Cambridge Sword Junior Foil Series 26/27 (Event 2 of 3)

We hope you are looking forward to competing at the 

Cambridge Sword Junior Foil Series 2026/27

There are 3 events and the dates are 

13th March 2027, 

22 May 2027, 

10th July 2027, 

Prizes

There are medals for everyone in the top 4 of each age category and a trophy for the winner.

Category U14 and U17 Series winners receive £100 cash prize

Category U10 and U12 Series winners receive £50 cash prize

Competitors must attend each event to be eligible for the series prizes.

Information

Ahead of the event, please read the following information carefully as it includes key information.

You will receive an email to confirm your booking and another shortly before the competition with this and extra information. Please look out for it.

Have a question before or during the event?

If you have any questions on the day, the events team is here to help. The events team will be wearing bright lanyards, and some will be in Cambridge Sword Hoodies and T-shirts, so will be easy to spot. 

You can contact Sarah Paveley here before the event and on the day on 07837933603 

Compete in a different age group?

If you wish to fence in an older age group as well as or instead of your age group, then you need to 

Enter your actual age category and contact the organiser Sarah Paveley by email (headcoach@cambridgesword.co.uk) giving all the following information 

Subject of email: Fencing Up! 

Name of fencer

CSJFS Date of competition

DOB

BF number

Category entered

Category you want to fence in or action required

Email address of person associated with the Sport80 account

Event Venue

Netherhall Community Sports Centre

Queen Edith Road 

Cambridge

CB1 8NN

Have a look at our Netherhall Venue Map for more information also attached to this email.

What3words ///carbon.sends.tracks

Car Parking: The venue car park is available on a first come first serve basis. This car park is run by the venue/venue staff, but some club members will be helping. An overflow car park is available and there is limited parking on surrounding streets. Please leave plenty of time for parking/arrival. Please be polite and kind to those manning the carpark, some of these will be Cambridge Sword Club members and parents.

 Age Groups for the whole series: 

Cambridge Sword Series is operating in line with England Fencing guidelines and the new 2026/2027season effectively commences 1st September 2026. We are doing this to ensure your fencer will receive their ranking points in the correct age category. More information can be found here:

http://englandfencing.co.uk/rankings/

Year of birth determines a fencer's respective age category.

From 1 September 2026

2026/27 SERIES
Age Group category	Birth Year DOB
U10	2017/18
U12	2015/16
U14	2013/14
U17	2010/11/12

U14 count towards U14 England Ranking, U12 count towards U12 England Ranking, U10 count towards U10 England Ranking, . U17 will count towards BFA Ratings if enough entries.

Entry limits for the categories may change depending on entry numbers and interest.

Event Schedule and Check In: 

Check in close times are as follows: 

Fencing will start shortly after check-in closes.

Please arrive at the venue with plenty of time to check in and warm up. We advise that you head to check in as soon as you arrive at the event. Fencers are required to check themselves in at the desk. The venue will be open to athletes from 08:30.

Category	Check in closes
U14G	9.00
U14B	9.00
U10G	9.15
U10B	9.15
U12B	13.00
U12G	13.00
U17G	13.15
U17B	13.15

DT: TBC

Welfare Officer: there will be at least one proactive Welfare Officer at the venue all day.

Competition Licence number: TBC

Competition format

Venue Layout: There are 12 competition pistes at this event. They are split between the main sports hall (pistes 1 to 8), the Atrium Hall (pistes 9 to 12). Signage will be in place throughout the venue with directions to pistes. 

Format: The format may vary depending on actual numbers on the day, but our intention is to give all competitors many fights but we cannot guarantee two rounds.

Results, poule and DE Draws:  There will be a QR code posted at check-in and around the café area.  Please use phones and tablets to follow the action and to know where you need to be.

Field of Play

The Field of Play (FoP) rules for the Cambridge Series are:

·   The Field of Play will be the piste and the room in which it is contained.

·      Only one parent or coach piste side during poules and DE.  Each fencer will be given a lanyard/wrist band with a "field of play pass" attached that they can give to their supporter. Only those with a lanyard/wristband will be allowed within the field of play. 

·      If the FOP becomes very crowded, we ask you to step outside when your fencer is not fencing. There is an ample café for parents to hang out in. If you are with a U12 or U10 fencer you will not be asked to leave then unaccompanied, but it is strictly one supporter per fencer.

