
Published 28th November 2025
Updated 5th December 2025 with additional reserves
Updated 11th December with final teams
GB Women’s and Men’s Epee preliminary squad has been selected for the European Fencing Confederation (EFC) Cadet event in Samorin-Bratislava, Slovakia.
The following athletes are now invited to attend the EFC Cadet event in Samorin-Bratislava, Slovakia. Note, we have used the naming convention from the EFC and called the event ‘Bratislava-Samorin’ – the venue is in Samorin, a small city 15-20 miles outside of Bratislava (around half an hour in the car or an hour on public transport from Bratislava). Please take a look at the invitation for more information.
This is part of their ongoing development to gain international experience and to work towards meeting the qualification standard for selection to represent Great Britain at the Cadet European and World Championships.
PLEASE ENSURE YOU READ THIS POST AND COMPLETE EVERYTHING THAT IS REQUIRED
Competition date: 9th – 11th January 2026
The deadline to accept the invitation and make full payment on Sport:80 is four days (96 hours) from the time of the invitation.
Competition details (known as Reglements) can be found on the invitation. Please make sure you read the invitation carefully.
| SELECTION | |
| Women Eilidh PATERSON Adel TIMURKAN Isabella D’ABBRACCIO Leena ZIKARA Saskia SCHOLEY Olivia CERDAN Lea PANYANDEE-CAPPELLI Isabel POTTINGER Eleanor SCOTT Lucinda FIELDING Alma-Constance DENIS-SMITH Isabella HOWSER Thea TCHALENKO Eliana YUNUSI-PARIKH Evelyn COE |
Men Alex NICHOLAS Solu NGOKA Jack BECKLEY James FAIRHOLME Timur HURSEVER Lucas FARLAM Henry DE BONO Oghenegaren ESIOVWA-THOMPSON Jonathan LAW Harrison HAMPTON Harrison BANKS Dylan HELME Arthur BENNETT Oskar VAN HEERDEN Matt XIAO |
Reserves
| NON-TRAVELLING RESERVES | |
| Women Deryn WILLIAMS Maria LEBEDEVA Cecilia HUEPFL Xanthe TRIM Anike THOMPSON Moyi ZHOU Emily DE BONO Tilly COUGHTRIE |
Men Oscar CASADIO ROBINSON Milosz BEKERMAN Harry WRIGHT Timeo CERDAN James DUNMALL Imad AHMED Luca HALL Felix DE POUMEYROL Henry BAGSHAW |
Teams
The below includes the initial team selections, and the final team selections. The final team selections were confirmed after athletes accepted and declined their invitations and provided their availability for the team events. Please note that there may be some changes to these team at the competition in the event of any late withdrawals or injuries.
| TEAMS* | |||
| INITITAL SELECTION | FINAL TEAM SELECTION | ||
| Women Team 1 Eilidh PATERSON Adel TIMURKAN Isabella D’ABBRACCIO Leena ZIKARA Team 2 Saskia SCHOLEY Olivia CERDAN Lea PANYANDEE-CAPPELLI Isabel POTTINGER Team 3 Eleanor SCOTT Lucinda FIELDING Alma-Constance DENIS-SMITH Isabella HOWSER |
Men Team 1 Alex NICHOLAS Solu NGOKA Jack BECKLEY James FAIRHOLME Team 2 Timur HURSEVER Lucas FARLAM Henry DE BONO Oghenegaren ESIOVWA-THOMPSON Team 3 Jonathan LAW Harrison HAMPTON Harrison BANKS Dylan HELME |
Women Team 1 Adel TIMURKAN Saskia SCHOLEY Lea PANYANDEE-CAPPELLI Eleanor SCOTT Team 2 Alma-Constance DENIS-SMITH Eliana YUNISI-PARIKH Maria LEBEDEVA Xanthe TRIM Reserve Moyi ZHOU |
Men Team 1 Timur HURSEVER Jonathan LAW Oskar van HEERDEN Oscar CASADIO ROBINSON Team 2 Milosz BEKERMAN Harry WRIGHT Felix DE POUMEYROL |
*Team selections assume fencers are able to stay for the whole event including place play-offs. The GBR Coaches are able to change the teams to minimise the impact of any fencer unable to stay until the conclusion of the tournament and to best support the team’s overall experience.
