How rankings work

Points for a result

A result scores the competition’s multiplier × a factor for the place, rounded down (§3.7). 1st place’s factor is 20, 2nd 17.5, each 3rd 16, 5th 14.64, and so on down the table.

Only the top part of a field scores this way: the top 80% of a domestic youth competition, 70% of an international one, and 83% for U23, Senior and Intermediate. Everyone below scores 1 point (§3.3.1, §4.4, §7.3).

For example

A C BRC of 40 fencers has a multiplier of 70. The top 32 score on the scale:

Where the multiplier comes from

It depends on the competition and the ranking it counts toward:

• Youth domestic competitions: A and B BRCs are set by the Athlete Development Programme for each competition. A C BRC is 70 for 32 or more fencers, 35 for 16 to 31, and 15 for fewer; a D BRC is 10 (§4.4.1).
• Senior Opens: the sum of the NIFs of the fencers taking part, or a quarter of the number placed if that’s more. The Senior British Championships are 600 and the British Open 700 (§7.4.1).
• Senior internationals: 6,000 for World Championships and Olympics, 5,000 for Grands Prix and World Cups, and 3,000 for Zonal Championships (1,500 for 32 or fewer) (§7.4.2).
• U23: the National Championships are 300, and the European Championships 1,000 (§8.3).
• Intermediate: 1.8 × the number placed (§9).
• Other internationals: by the number placed, from the table below. It may be adjusted by up to 200 either way, and some youth events use the lower development scale (§3.3.6).

Each competition’s multiplier, and the rule it came from, is shown on its event page once it’s set.

Which results count

A result counts for 12 months, or until the same competition’s next edition, whichever comes first (§3.2). A fencer’s total is their best results, up to a limit, of which only so many may be international. Equal points go to the older result.

NIF bands and ratings

Four times a year, on 1 September, December, March and June, each Senior-ranked fencer gets a NIF band from their Senior rank (§7.5). The bands set Senior Opens’ multipliers and a fencer’s rating: A is NIF 10, B 6, C 3 and D 1; ranked below D is E. The GB Cup Rankings are each Senior ranking without its A- and B-rated fencers.

Every placing factor

Changes to the scheme

BF can change the scheme’s numbers each season. A change is tried against every ranking before it’s published, and applies from its start date: each ranking records the version it was calculated under, so past rankings stay as they were.