This years open will take place over the weekend of the 17th and 18th May 2008, at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. It is a 6 weapon event, and those who qualify will receive BFA ranking points.

In addition to the competition there will be a referees course, and also a child protection seminar, if you are interested in either the refereeing or the child protection course, please email Andrew for more details

This year, as last year, we are going to run the Mens Sabre and the Womens Epee, Foil and Sabre on the Saturday, and then the Mens Epee and Mens Foil on the Sunday.

Check in will close at the following times for each weapon:

Saturday 17th May 2008.	Sunday 18th May 2008.
9:00 - Womens Foil 9:30 - Womens Epee 11:30 - Mens Sabre 12:00 - Womens Sabre	9:00 - Mens Epee 9:30 - Mens Foil

Changes for this year

• Official Sponsor - The Sponsor of this years Sheffield Open will be LEON PAUL
• There will be 1 round of poules followed by DE's with NO cut
• There will be a £50 cash prize for the winner at each weapon (which will rise to £100 cash for weapons where there are more than 64 entrants)
• There will be medals for the L8 at all weapons as well as Best Cadet, Junior, and Over 40 (NVA membership NOT required for this)

The entry fees are as follows: £15 per weapon, £25 for two weapons (you may only enter ONE weapon per day). The closing date for entries is the 8th May, any entries recieved after this date will be at the discression of the organisers, and a late fee of £5 per weapon will be applicable (£20 for one weapon, £35 for two weapons).
Once the limits of each weapon have been reached fencers will be put on a waiting list, and notified. If there is a shortfall in another weapon, additional fencers may be entered into the competition from this list, again they will be notified of this prior to the day.

All fencers must be members of the BFA to compete, and should be aware of the BFA guidelines on equipment that became mandatory for all fencers (from 1st January, 2006).
For further details of these, visit the BFA website.