17/12/2025- Selection
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EFC CADET (NOVI SAD) ME & WE 2026

GB Women’s and Men’s Epee preliminary squad has been selected for the European Fencing Confederation (EFC) Cadet event in Novi Sad, Serbia.

Published 17th December 2025
Updated 12th January 2026 with additional reserves and revised deadline
Updated 14th January 2026 with final teams

Updated 14th January with change of venue.

The following athletes are now invited to attend the EFC Cadet event in Novi Sad, Serbia.

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: 24th – 25th 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
Isabella HOWSER
Lea PANYANDEE – CAPPELLI
Saskia SCHOLEY
Leena ZIKARA
Isabel POTTINGER
Alma-Constance DENIS-SMITH
Lucinda FIELDING
Thea TCHALENKO
Olivia CERDAN
Evelyn COE
Eliana YUNUSI-PARIKH
Deryn WILLIAMS
Men
Alex NICHOLAS
Solu NGOKA
Jack BECKLEY
Oghenegaren ESIOVWA-THOMPSON
Timur HURSEVER
Lucas FARLAM
James FAIRHOLME
Henry DE BONO
Oskar VAN HEERDEN
Harrison HAMPTON
Dylan HELME
Jonathan LAW
Harrison BANKS
Matt XIAO
Imad AHMED


Reserves

NON-TRAVELLING RESERVES
Women
Eleanor SCOTT
Maria LEBEDEVA
Tilly COUGHTRIE
Cecilia HUEPFL
Men
Arthur BENNETT
Harry WRIGHT
Oscar CASADIO ROBINSON
Milosz BEKERMAN
Luca HALL
Timeo CERDAN
James DUNMALL
Felix DE POUMEYROL
Henry BAGSHAW
Joshua CORNISH-BARLOW
Zalan Zeno FARAGO
Benjamin GEENS

 

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
Isabella HOWSER
Team 2
Lea PANYANDEE – CAPPELLI
Saskia SCHOLEY
Leena ZIKARA
Isabel POTTINGER
Team 3
Alma-Constance DENIS-SMITH
Lucinda FIELDING
Thea TCHALENKO
Olivia CERDAN
Men
Team 1
Alex NICHOLAS
Solu NGOKA
Jack BECKLEY
Oghenegaren ESIOVWA-THOMPSON
Team 2
Timur HURSEVER
Lucas FARLAM
James FAIRHOLME
Henry DE BONO
Team 3
Oskar VAN HEERDEN
Harrison HAMPTON
Dylan HELME
Jonathan LAW
Women
Team 1

Adel TIMURKAN
Lea PANYANDEE – CAPPELLI
Saskia SCHOLEY
Eliana YUNUSI-PARIKH
Reserves
Eleanor SCOTT (first reserve)
Maria LEBEDEVA (second reserve)
Men
Due to a lack of availability among the fencers for the team event, there will be no GBR team men’s epee team entered into this competition.

*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
Alex AGRENICH
Referees
Roz GRAHAM
Noah BLACKMORE
Phil ELLIOTT

 

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:

  • Administration fee: £21
  • Referee Contribution: £154

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

  • FIE equipment is required (800 NW clothes, 1600 NW masks, 800 NW plastron, and FIE homologated blades).
  • Name and country printed on the back of the jacket/lame are not required.
  • The ‘GBR’ patch is not needed for cadets. These are required only for athletes selected for Cadet European or World Championships or FIE Junior or FIE Senior international events.

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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