Frequently Asked Questions
What is épée fencing today?
Today’s fencing is an Olympic Sport – one of the original sporting disciplines at the very first Games in 1896 – with three weapons; foil (limited target area, hits made with the point), sabre (limited target area, hits made with the blade) and the épée (hits made with the point anywhere on the body). Both Modern Pentathlon and Paralympic fencing use the épée, with some differences in the rules of play.
The épée is derived from the duelling sword and is the most popular weapon fenced in the UK. It comes with minimal rules and one principal – hit and not be hit. The target is the whole body. Given simple rules and a big target it appeals to all, from 8 to 80. Electronic scoring equipment makes this tactical weapon enjoyable for all – winning is not always to the swiftest.
Epée fencing enjoys wide appeal from the cadets and junior age groups through seniors to veterans. There is probably an épée fencing Club near you – to find your nearest fencing club go to the BFA website.
What is the Epée Club?
The Epée Club is not a conventional fencing club - all its members belong to other Clubs. The Club meets once a year for an Annual General Meeting and Dinner at one of the London Clubs and holds a number of Club competitions – either at the Hurlingham or Lansdowne Clubs - for its members and the occasional invited guest.
Membership – by invitation only – is limited and members have all, at some stage, contributed to Epée either by fencing at national or international level or have been closely linked to the promotion of Epée fencing.
The Club offers a social continuation of fencing activities and enjoyment with fencers of many generations.
A very brief history of the Epée Club
The Club – founded in 1900 – was due to Charles Newton-Robinson, a London barrister who had studied épée fencing in Paris under the celebrated master Anthime Spinnewyn. Epée was the duelling weapon in the late 19th century and attracted fencers who wanted a more realistic form of swordplay to the rule-bound foil especially if they might have to fight a duel. He invited Spinnewyn to London to demonstrate épée fencing to British Fencers.
On 4 May 1900, the first épée pool ever publicly held in England took place in the Portman Rooms of the Inns of Court. The following day, a pool of 13 épéeists was held at the Inns of Court School of Arms, and at a dinner afterwards discussions took place about the formation of the British Epée Club.
As a result, on Tuesday 12 June 1900, a meeting styled “the first general meeting constituting The Epée Club” was held in the Savile Club, 107 Piccadilly with 29 founder members.
Its founding purpose which remains enshrined in the club’s constitution to this day was “the encouragement of the use of the épée de combat”.
Who runs the Epée Club?
The Officers of the Club comprise a President, up to four Vice Presidents, an Honorary Secretary and an Honorary Treasurer. They are supported by a committee of 9 members who hold office for a period of three years. There are normally two Committee meetings per annum. Elections are held at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
What is the purpose of The Epée Club?
The Club holds to the founding principle of its Constitution in that it involves itself in the encouragement and promotion of épée in Great Britain.
All its members are or have been involved in the GBR Epée world and many continue to contribute to the weapon – as organisers, referees, and members of regional and national committees.
They influence and try to guide the future of the UK’s most popular weapon.
How has British Epée benefitted from The Epée Club in recent years?
The Club has provided the trophies for all the major National Individual and Team Epée competitions in the UK as well as the Elite Epée Series and the British Veterans Federation National Epée Championships. The winners’ medals at all the major competitions are donated by the Club.
Further, it organises the annual Epée Club Cup Competition in London, a prestigious competition for nationally ranked fencers of all age groups. Participation is only by invitation from the Epée Club organising committee.
After the London 2012 Olympics, the Club perceived that there was a need to reinvigorate GB épée. Public funding had dried up and it was time for independent épée funding. The Epée Club Charitable Fund (a registered charity) was established. After a major fundraising campaign both amongst its own members and the wider épée community, the Epée Club Charitable Fund now provides financial support to GB Epée Teams, their coaches and trainers which will continue for the next few years. It is an Accredited Partner with British Fencing but also makes grants to sponsor events and teams direct.
The charity has its own page on this website Epee Club Charitable Fund with details of how the money is spent and where you can make a donation.
How can I become a member?
Membership is by invitation only. Potential candidates, put forward by members of the Committee, are invited to attend one or more of the summer pools at the Hurlingham Club to meet other members of the Club.