2026 CADET & JUNIOR EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS TBILISI

Key Dates for Selection

• Tuesday 16th December: Selection point (rankings and qualification standards frozen)
• Tuesday 16th December – midnight Thursday 18th December: Appeals window for any discrepancies in data.
• Friday 19th December: Initial selection announcement (automatic qualifiers) subject to any appeals
• Monday 5th January: Invites for those in initial selection from 19th December
• Monday 5th January: Championship Selection Panel meeting for the remaining places
• Tuesday 6th January: Final selection announcement
• Thursday 8th January: Invites for those in final selection from 6th January

*Please note: All dates listed in the selection timeline are indicative and subject to change. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, adjustments may occur without prior notice. Please refer to this page regularly for the most current information.

Selected athletes are expected to attend the designated Europeans Preparation Sessions, unless they have received prior authorisation to be absent. The camp is organised by weapon:

• Foil – FCL: 15–16 February
• Sabre – PDFA: 7–8 February
• Epee – Bath: 7–8 February

BF Staff Team

Chef de Mission(s): Patricia AIYENURO
Team Manager: Denise JOHNSON
Athlete Support (Sports Science & Medicine): Oliver GRAHAM
Performance Coach Support: TBC

GBR Coaches

Épée Coaching Team
Cadet:  Paul BEASLEY, Sam BOYLE
Junior: Oana PUIU, Pavel RYNES

Foil Coaching Team
Cadet: Dan ROBINSON, Dominique STOWELL
Junior: Keith COOK, Ben PEGGS

Sabre Coaching Team
Cadet: Chris BUXTON, Brynmor SAUNDERS
Junior: Can AYDIN, Alex BELA

Authorised Personal Coaches

TBC
(Coaches: please refer to the information section below for guidance on accreditation and requirements.)

EFC Officials & Referees

GBR Referees attending: Chiara McDermott

Travel

Please read the following guidance carefully.

Emergency Travel Forms:

All athletes must complete the Travel and Emergency Information Form no later than 31 January 2026.

Select the relevant travel form for your event:

• FIE European Junior Championships 2026 (Tbilisi)
• EFC European Cadet Championships 2026 (Tbilisi)

Arrival Requirements: 

To optimise performance at Major Championships, all fencers must arrive by the designated entry point to allow sufficient time for preparation and orientations

Due to flight schedules to Tbilisi, which typically involve late-night arrivals, an additional night’s stay will be included. Accommodation will consist of six nights in twin rooms, aligned with the group’s entry and exit points, allowing two full days before the competition for:

• Recovery from travel
• Venue familiarisation
• Weapons control
• Resolving any equipment issues
• Final physical and mental preparations

Example:
Athletes scheduled to compete on Friday are required to check in at the hotel no later than Tuesday night.

Entry and Exit points for this competition:

Example Travel Plan

• 18/02/26 – Join the GBR Squad by 14:00 (team hotel)
• 19/02/26 – Preparation day
• 20/02/26 – Individual competition
• 21/02/26 – Recovery day
• 22/02/26 – Team event
• 23/02/26 – Depart the GBR Squad by 11:00

Staff Travel

Travel with Minors

Minors Accompanied by an Adult

If a child under 18 is travelling with someone who is not a parent or legal guardian, the supervising adult must carry a written and signed letter of consent from the parent/guardian.

Unaccompanied Minors

Please contact [email protected] to discuss travel options for unaccompanied minors.
Where possible, there may be opportunities to book the same flights as designated support staff.

Transfers

No official transfers included.

As the taxi service, Bolt, provides value for money and readily available, please utilise this and other taxi services to the team hotel.

Related Information

BF Travel Guide – Tbilisi 

When booking flights, please bear in mind the need for appropriate travel insurance to cover any changes or cancellations.

Insurance
Please note that as of 1 January 2026 insurance will become mandatory for all foreign citizens entering Georgia.

The insurance may not cover less than 30000 GEL (ca 10000€) – details can be found here https://geoconsul.gov.ge/en/entering-georgia. In most cases your “normal” travel assurance will cover this, please consult with your insurance companies. Ideally have them issue a certificate stating that the coverage is valid for Georgia.

Hotel – Hualing, Tbilisi City.

