Ranking Ladder

The ranking ladder has been set up to allow club members to challenge other club members to matches under DE (Direct Elimination) rules. The purpose of the ladder is primarily to add a little bit of a competition atmosphere to the club but it also serves the purposes of:

  • Giving Captains information for when they are making team choices,
  • Providing members with competition style match experiences during training
  • Allowing beginners to fence non-beginners and gain greater experience through fencing a wide variety of different fencers

    • At the start of the year all members will be ranked alphabetically (sorry to those with surnames at the end of the alphabet). As the fights progress, this will eventually sort itself out into a ranking system within the club. To begin with, because such a large reshuffle is likely to occur in rankings, you may challenge someone up to ten places above you. After the end of October, this will be reduced to three places above to avoid large unfair jumps above fencers better than you.

    Ladder matches can be fought on Mondays and Thursdays. The result of the fight must immediately be recorded on the ladder sheet, and signed by the president. A committee member will take responsibility for the ladder sheet after each training session and post the result onto the website in the order they appear on the sheet. It is important that you record your fight promptly to ensure the correct ladder change occurs.

    Rules of the Challenge

    To issue a challenge from the website

    1. To challenge a fencer to a ladder match the ‘challenger’ selects “Issue a challenge” from the Ladder web page and fills in the details of who they wish to challenge (defender). An e-mail will then be sent to both challenger and defender informing them of said challenge.

    2. The pair of you then have two weeks to complete the challenge.

    3. You must fill in the result of the ladder fight as soon as it is over on the ladder sheet kept on the balcony or the fight will be invalid.

    To issue a challenge in person

    This is a bit simpler, if you are both at training and agree to fight, then fight. Make sure you record the result on the ladder sheet on the balcony or your fight will be invalid

    Selecting a President

    1. Certain fencers have been deemed competant to preside each weapon. A list of these fencers will be available on the balcony. You must have one of the named fencers to preside your ladder fight. They should sign the ladder sheet to confirm the result.

    2. Both fencers must agree to the President

    3. The President’s word is final

    Rules of the fight

    1. The fight is to 15 points

    2. The fight must be fought using electric equipment

    3. The fight must have an eligible President, and standard rules for the weapon will be followed (including cards)

    4. The fight will last for 9 minutes split into 3x3 minute periods with a 1 min break between each. This will be timed by the President. (Nb: Sabreurs may choose to break at 8 points rather than 3 minutes if they wish)

    5. Should 9 minutes elapse before 15 points have been scored by one fencer, the fencer with the highest score wins

    6. Should fencers be tied after 9 minutes then an Advantage period will be played.

    7. A suitable coin toss or substitute is conducted and the fencer that wins this has the advantage.

    8. The fight resumes for one minute. The first fencer to score a hit wins the match.

    9. Should both fencers fail to score then after the minute is up, the fencer with the advantage wins a point and also the match