Please read these notes thoroughly, check your entries and inform your pupils of the details

The Public Schools' Fencing Championships will be held at the University of Nottingham Sports Centre, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, from 18th to 20th March, 2008:

1292 entries have been received from 100 schools. PLEASE ENSURE that the fencers from your school are correctly entered and e-mail admin@publicschoolsfencingchampionships.com at once if there are any errors or omissions (but note that no further entries can now be accepted).

Reporting

Due to the enormous number of entries, the reporting times for the various events have been staggered to assist with the running of the competitions. Please check individual entry sheets for details of latest check-in times. Fencers must report before the quoted time or they will be excluded from their competition. Please, therefore, make due allowance for travelling to the venue. If there should be an unexpected delay, competitors may ring 0115 951 5516 to say they are on their way but may be late and stating their name(s), school and event(s). A place will be kept for such a fencer for as long as is feasible consistent with the interests of the other fencers, after which she/he will be excluded from the event. This rule will be strictly enforced to ensure smooth running of the event and fairness to other competitors.

Competitors who are not currently members of the BFA must take immediate steps to join since all fencers will be required to show membership cards when checking-in for each and every event. The BFA can be contacted via the website (www.britishfencing.com) or on 020 8742 3032.

Accommodation

All requests for accommodation on campus will be met. Accommodations will be provided in Sherwood or Derby Halls of Residence. The Halls can be found on the campus map available to print off from the “Location” page of the PSFC website.  On arrival please report to Sherwood Hall Reception where your room keys will be allocated. Bedrooms will be available from 3.00 pm on the day of arrival and must be vacated and keys returned to Reception by 10.00 am on the day of departure.  Each night’s booking starts with dinner (between 6.30 pm and 9.00 pm) on the evening of arrival, bed and breakfast. Packed lunches will be available for collection in the refectory after breakfast. If you require a vegetarian meal/packed lunch or have any other specific dietary requirements please let us know in advance through the website contact page.  If you are delayed on your journey and expect to arrive after 10.00 pm please contact Nick Chapman on 07980 757502 or Sherwood Hall Reception on 0115 951 5366.

Refreshments will be available for purchase at the Sports Centre café during the day.

Referees

Recent years have shown a very welcome increase in numbers of those willing to help each day. This year it will again be absolutely essential to the smooth running of events for both teachers-in-charge, if they are able, and school coaches to be prepared to referee, at least in the early rounds. This particularly applies to the girls’ events.

The committee would particularly welcome Old Boys and Girls who might be available to referee even on just one day. We are happy to pay students £50 per full day and that reasonable travel costs for attending the competition in this capacity will be reimbursed.  They will also be provided with refreshments. For those able to referee for more than one day accommodations may be provided but agreement from the organisers must be sought beforehand.

Please contact Jon Milner (info@publicschoolsfencingchampionships.com) in the first instance.

All those who have indicated their intention to referee or supervise should make themselves known to the organisers before the start of each day’s competitions. Further offers of assistance on each day will be much appreciated.

Equipment

All clothing and equipment will be inspected during the competition - fencers with non-regulation items, or items which the committee believes to be unsafe, will not be allowed to compete.  The attention of fencers and their teachers-in-charge is drawn to Article 16 of the BFA Rules for Competitions: fencers arm, equip, clothe themselves and fence at their own risk.  The following table explains the minimum kit and clothing strengths we require fencers to wear during the 2008 Championships.

*     the BFA does not require fencers using size 2/3 weapons to wear breeches. However we can ask for all Mount-Haes fencers to wear breeches and long socks as part of our entry requirement. We would prefer the breeches to be 350N minimum but cannot insist on it.

**   the BFA requires fencers using size2/3 weapons to wear 350N (CEN 1) plastrons. The PSFC committee would recommend that all fencers wear 800N (CEN 2) plastrons but cannot insist on it.

In addition please note:

All events will be fenced with electric weapons throughout.  The following blade sizes will apply to the Mount-Haes age group events: Foil - 3; Epée & Sabre - 2.  Weapons and body-wires should be brought in working order and may be tested on the piste.

