Eligibility 

The U15 competition is open to all fencers who were under 15 years of age on 1st January 2025. 
The U17 competition is open to all fencers who were under 17 years of age on 1st January 2025.

Fencers must be at least 11 years old on the day of the event - see minimum age policy on Fencing New Zealand Website Policies

Participants must be current affliated members of Fencing New Zealand  (ie: have paid their membership fee for the 2025 year).

If you haven't renewed your membership yet, click on the link below...

Fencing NZ Membership link 2025

If you are not sure whether the competition is appropriate for your child please check with your child’s coach. 

We welcome competitors from other regions of New Zealand to fence in this competition.

Competition Format: 

First Round: poules with bouts to 5 hits.

Second Round: Direct Elimination to 15 hits. 

All weapons may be run as mixed age if there are fewer than four competitors registered in each age group

Separate events will be held for Boys and Girls as long as there are 4+ competitors in each gender.

Mixed age events will have shared poules. They will be separated by age group for the DE if there are a minimum of four fencers at each age level.

Timetable*:

Saturday  22nd March 2025

8.30am - 8.45am      Registration U15 Women's Epee & U15 Men's Foil 

9.00.am                      Start U15 Women's Epee & U15 Men's Foil

10.30am - 10.45am   Registration U17 Women's Epee & U17 Men's Foil                    

11am                          Start U17 Women's Epee & U17 Men's Foil

1.00pm - 1.15pm       Registration U15 & U17 Mixed Sabre

1.30pm                      Start U15 & U17 Mixed Sabre 

**Fencing Mid South AGM at 5pm - Everyone Welcome

Sunday  23nd March 2025

8.30am - 8.45am      Registration U15 Women's Foil & U15 Men's Epee

9.00.am                      Start U15 Women's Foil & U15 Men's Epee

10.30am - 10.45am   Registration U17 Women's Foil & U17 Men's Epee                   

11am                          Start U17 Women's Foil & U17 Men's Epee   

*The organisers may change the timetable depending on entries. 

*If there are not enough competitors for separate boys and girls or age group events, a mixed gender and/or age group competition will be held. Competitors will be notified by email of this change once entries have closed.  

Live results will be posted on Fencing Time Live - www.fencingtimelive.com

Medals & Trophies

Medals will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd equal placings. If events are mixed gender 1st and 2nd women will be awarded (depending on numbers).

Entry Fees: Individual Entry: $30 per weapon per age group.

Team Entry:  Registration and team make up will be taken on the day. 

Entries Close: Thursday 20th March 2025, 9pm. Late entries will be accepted at the discretion of the organiser. An additional late fee of $10 will be charged for late entries.

Entry fees are to be paid at time of entry. A service fee will be charged for credit card/ direct debit payments. 

Gear Requirements:

Clothing: Minimum 350N Jacket, 350N Plastron, 350N Fencing Breeches with long fencing socks or tracksuit pants. Fencing shoes or sports shoes.  350N Gloves. Chest Protectors are compulsory for Women.
Foil bibs are not required however for those who compete at national level it is suggested they be worn.  Standard (non-FIE) blades are acceptable.  

Masks: Leon Paul X-Change Masks must have a  secondary Strap/Bar. All masks must be in good condition. The elastic strap must be in good working order with elasticity and be able return to its original position after stretching, without deformation. The hook and loop securing the elastic must be capable of retaining the elastic and resisting removal.

For more information regarding the FeNZ mask policy please see: FeNZ Mask requirements, May 2021

Gloves: All gloves must be in good condition. No hole is permitted for wires.

Weapons: Standard (non FIE) blades for foil and epee, S2000 or above for Sabre blade

Leon Paul - All SR71 Epee Blades (2013-2015) are banned.

Weapons Check: Weapons will be checked with weights and gauges on the piste before each bout

Rules

The rules and policies for national competitions as currently applied by Fencing New Zealand shall prevail. The organisers would particularly like to draw your attention to the following:

Non-Combativity: FIE rule t.124 - The current version will be applied at this competition.

Fencer Salute: The revised t.122 and t.1 definition of a fencer's salute is below for your reference. 

 t.1 Definition of the fencer's salute 
In competition, the fencer's salute is a gesture of civility towards the opponent, the referee and the spectators. 
To perform the fencer's salute, the two fencers: 
- face each other 
- stand still on their on-guard line 
- place the mask under the non-sword arm 
- lift the guard to the chin 
- then lower the blade to the ground

 t.122
Before the beginning and at the end of a bout, the two fencers must perform the fencer's salute to their opponent, to the referee and to the spectators, as defined in article t.1. 
When the final hit of the bout has been scored, the two fencers stand still on their on-guard line while the referee is making his/her decision. 
The two fencers then perform the fencer's salute (cf. t.1) to their opponent, to the referee and to the spectators. 
The bout has then ended.

If either or both of the two fencers refuse to comply with these rules, the Referee will penalise him/her/them as specified for offences of the 4th group (cf. t.158-162, t.169, t.170).

Drug Free Sport:  This event is subject to the Drug Free Sport NZ regime. Random anti-doping testing may be conducted at this event. As an athlete it is your responsibility to be familiar with the rules and to obtain any Therapeutic Use Exemption that may be required. Failure to comply with the DFSNZ protocols will be treated as a doping offence under rule o.107.

The testing process and your rights and responsibilities as an athlete are outlined in the Drug Free Sport NZ website here: https://drugfreesport.org.nz/for-athletes/introduction-to-anti-doping/the-anti-doping-rules/ 

Podium Attire: Tracksuit jacket (regional, club or national); breeches or tracksuit pants; fencing socks and shoes.

Photography and Publication

Photography is permitted at all Fencing MidSouth competitions, as the competition venue is a public place. However, photography is strictly prohibited in non-public areas such as changing rooms and toilets. Participants are advised to refrain from changing in public spaces, as doing so forfeits their right to privacy. Fencing MidSouth reserves the right to publish photos taken at the competition on social media, the internet, and printed media, including images of spectators and officials.

For more information refer to : NZ Privacy Act

For any enquiries: Please email the organisers on registrations@fencingmidsouth.org.nz