·      Parents and coaches should give appropriate positive encouragement to their fencer during a bout, but technical or tactical coaching is NOT allowed and will be stopped by the referee.

·      There will be a zero-tolerance approach towards abuse directed at referees and the event team. Any abuse will be reported to BF and may result in disciplinary action.

·      Prior to the start of competition, warm up lessons can take place on the field of play. After competition begins (around 9.30am), please move away from the pistes as soon as required by referees.

Spectator Viewing Areas: Both the main sports hall,  and atrium are small areas – there is no space for spectators except those piste side (strictly one person/coach/parent per fencer).

Coaches

Coaches must pre-register and a link to register will be sent out in the confirm email 3 days before the competition – please ensure your coach registers (they don't receive the confirm email so it up to you to get the information to your coach). 

We have had issues with aggressive and inappropriate piste-side coaching and membership of the BFA coach register or being vouched for and supervised by a registered coach should help us alleviate this problem. 

We want to ensure our competitive environment is as appropriate for new competitors as it is for the seasoned, and piste side coaching is NOT allowed during any bouts. Appropriate encouragement is of course allowed and coaching between bouts and during the 1 min rest periods of DE bouts. 

Personal Photography:  

We adopt the British Fencing Policy as follows "British Fencing does not wish to discourage the use of video or photographic equipment at events for appropriate use but will take all reasonable precautions to protect fencers against the possible inappropriate use of films or photographic images. 

If the event organiser/welfare officer (or authorised representative of the event organiser/welfare officer) suspects inappropriate photography or filming, the officer/organiser should exercise his/her powers under the conditions to request the person to leave the venue and to surrender any film and/or delete any images relating to the event. Any person present at an event who has any concerns about any images being taken, by any person, should bring them to the attention of the competition organiser or other designated person"

Food and Drink: 

There is a café manned and supplied by Cambridge Sword parents. This will raise funds for the club, and we'd like you to use it! There will be plenty of tables and chairs plus an outside area if the weather is good! You may also bring in your own food/drinks. Please place all rubbish in the bins/bin bags provided and leave the area tidy. We advise bringing large water bottles filled, as there are limited points within the venue.

The cafe is adequate for the numbers of fencers/coaches/parents expected but not so for families and other hangers-on! There is a Park and Ride a few minutes' drive away and Cambridge City Centre and the colleges are interesting places for those not involved in the fencing.

Payment can be by cash or card.

The space may become crowded and there is a sheltered spill out area and if the weather is good and al fresco chairs.

Armourers and equipment: 

We plan to have armourers but please remember their primary purpose is to keep the competition boxes and pistes going – they will be happy to help with your kit if it breaks during the competition but we advise you to make sure it's in good working order before you set out. Armourers are not there to receive your broken kit at the beginning of the day - bring kit in good working order.

Equipment: Please ensure you have sufficient working kit/equipment and that it meets BF Safety requirements. Every fencer must have at least 2 working weapons and a spare bodywire with them at the piste before starting a match.

Weapon sizes

No 0 for U10

No 3 for U12 and 14

No 5 for U17

Plastrons – 350N for U10/12/14

                    800N for U17

Chest protectors for all girls which must be worn under the plastron (between plastron and body)

Masks must have 350N bibs. They do not need to have two rear safety systems BUT we draw your attention to the BFA advice here "the more immediate risk arises from wearing masks that are too large and /or do not have a working rear safety system. It is extremely important that the correct mask size is worn, and the existing rear safety system is properly implemented.

Do also remember that in competitions coming onto the piste before a bout with a mask whose 2nd security device (if present) is not securely fixed to the body of the mask or coming on guard during a bout with a mask that is not securely held on his head by the 2nd security device is a yellow card offence". See BFA Safety Committee notice

Masks for U15 - U15 fencers will need masks with lame bibs and mask wires.

There will be designated bag storage areas at the venue please ensure you place your bags in these areas to prevent trip hazards and keep walkways clear. These will be in the Atrium and are marked on the map and will be clearly signposted.

Small (Top Bags or Drawstring bags) will be allowed on the field of play, please keep larger bags/food bags etc in the designated bag storage areas.

Please be aware that we cannot lend equipment, and we cannot refund or carry over entry fees.

If you have any questions, you can contact Sarah Paveley here before the event and on the day 07837933603.