Leon Paul will again have a stand at the Sports Centre. This year their sponsorship again includes over £1,000 worth of prize vouchers, the provision of all the equipment for all 28 pistes and the provision of 9 conductive pistes free of charge. This year it will be essential for you to order equipment, particularly unusual items, in advance of the Championships because Leon Paul will not be in a position to collect items overnight if they don’t have them available on their stand. They suggest that you order them (as soon as possible, please) by phone, fax or email (Tel: 020 7388 8132; Fax: 020 7388 8134; e-mail: sales@leonpaul.com) or via their online ordering.

Rules

BFA Rules will be applied as far as possible but the Committee reserves the right to vary these and make any alterations to the details given here if found necessary for the safe and smooth running of the competition. Epéeists and foilists may be expected to referee their own pools in preliminary rounds. Please ensure your pupils are aware of a Referee's responsibilities and have had some experience at the weapon concerned.

Competitions and Points

As a result of the continuing large number of entries the Committee has agreed that in general there will again be two rounds of pools. After the first round 20% of competitors will be eliminated this year and after the second round 25% of those fencing in the second round will be eliminated. This will be followed by direct elimination (in an incomplete tableau, if necessary). Points will be awarded in accordance with the principles of the system agreed and operated previously. If there are fewer than 15 competitors then an appropriate formula will be used based on common sense and points awarded accordingly. Exactly the same points will be awarded towards the champion-at-arms trophies as those gained towards the school team competitions. It is not necessary to compete in all weapons to win a champion-at-arms trophy.

Trophies

Team trophies will be awarded as in the 2008 Championships and finalists in each event will receive plaques (except where the entry is 32 or less in which case the last 4 will receive plaques). The winners of each individual weapon event will also receive a prize from Leon Paul. Current holders of trophies, or Teachers-in-Charge if the fencer concerned has left school or a team trophy is held, are reminded that they should be returned cleaned and engraved by 8.30am on the first morning of the Championships at the latest. Under its rules Brentwood, Westminster and Elizabeth College are not eligible to compete for the Pearson Cup this year.

The Committee wishes to remind Teachers-in-Charge about the procedure with regard to the responsibility for trophies once they have been presented. This has resulted from a valuation of all the trophies which revealed that many of them have significant monetary value. In some cases they have considerable historic value as well. Consequently, a form will need to be signed by the individual winners and countersigned by a school representative or, in the case of team trophies, just signed by the school representative. You may wish to make enquiries before coming to the Championships that appropriate insurance is in place to cover the safe keeping of each trophy should your school be fortunate enough to win any.

Timetables

Every effort will be made, assuming the complete co-operation of fencers, teachers i/c, coaches, etc. to finish fencing as early as possible each day. However all those concerned should note that the finish of fencing in some events may be in the region of 8:30pm – 9:00pm.

Schools' Responsibilities

The Committee and organisers of the Championships attempt to ensure that they take place in a safe and secure way and can confirm to schools that they do have arrangements in place for first aid. However schools are reminded that the safety and welfare of young fencers remains with them and the nominated responsible adult who is acting “in loco parentis”.

Teachers-in-Charge

The meeting of Teachers-in-Charge of Fencing from all the participating schools will be held during the afternoon of Wednesday 19th March. Announcements will be made over the PA system. It is hoped that as many Teachers as possible will attend and give their views on the competition. If unable to attend, please give or send comments to Brian Howes (brianhowes@ecis.org) beforehand. The agenda will also include the venue and dates for next year's events (please bring your diaries) and a request for more assistance, particularly from girls’ schools, on the PSFC Committee.

Lost Property

Schools are reminded that the Committee cannot accept responsibility for returning items of fencing kit or personal property lost or left behind at the Sports Centre. Everyone concerned should make every effort to make enquiries before they leave the sports centre. All items left behind will be handed to Reception at Sports Centre to whom all subsequent enquiries should be addressed.

Results

It is intended to include complete individual rankings for each competition on the following web site as soon as possible after the Championships: http://francisfencing.org.uk/psfc. This can also be accessed via the PSFC website.