British Fencing has made advance hotel bookings for athletes and designated support staff.
Personal coaches are welcome to book their own rooms at the same hotel.
Please note: Family members are not permitted to stay in the team hotel.

Accommodation will consist of six nights in twin rooms, aligned with the group’s entry and exit points.

Accommodation Dates by Group

Additional Nights

Fencers who plan to arrive earlier or depart later than the scheduled dates must arrange and fund their own accommodation.
BF is unable to provide additional nights outside the official entry and exit points.

Hotel Rates

All hotel rates are per room, per night, and include breakfast. Rates apply only to stays within the designated entry and exit dates.

Anticipated Costs (subject to confirmation)

• Entry Fees: £175 (covers individual and team events)
• Hotel Costs: £460 for 6 nights
• In-Event Support Staff Contribution: £155 per athlete
• Back Office Administration: £52
• Media Services: £31 (Includes in-event photography & Images licensed for personal use)

GBR Pathway Subsidy

The GBR Pathway Programme will subsidise athlete costs for the European Championships, contributing toward:

• Chef de Mission support
• Designated support staff
• Coaching provision
• Athlete well-being services (sports science & medicine)
• Performance Coaching Support (Fully covered by British Fencing using a dedicated coach development budget)

Means-Tested Support

Means-tested grants are available for athletes who would not be able to attend without financial assistance.
For more information, please contact: [email protected]

Please note:
Athletes whose families plan to travel to the event or who are paying for personal coaches are not eligible for grants.

• Preliminary Cadet Selection Announcement: Click Here

• Preliminary Junior Selection Announcement: Click Here
• Final Cadet Selection Announcement: Click Here
• Final Junior Selection Announcement: Click Here

Confirmed Cadet Squad:

Confirmed Junior Squad:

Tracksuits

We will contact athletes who do not already have the official tracksuit required for the 2026 Cadet and Juniors European Championships to arrange their kit order.

More information about which tracksuit you need and how to order additional kit here. 

Full GBR kit is required so please ensure you have the BF T-shirt, BF track bottoms or track pants and a Championship track top.

Under FIE regulations, the Official National Tracksuit must be worn in full—both jacket and trousers—on all podiums.

Club tracksuits, cycling shorts, leggings, or other non-official items are not permitted.

GBR Patches

Athletes are responsible for ensuring that:

• Their fencing kit features the correct GBR patches, and
• All equipment complies with FIE standards.

Sponsor Logos

Under the terms of the Leon Paul sponsorship agreement, all competing athletes are required to wear a Leon Paul logo on their kit.

Athletes must also ensure that any additional sponsor logos comply with the FIE Publicity Code., including correct placement and sizing.

For full guidance, please see the GBR logos and patches instructions here.

For more information read the GBR logos and patches instructions here.

Personal Coaches Accreditation: deadline for applications Monday 2nd February 2026

Form to Request Accreditation – The coaches accreditation form will go live at 5pm on Monday 12th of January 2026

Requirements for Personal Coaches wishing to be accredited at Major Events

All coaches must abide by the relevant BF policies, including the GBR Coaches Policy these include (this is not an exhaustive list please click on the links for more information):

• being on the Coach Register (UK) or the Coach Register (Overseas) 
• having completed the UKAD Anti-Doping course and uploaded the certificate to Sport 80
• holding a valid EFC Licence
• consistently demonstrating suitable coaching behaviours and are not currently being investigated
• having an up-to-date Coach Health Check – Personal Development Plan
• being the coach of a fencer in selection places 1-4
• being the coach of an athlete that has met the qualification standard for selection

Where there is a limit to the number of personal coaches that will be accredited priority will be given to personal coaches that have a evidential track record of positive engagement and collaboration with BF support staff /other GBR coaches and whose athletes are on a trajectory to medal success.

All coaches must abide by the relevant BF policies (including the GBR Coaches Policy) and codes of conduct, including the GBR Coaches Code of Conduct.

Code of conduct:

By accepting selection to represent GBR at any European and World Championships, you have already agreed to the BF Codes of Conduct – which includes the generic BF Code of Conduct, the Code of Conduct for Youth Events and the GBR Athlete Code of Conduct.

