Christchurch, July 23, 2024 - The recently concluded Commonwealth Fencing Championships in Christchurch saw New Zealand fielding a robust team of 65 athletes in the Cadet and Junior age groups,
marking a significant milestone in the country's fencing journey. Held at Nga Puna Wai Netball Centre from July 12 to July 19, the tournament provided a platform for emerging fencers to gain invaluable 
international experience, alongside seasoned competitors from New Zealand in addition to another 9 Commonwealth nations including England, Wales, South Africa, Cyprus, Malaysia, and Northern Ireland. A total of 365 competitors attended.
And it was an event that nearly didn’t happen until Fencing NZ put their hand up to host it at very short notice. Despite these challenges and many more, the event ran smoothly, thanks to the dedication of the wider fencing community.
“Whilst we can’t list all of you that stepped in to make the Commonwealths a success, please know that your contribution was highly valued’’, said Lee-Bin Tee, Chair of the Fencing Mid-South Organising Committee. "The logistical challenges just kept coming” commented Tee. “We had a very short timeframe to work in. First of all, ensuring we would have enough competitors enter at such short notice in a country so far from anywhere!! Then there were plenty of event challenges from coordinating fencer transportation to accommodate the competition schedules, coordinating a special mid-week gala dinner, to obtaining the correct length national anthems to play during prizegiving to name just a few."
New Equipment!
Another significant issue facing Fencing New Zealand in hosting the event was the lack of quality tournament equipment available throughout the country. FeNZ are extremely grateful to Leon Paul, Mainland Fencing, and Favero for providing incredible support, supplying over $180,000 worth of equipment at dramatically reduced pricing to enable the tournament to proceed. This equipment has been purchased by clubs and regions around the country through the FeNZ initiated deal and will be used all over the country for many years to come.
Congratulations to the NZ Fencing Team
The New Zealand team, described as performing in a "professional and mature manner," showcased their prowess across various disciplines. Team Manager and Coaches kept the large NZ contingent well organised and provided unwavering support. 
Notable achievements included a standout performance from Ruby Chan with a remarkable victory in the Junior Women's foil category. The Junior Women’s Epee Team and Men’s Epee Team, both won Silver in their very competitive finals matches against England, and the Cadet Women’s Epee Team finished with a bronze medal. In total the medal haul included 2 gold, 3 silver and two bronze, with New Zealand placing 5th among the competing nations.
A gala dinner mid-week provided a relaxed atmosphere for coaches, and organisers to unwind after intense competition days, in addition to an opportunity for Fencers from all over the world to make new connections.
Safeguarding
The Commonwealth Fencing Championships in Christchurch marked a significant step forward in safeguarding practices within international fencing competitions. Recognizing the increasing importance of athlete welfare, Fencing NZ's extensive policy work over the past 18 months was adapted to create a comprehensive Safeguarding Policy for the Commonwealth Fencing Federation, setting a new standard for the event. Many participating teams included dedicated Welfare Officers, reflecting the growing emphasis on athlete well-being.
Throughout the championships, the Safeguarding team effectively managed approximately 10 issues, demonstrating the practical implementation of these policies. Feedback from international teams was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing appreciation for the readily available support from the Safeguarding team. This proactive approach not only enhanced the overall experience for participants but also established a benchmark for future international fencing competitions, underlining the critical role of safeguarding in modern sports events.
Television Coverage!
David Elder, instrumental in organizing televised coverage of parts of the event, expressed gratitude for the widespread support received from the industry. "It was a collective effort," Elder remarked, "and we're grateful to everyone who contributed to showcasing our sport, particularly internationally renowned Director Wayne Leonard, and the teams from Kiwi OB and Paho Productions.
All semis and finals were streamed on You Tube across the eight days, and three hours of finals highlights packages of the Individual Junior Finals aired on SKY Sport on Monday 22nd July. Seven Sharp’s item that aired on Thursday attracted over 500,000 sets of eyeballs on our flourishing sport.
As the curtains drew on the championships, New Zealand fencers left with not just medals but also a renewed determination to continue their upward trajectory in international fencing. With eyes set on future competitions, including pathways to future international events, the New Zealand fencing community is poised for even greater achievements in the years to come.
Praise from the President of Fencing New Zealand
The President of Fencing New Zealand would like to thank the incredible team from Mid-South led by Lee-Bin Tee, and all those other volunteers who flew in to help.
The list of people to thank is huge:
- DT’s,
- Weapons Control,
- Floor Control,
- Registration,
- Referee Management,
- Volunteer co-ordination,
- IT infrastructure management,
- Safeguarding management,
- Training Venues setup and management
and countless other tasks and roles. The collective team effort was truly outstanding and a testimony to the power of working together to achieve an amazing result. Our entire fencing community is truly indebted to you all for putting your lives on hold and doing such an incredible job.
And there’s more! International Referee Training
Fencing New Zealand would also like to thank Iryna Kynsch, President of the FIE Refereeing Commission. Kynsch, with financial assistance from the Oceania Fencing Confederation and in co-operation with the Australian Fencing Federation, interrupted her busy build-up to the Olympics and conducted two well-attended Referee training courses. She provided participants with expert insights and feedback and enabled our Development Referees to further prepare for the weeks’ event in Christchurch and for their future B Grade Licence Exams.
Results
For results of the Commonwealth Cadet and Junior Fencing Championships please use the link to Fencing Time Live. https://fencingtimelive.com/