Not since the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games has such high class fencing been
seen on Australian pistes. The athletes competing at the Commonwealth
Fencing 2002 are the best in the Commonwealth.
Action will show that unique fencing blend of the fast and furious, yet
the tactical and technical.
Winners will be crowned Commonwealth Champions and be awarded medals
struck by the Commonwealth Fencing Association.
This is your chance to see them: 200 individual athletes in 42 teams
from 12 Commonwealth countries... up close and in full flight…
Why Not the Commonwealth Games?
Fencing has been in every modern Olympic Games, and was included in
the Commonwealth/Empire Games from 1950 to 1970.
Even though it is no longer in the Commonwealth Games program, the
tradition of competition between Commonwealth fencing nations continues,
through the work of the Commonwealth
Fencing Federation (CFF).
The Commonwealth Fencing Championships are held every four years, as
are the Commonwealth Games, and are sanctioned by the Commonwealth Games
Federation.
Events
The Commonwealth Fencing Championships consists of Individual and Team
events for all the three weapons: foil, sabre and epee.
The Wilkinson Sword Trophy is awarded to the Nation with the best overall
results.
Commonwealth Champions
Commonwealth Champions in Fencing receive official Commonwealth Games
medals.
The medals received by Champions at CF2002 will have exactly the same
front side as those at the Commonwealth Games. The reverse reflects the
organisation of the event by the Commonwealth Fencing Federation and the
host city of Newcastle.
Current Commonwealth Champions (from Kuala Lumpur in 1998)
are:
Wilkinson Sword: England
EPEE
Men's Individual: Seamus Robinson (AUS) Women's Individual: Evelyn Halls (AUS) Men's Team: Australia Women's Team: Australia
FOIL
Men's Individual: Donnie McKenzie (SCO) Women's Individual: Eloise Smith (ENG) Men's Team: England Women's Team: England
SABRE
Men's Individual: Ian Williams (ENG) Women's Individual: Louise Bond-Williams (ENG) Men's Team: England Women's Team: England
Competitors
Member countries may send five fencers per weapon per gender. Each
of these fencers may compete in the relevant individual event. Team
events consist of three fencers plus one reserve. The team manager selects
the team from the permitted five fencers, and may vary the team as desired
between matches.
