This article forms part of a series of additional reports accompanying the 2024-25 BF Annual Report.
Note: This report covers referee activity for the 24-25 season up to July 2025. While this falls outside the financial year, from a fencing perspective, this is considered the period of Major Championships across all the age groups: Cadets, Juniors, U23s, and Seniors.
In September 2024, Sam Ogden achieved his FIE license in sabre after passing the FIE referee exams in Romania.
In October 2024, the EFC selected Adrian Speakman, Luke Deamer, Euan Deamer, Chiara McDermott, Daniel Hazelwood and Sam McLellan to the 2024-25 EFC Referee Master List, the highest number of GBR referees to be included since the list began.
The European Fencing Confederation (EFC) Master List comprises of 117 FIE referees from over 26 countries. It is used by the EFC to select referees for major European championships.
Four GBR referees, Luke Deamer, Euan Deamer, Chiara McDermott and Sam McLellan, were selected to the list for the first time, joining Adrian Speakman and Daniel Hazelwood, both of whom have previously been selected for the EFC Master List.
In March 2025, Roz Graham was awarded her EFC C licence for epee and Benedict Cowan received his for foil, following their performances as referees on the EFC circuit in 2024-25.
The EFC C licence is awarded to referees after being independently observed and scoring five “4’s or 5’s” (out of 5) at EFC nominated competitions over two seasons. The C licence is also a requirement for entry to the FIE exams.
Sam McLellan was confirmed on the FIE Master List through his selection by the FIE for his first FIE Senior circuit event in Plovdiv in January 2025, where he refereed the Men’s Individual and Women’s Team finals.
The FIE Master List is the list from which the FIE selects referees for the Senior World Cup, Grand Prix and World Championships.
Sam McLellan joins Adrian Speakman who has been on the FIE Master List for over 6 years.
Sam McLellan was appointed to referee at the U17 and U20 European Championships in February 2025, marking his first appearance at this level since passing his FIE Sabre Refereeing Exam in 2022.
During the championships, Sam refereed the Junior Women’s Sabre Individual Last 8 and served as assistant referee for the Junior Men’s Sabre Individual semi final.
He also officiated in the Junior Women’s and Men’s Sabre Team semi finals, as well as the Cadet Women’s Sabre Team final and the Cadet Men’s Sabre Team semi final.
Sam McLellan was selected to referee at the Cadet and Junior World Championships and was an assistant referee in the final of the Women’s Junior Individual Event.
Sam McLellan was selected to referee at the Cadet and Junior World Championships and refereed the Women’s Sabre Individual Semi-Final, the Men’s Sabre Team final and was video referee in the Men’s Sabre Individual Final.
GBR’s Luke Deamer was selected to referee at the European Championships. He refereed from poules until a last 8, with later rounds, including the Women’s Foil Team Final as video and assessor.
Luke said, on his time in Genoa, “It was a great experience to referee my second European senior championships! It’s great fun to be amongst the best fencers and referees in Europe, especially with such a great venue and host city.”
“Thanks to British Fencing and all my referee colleagues for helping me get to this point.”
GBR’s Adrian Speakman refereed the men’s epee team final at the Senior World Championships – an incredible achievement.
In Paris 2024 Sean Grundy and Mike Salter both refereed in final events. Both referees are A licensed international Wheelchair referees (2 of the 4 current A licensed referees worldwide in their respective weapons) which sees them regularly refereeing in Wheelchair Fencing Internationals. Seasons highlights included:
Phil Elliot also officiated on the IWAS circuit –
Thanks to our cohort of hard working and experienced GBR referees, hundreds of athletes have been supported to compete around the world. With requirements for referees continually increasing as are the costs of the fines if we are unable to supply a referee. We are therefore also very grateful to our GBR associate pathway referees (international referees that live in the UK and are part of our development programme) and other international referees who are willing to support our squads.
Highlights included (all assignments whether main, assessor, video, shared):
FIE Senior World Cup
FIE Satellite
FIE Junior World Cup
EFC Cadet Circuit
Other EFC/FFE
(If you are a referee and your highlights have not been included, or incorrectly included please contact [email protected] and we will get them added in/fixed!)
Click here for the full 2024-25 Annual Report.
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