East Midlands Beginners, Intermediates and Junior Beginners

The EMBIJ is a friendly competition for beginner and intermediate fencers, including junior beginners (U14 and U12)

This competition is open to fencers with British Fencing membership at Starter, Recreational or Compete levels (membership via the Introductory offer is not sufficient for insurance purposes). Fencers do not need to be affiliated to East Midlands region in order to take part. Fencers will not be expected to self-referee at any stage of the competition.

Please note that depending on entries received, we may need to combine entry categories by experience and/or gender to ensure sufficient numbers to go ahead.

Fencers taking part in U14 and U12 events will not be expected to fence anyone outside of those categories. Categories may be combined by age/gender in order to ensure sufficient numbers to run.

Make sure you check the email account you've connected with Sport80 for messages from us around check in times etc. We may also need to get in touch with you if there are insufficient numbers for your event to go ahead, in order to organise what happens next (combining with another category, move to another event or refund of entry fees minus handling costs, as applicable).

Taking part in more than one category (either fencing different weapons at the same level, or the same weapon at different levels) is not possible.

Entry criteria:

This is not a ranking competition. As this is intended to be a competition for novice and beginner fencers, we specifically have criteria (see below) about national rankings but active and successful cadet or junior fencers are also unlikely to be a good fit for this competition. If you're unsure if this is the right level of competition for you, please email chair@emfencing.com before entering.

This is a senior competition, so all fencers must be 13 or older as of the date of the competition unless entering an U13 event (for which the minimum age is 11).

Beginners must have started fencing for the first time since January 1st 2024. Beginners who won their category in 2024 or 2025 should enter Intermediate if they want to compete in the same weapon.

Intermediates should not currently be in the national senior rankings for their weapon (top 100 for ME or MF, top 80 for MS, top 80 for WE or WF, top 50 for WS) or have won a senior open in that weapon. Intermediate fencers may have fenced for any period of time.

Junior beginners must be aged at least 10 years old as of the date of the competition. There is no time limit on how long they should have been fencing, however this event is not really aimed at those younger fencers who have been competing outside of the BYC qualifier/finals structure.

Entry fee is £35 - early bird entry is available (to 30th September) at £30. Late entries are accepted at the discretion of the organiser and a late entry fee will be charged (£45).

Check in times:

Please arrive at least 30 mins prior to check in closing, as we need to get started promptly. Check in times will be confirmed when entries close but are unlikely to change significantly unless low entry numbers force this:

9am: Beginner mixed/men's and women's foil, U12 and U14 mixed/men's and women's sabre

10am: Intermediate mixed/men's and women's epee, intermediate mixed/men's and women's sabre

11.30am: U12 and U14 mixed/men's and women's epee

12.30pm: Intermediate mixed/men's and women's foil, U12 and U14 mixed/men's and women's foil

1.30pm: Beginner mixed/men's and women's epee, beginner mixed/men's and women's sabre

Kit and equipment:

The safety of all kit, including masks and gloves, will be checked by referees - masks with 2 rear safety systems are not required but all masks must be worn securely.

It's compulsory for people fencing in the women's categories of this competition to wear rigid chest protection. FIE standard chest protectors (those with an additional soft layer for foil) are not required for any fencer at this competition. 

13+ Foil - 800N plastron, minimum 350N jacket and breeches. Blue jackets are acceptable but if used, an 800N plastron is still required. Minimum of CEN Level 1 mask, electric bib and mask wire are not required. Size 5 weapons. 

13+ Epee - 800N plastron, minimum 350N jacket and breeches. Blue jackets are acceptable but if used, an 800N plastron is still required. Minimum of CEN Level 1 mask. Size 5 weapons.

13+ Sabre - 800N plastron, minimum 350N jacket and breeches. Blue jackets are acceptable but if used, an 800N plastron is still required. Minimum of CEN Level 1 mask, a mask wire is required. Size 5 weapons. An 800N sabre glove is required.

U12 and U14 Foil: minimum 350N jacket, breeches and plastron. Blue jackets are acceptable but if used, an additional plastron is required. Minimum of CEN Level 1 mask, electric bib and mask wire are not required. Size 3 weapon or smaller.

U12 and U14 Epee: minimum 350N jacket, breeches and plastron. Blue jackets are acceptable but if used, an additional plastron is required. Minimum of CEN Level 1 mask. Size 2 weapon or smaller.

U12 and U14 Sabre: minimum of 350N jacket, breeches and plastron. Blue jackets are acceptable but if used, an additional plastron is required. Minimum of CEN Level 1 mask, a mask wire is required. An 800N sabre glove is required. Size 2 weapon or smaller.