BF strongly encourages fencers to consider the logistics before accepting their team place on Sport:80. Team competitions will generally continue until the early evening.
Coaches and Officials
| Authorised personal coaches TBC |
GBR Pathway coaches Paul BEASLEY Sam BOYLE |
Referees Phil ELLIOTT Bruce MCCAIG |
The role of the GBR Pathway Coach includes role modelling, on-the-ground support (troubleshooting), and talent identification.
Trip Costs/Athlete Contributions
As travel and accommodation costs have increased in the current climate, we have had to increase the travel and administration costs to reflect this. The costs now are:
Each EFC squad of 20 fencers will require three referees (or a 500 euro fine per missing referee).
Please note that unless notified otherwise, your place must be accepted and paid for within four days of notification from the BF membership platform (Sport:80).
Selection Queries
Carefully read the selection policy, which can be found here, if you believe there is an error in ranking calculations or policy application.
Queries regarding discretionary applications should contact GBR Support using the Pathway/ADP Query Form. Ensure you have your Individual Athlete Development Plan (IADP) available and that it has been uploaded via this link before contacting BF.
Rankings
Click here for rankings and selection information for this selection. The ranking file (csv) downloaded from the ranking system is attached to the selection information. If you believe there is an error in the production of these rankings, please register your query here within two working days of the selection announcement.
Appeals
The BF Appeal Policy and Procedure published here sets out the framework process that will be followed. Athletes have two (2) working days to submit their notices of appeal.
Withdrawals
After accepting a place, and you wish to withdraw you must do so by completing the online withdrawal form rather than emailing. For non-medical withdrawals: explain the reason in the form; you may still incur fines or charges. For medical withdrawals: use the same form, give the reason and attach required medical evidence.
Accredited Personal Coaches
To attend in the capacity of a personal coach, you must register in advance with BF. Personal coaches must apply for accreditation to each event using this form. All coaches, including personal coaches, must be on the BF Coaching Register here and not coach against fellow GBR fencers during international competitions.
Travel
The parent or athlete is responsible for ensuring that the athlete can enter the competition host country, has a valid passport and meets the host country’s entry requirements. Parents are responsible for travel arrangements and the welfare of athletes on cadet trips. Read the ‘Foreign travel advice’ section of the gov.uk website for further details.
Eligibility
As per the selection policy.
EFC Licence – you need a licence to compete
To compete in this competition, you need a valid EFC licence for the 2025-26 season. You must apply for this via Sport:80 before accepting your place at this event.
Instructions on how to apply for the licence
1. Go to your British Fencing Membership on Sport:80 bf.sport80.com
2. Login using your membership details
3. Click on your profile
4. Then click on the International Licences tab
5. And follow the directions to apply for an EFC licence
For complete instructions, click here.
Contact
Please only contact the organisers regarding booking accommodation if the organisers are offering this service. Please do not contact the organisers for any other queries. For all other queries, please contact BF using the Pathway/ADP Query Form.
Other Important Information
All selections require a British passport or certificate of British Citizenship. This must be uploaded to Sport:80 and approved by BF before you can accept your place on this trip.
All BF Codes of Conduct apply to athletes, parents, coaches and officials; attention is drawn to the Code of Conduct for Youth Events.
BF will process the entries through the EFC once they are finalised. Entries are done 14 days before the deadline on a Thursday.
Equipment Requirements
Ensure your kit is in complete working order, with all weapons and bodywires tested for continuity, resistance, and weight. It would be best to do this before leaving the UK, as there may not be an armoury service or an equipment stall at the event. Maintaining your equipment can mean the difference between hits registering or not. There will be weapon control. Different competitions check different items – so be prepared for everything to pass weapon control.
Please check to make sure you meet the FIE requirements. Further information can be found here.
Accepting Your Place
An invitation email from Sport:80 will follow this post within 24 hours. Unless notified otherwise, all places must be accepted and full payment made within four working days of notification from the BF membership platform (Sport:80).
Fencers must confirm their selection by following the instructions in the invitation email and making any payments due. Athletes who have not made payment in full and completed the registration form within the deadlines will forfeit their place to any remaining reserves.
Any athlete who accepts and pays for their place but fails to appear at the event may be liable for any EFC fines.
Please visit the GBR Cadet Zone for further information about anti-doping, kit requirements, and guides to weapons checks.
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