

There will be no gear check at our regional competitions.

All coaches/TIC should ensure Fencers in their care should have equipment of the correct standard and that it is working.

We make some small allowances about permissible gear at our regional competitions

 

Equipment Guide – National Standard for Fencing NZ Tournaments

https://www.sporty.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=84faefd4-1a78-4df2-bf42-997a6ac80421

All clothing must be in a good state of repair.

Ensure equipment conforms to the following standards:

 

Torso:

Minimum of 1150N protection. This can be made up of either a 350N Jacket with an 800N plastron or 350N plastron plus 800N jacket.

Breeches:

350N (CEN 1)

 

Masks:

All masks must fit well and be in good condition. The elastic strap shall be in good working order with elastic able to return to its original position after stretching without any deformation.

The hook and loop securing the elastic shall be capable of retaining the elasticity and resisting removal. Leon Paul X-Change Masks must have a secondary strap or bar.

Visor Masks are prohibited for all 3 weapons.

 

Gloves:

Must be in good condition with no hole for body wires. 800N gloves are required for Sabre.

 

Chest Protector:

Compulsory for Women’s events. Optional for Men.

 

Foil Specific:

Lame Bibs are required. Curly mask wires are not permitted.

FIE blades are required with either Bayonet or 2-pin body wires. FIE no.3 size blades are acceptable

FIE blades are required.

 

Épée Specific:

Leon Paul SR-71 blades date stamped 2013 to 2015 will not be accepted.

 Leon Paul V blade without a unique serial number will not be accepted.

 

Sabre Specific:

 FIE blades S2000 or later are required. Curly mask wires are not permitted

 

 

Gear Exceptions specific to the FN Secondary Schools Tournaments

 

BREECHES: 350N or above are preferred, and Fencing North will have a small amount of clothing to loan on the day. Sturdy track pants can be allowed, so long as no loose pockets but a waiver must be signed. (Thin leggings/skins are not acceptable)

 

SOCKS: Thick knee-length socks must be worn.

 

BLADES: FIE blades not compulsory for this competition.

 

GLOVES (SABRE): 800N resistance is the normal standard. Where schools do not have sufficient gloves of this rating, we will accept standard fencing gloves worn with a conductive sleeve/cuff.

 

Participating in our Secondary Schools Events

 

Set Up/Pack Down

We are a not-for profit organisation run entirely by volunteers.

Our sport uses a lot of equipment and Set Up at the start and Pack Down at the end are big jobs.

Help from those attending with fencers is always very welcome – just ask.

 

We ask those students fencing in the first events to arrive by 7.30am to help set up, check-in, change and warm up before competing.

Those competing in the afternoon will be asked to stay and help with Pack Down.

This is critical to the ongoing sustainability of our competitions.

 

Podium Attire

 

Presentations of certificates or medals are formal occasions.

Fencers should be of tidy appearance and wear school tracksuits or sweatshirts with breeches and fencing shoes/socks.

 

 We wish you happy fencing this year!