On 20th and 21st September 2025, we will be hosting the second edition of our Epee tournament in Rugby School Sports Centre. This year we will be expanding the event in two directions; more junior age groups, and for seniors, the addition of a ranked event.
In addition to the expanded categories, our primary goal for this event is to have learned from the first edition and improve in the areas where we need to. This means: a more spacious venue with better safety margins, better accommodation for spectators and coaching, and a full compliment of grounded pistes. This will necessitate a higher fee, but it will still be possible to keep it toward the cheaper end of competitions. This year the fee for junior events and senior ranked will be £35. The entry for unranked D/E/U events will remain at £25.
We will run U17 (cadet), U14 and U12 age group events on Saturday 20th September. The senior events will run on Sunday.
Saturday 20th:
The venue will be open from 08:00. Check in will open at 08:30. The closing times are as follows:
U14 Boys’ Epee: 09:00
U14 Girls’ Epee: 09:30
U17 Boys’ Epee 10:00
U17 Girls’ Epee 12:30
U12 Boys’ Epee 13:00
U12 Girls’ Epee 13:30
Sunday 21st:
The venue will be open from 09:00. Check in will open at 09:00. Check in closing times are:
Ranked Senior Men’s/Mixed Epee: 09:45
Ranked Senior Women’s Epee: 10:00
Unranked Senior Men’s/Mixed Epee (D/E/U ratings): 13:30
Unranked Senior Women’s Epee (D/E/U ratings): 13:45
Competition format and rules
All events will consist of a single round of poules followed by Direct Elimination. All competitors will move to the DE stage. There will be medals for 1st, 2nd, and joint 3rd, in each event.
Please ensure all required clothing is worn, including plastrons, and chest protectors for girls. Socks must be long enough to overlap breeches and there must be no gap between the bottom of the jacket and the top of breeches.
Referees will be asked to be lenient on weapon technical problems, as we understand many newer fencers may be borrowing equipment from their club. However, safety is our top priority and as such the referees will be strict on defects with protective clothing and masks.
Junior U12
Poule fights will be to 5 hits, with a bout time of 3 minutes. Direct Elimination fights will be to 10 hits with 3 periods of 2 minutes (1 minute gap).
U12s may use size 0 or size 2 weapons.
Junior U14
Poule fights will be to 5 hits, with a bout time of 3 minutes. Direct Elimination fights will be to 12 hits with 3 periods of 2 minutes (1 minute gap).
U14s may use size 0 or size 2 weapons.
Senior D/E/U, Senior Open, Junior U17
Poule fights will be 5 hits, bout time of 3 minutes. Direct Elimination will be to 15 hits, with 3 periods of 3 minutes (1 minute gap).
Senior fencers must wear an 800N plastron and 350N breeches.
U17s may use size 0, 2 or 5 weapons.
Refreshments
There is no cafe on site; there are vending machines, and we will run a snack stall. For more substantial fare, the town centre is less than 10 minutes’ walk.
Travel and parking
The venue is near the centre of Rugby and approximately 10 minutes from the Rugby junction of the M6. Onsite parking is quite limited, so parking directly next to the venue is not guaranteed. However, the streets next to the venue (Horton Crescent) do not have parking restrictions. We will also endeavour to secure use of Rugby School’s overflow parking.
Referees
We are offering £70 per day and lunch to L2+ qualified referees. Please contact rugbyepeecoach@outlook.com if you are interested.