Procedures for entering FIE Épée Grand Prix, A-grade and Satellite competitions in the 2008 season.

Below are the procedures for entering Grand Prix, A-grade and Satellite competitions for this season. Please read them carefully. If you do not understand anything, please contact the Weapon Captain. They have been developed taking into account the GBR Senior Ranking Scheme and Selection Procedure; the FIE rules; and the need to have early decisions in the best interests of all concerned, so that flights and accommodation can be booked well in advance.

Entry to all FIE competitions must all go via the Weapon Captain (or Performance Director in the case of Pathway fencers) to the BFA who will submit the entries electronically to the FIE. Please note that if fines are levied on the BFA for a fencer's non-attendance at a competition, the fencer will be liable to pay the full fine. The rules concerning this are contained in the FIE rules which are downloadable from the BFA website as .pdf files in English. Read carefully o.31 and o.54.

Grand Prix and A-Grades: If you are in the top 20 of the GBR épée rankings on the closing date, fence for Great Britain and comply with the following requirements, you can be considered for selection for Grand Prix and A-Grade competitions.

Requirements:
1. A current FIE licence.
2. Full FIE equipment.
3. Approved GBR strip on breeches and back arm of jacket, SURNAME and GBR on the back of jacket.
4. Payment of all fees required.
5. Agreement to accept liability for any penalties imposed on BFA as a result of failure to abide by the FIE organisation rules.
6. In the case of a fencer who is under 18 years on the date of travel, an adult non-fencing chaperone arranged at no cost to BFA or the Épée Committee.

Submission of entries: The Épée Committee REGISTRATION FORM including fee, where applicable (see below) must be completed and submitted to the Weapon Captain. Fencers will not be entered for any FIE competition without this form being completed and due payment being made.

Fees: For Individual events, fencers should send the appropriate fee when submitting the Registration Form: £10 for Grand Prix and £35 for other A-Grades.

• NOTE: This is not the competition entry fee which has to be paid separately to the organisers.

For Men's Épée cheques should be made payable to 'BRITISH EPEE' and sent to John Haynes (address as below)

For Women's Épée cheques should be made payable to ' Women's Épée' and sent to Jo Martin.

• For Men's Épée the REGISTER OF ENTRIES will be updated during the season to give a snapshot of the entry situation and results.

Closing date and selection: Selection for an individual event will be made only from those fencers whose Registration Form and fee have been received by the closing date (i.e. approximately seven weeks before the date of the event) and will usually, by default, follow the order on the rolling ranking list for the 1st of the month in which the closing date occurs. Where applicable, a decision to provide a referee will be made at the same time.

• Note. Fencers in the first four on the ranking list and those selected to participate in Team Events who have submitted their Registration Form and fee by the closing date, have an automatic right to be entered. For other fencers and in all other circumstances, the épée selectors reserve the right to select out of the order of the ranking list.

After the initial selection any spare places remaining may be filled at the discretion of the Weapon Captain, if there is sufficient time to complete the entry procedures. Such spare places will be allocated taking note of the order in which Épée Committee Registration Forms with fees are received.

Fees will be refunded to fencers not selected but a refund of fees will not normally be made to fencers who cancel after the closing date. Protests with regard to the application of these rules should in the first instance be made to the Weapon Captain and Selectors. Subsequently, fencers have a right of appeal to the International Committee, in accordance with the Senior Ranking Scheme.

Cancellations:
Note the FIE rules about competition entries, especially o.31 and o.54.These are likely to be strictly adhered to, so please read them carefully. It is your responsibility to know the rules. Fencers wishing to cancel before the latest entry date shall check that they have received written (e.g. e-mail) confirmation of the cancellation. Because of the deadlines imposed by the FIE, fencers will need to ensure that the BFA have been informed at least two working days before the deadline, so that they have time to act on the information given to them. This should be done by informing BFA HQ by telephone 0208 7423032 or e-mail and by notifying the Weapon Captain by telephone or in person.

Please note that by completing the Registration Form you will be liable, if your action or inaction results in the BFA being fined (€500 is approximately £350).

Cancellations after the latest date for entries must be as a result of 'force majeure' otherwise a fine will be payable. Please ensure that the competion organisers, the Weapon Captain and the BFA are informed of the cancellation at the earliest opportunity.

Additional requirements for Satellite Competitions: Anyone wishing to do Satellite competitions must submit the Épée Committee Registration Form, as there might be a need to send one or more referees according to the number of fencers entering. The costs of travel and accommodation for referees will be borne in equal shares by all the fencers entered.

Important reminders: Fencers are responsible for their own travel and accommodation arrangements, passports, visas (where required), insurance arrangements and fencing equipment. The dates of competitions and other information given on this website are subject to change and should not be relied upon. Always check the FIE website and the latest details issued by the organisers. Fencers booking flights etc. before their entry has been confirmed, do so at their own risk.

GBR Men's Epée Captain & Treasurer:John Haynes