Please act responsibly and sensibly, and understand that we are one collective team. Respect and support for your fellow team members is expected and reasonable.

Every squad member is supported by public funding and is expected to behave in a way that recognises the responsibility that this brings. Funding to compete (whether from public or private sources) is not an entitlement, and we owe it to everyone who contributes to our participation to act as professionals and role models for our sport.

As a reminder, Cadet and Junior Championships events are alcohol-free for the entire duration of the stay, and any athlete consuming alcohol should expect to serve a ban in accordance with the published sanctions. They may also be sent home from the event, be withdrawn from any remaining events and be liable for all arising costs. Parents and Personal Coaches attending events are expected to support athletes and are respectfully requested to refrain from consuming alcohol if they are in the company of athletes.

Any breach of the BF Code of Conduct may also result in fines equivalent to any athlete subsidy paid by BF.

Anti-Doping:

Please note: There will be testing at the event.

Athletes must have a valid anti-doping certificate on their membership record on Sport:80, without this they will not be able to accept the invite to the competition.

If you have not already got a valid certificate on Sport:80, you should do this now, see the instructions below:-

• Complete the UKAD online course Compete Clean+ and upload the “Course Complete” certificate to your British Fencing membership record on Sport:80. The course is on the UKAD Clean Sport Hub at https://www.ukad.org.uk/cleansporthub
• See a video explaining how to upload a certificate to your British Fencing membership record here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz95SfDIVrk

Be aware of Strict Liability – an athlete is solely responsible for any banned substance they use, attempt to use, or that is found in their system, regardless of how it got there and whether or not they had an intention to cheat

Please see the British Fencing anti-doping page at https://www.britishfencing.com/policy-zone/anti-doping/

Athletes are solely responsible for any banned substance they use, attempt to use, or that is found in their system, regardless of how it got there and whether or not they had an intention to cheat. Athletes must:

• Ensure they have TUEs in place if necessary
• Use the Global DRO portal to check medication
• Download the 100% me Clean Sport App (Apple, Android)

For any questions about the anti-doping and education requirements, please ask Neil Brown [email protected]

Please ensure you have met the relevant Athlete, Coach, Parent/Supporter Training mandatory requirements. 

There will be EFC Safeguarding Officers at the event and the FIE Safeguarding policy and the EFC Safeguarding Code of Conduct will be in place for all participants.

BF welfare policies and codes of conduct apply to athletes, coaches, parents and supporters associated with the GBR team.

There will also be mandatory training (which includes specific training on the FIE safeguarding policy) for all those selected and those that intend to accompany them.

More details here.

Communications & Social Media:

During the event:

• Athletes selected for major championships are encouraged to use official British Fencing hashtags such as #GBRFencing on all social posts.Join in the action with GBR Fencing on social media:

  BF Instagram

  BF Facebook

• Athletes, parents, and coaches should share their journey and experiences of major competitions to promote engagement and community spirit.
• All social media content relating to this competition must comply with the British Fencing Code of Conduct. Ensure that all images—including fencing, warm-ups, and coaching—reflect best practice in terms of conduct and safety.
• Please note the GBR vs GBR Supporting Policy for information in the case of a GBR vs GBR match.
• When taking podium or group photos, please ensure everyone in the photo is looking at the camera for clarity and professionalism.
• Athletes who make the podium will be expected to provide a short quote prior to the medal presentation to help the BF media team celebrate the result promptly.
• Media contact during the event should go through your team staff or the designated BF media team to avoid distractions.
• In case of any issues, crisis management will be handled by team staff as the main point of contact.

After the Event

• BF will upload approved images to the BF Digital Portal, following BF’s imagery guidelines.
• BF will provide an event report according to the official BF Reporting International results reporting policy.
• BF will provide content for the Sword edition, including reports and imagery.

Cyber Security:

Please visit the British Fencing Cyber Security page for advice on keeping your personal information safe while travelling abroad for fencing. Key tips include using strong passwords, limiting sensitive data on devices, and following BF’s digital security guidance.

If you cannot find the information you need on this page, please submit any questions to us at [email protected], and a member of the GBR Support team will respond to you. Please note that we cannot reply to all emails personally, but we will update this page to answer the most common queries we receive.

Please read the Supporters and Parents Section of the Major Events Guide