Fencing
A sport for all ages

-- Please note this page is currently under construction --

If you are reading this page the chance is you have not fenced before and that you are considering taking up the sport, so what is fencing and what does it have to offer?

For many the first time they meet the sport is from the showing of the Olympics on TV or as a handy clue used by crossword compilers, but fencing is a very popular sport. You will see from our club page the county is well populated with fencing clubs. The sport itself has a very long history going back as far as ancient times, it was one of the original Olympic sports and has continued to provide fun and enjoyment for many. So now let us look at the sport in a little more detail starting with the weapons.

The first weapon we will discuss is foil. This for many years was the weapon a new fencer would be taught. The foil is light with hits being scored using the tip of the weapon. The target can best be described as the torso of the body thus requiring a degree of accuracy and as a rule with quick actions. In this weapon there are rules to determine who scores when two fencers make hits at a similar time.

Sabre is derived from the cavalry weapon of the same name. The body above the line of the hips is the target and hits are made with the surface of the blade as well as the tip. As with foil there are rules governing simultanious actions.

Finally epee. This is the duelling weapon and as with foil hits are scored using the tip, however the target in this case is the whole of the fencer. In this weapon if both fencers land a hit at the same time each will score unless there is a time difference. This weapon is also heavier than the other two weapons.