The requirements are applicable for all competitions at the Albion Cup, but we reserve the right to change them at any  time.

Protective gear requirements.

Protective Gear:

Note that there must be no exposed bare skin, including at the nape of the neck, the back of the shins, the palms, and the wrists.

Fencing Mask: FIE 1600N masks. Masks must not show signs of distress/damage that will impact on their use, like dents or rusting. Mask top/side covers are not required, but are recommended for sabre, sword & buckler, and longsword, at least.

Back of Head Protection: The back of the head needs to be covered by a solid, rigid protector, without significant gaps.

Gorget: We require a solid throat guard covering the front of the throat.

Jackets: Either a well padded HEMA jacket, or a sport fencing jacket over significant other protection (motocross padding, solid chest guards etc.). An ordinary fencing jacket without significant padding is acceptable for smallsword. If the jacket does not have a blade catcher at the throat, a “Polish apron” or similar guard to prevent the blade sliding under the mask bib must be worn. For sabre and longsword, the jacket must cover the points of the hip – if not then padded fencing trousers or a SPES skirt must be worn. No gambesons with gaps allowed, including potential gaps at fastening points.

Elbows: Solid protection for longsword, sword & buckler and sabre. Recommended but not required for rapier & dagger or smallsword.

Knees: Solid protection including the sides of the knee is required for all weapons, recommended but not required for smallsword.

Shins and Forearms: Solid protection is required for longsword, sword & buckler and sabre. Recommended for rapier and smallsword.

Gloves: For longsword and sabre, thick fencing gloves with no or very limited gaps at the fingers – such as SPES heavy gloves, Koning gloves or Sparring Gloves. Metal gauntlets are not allowed. Unmodified Red Dragon or Lacrosse gloves are not suitable for Longsword but are allowed for sabre and sword & buckler (we suggest wearing finger tip protectors at least). For rapier and smallsword, sport fencing gloves are allowed, but it is recommended to wear padded coaching type gloves or better.

Chest protector: required for rapier & dagger and smallsword tournaments. For longsword, sword & buckler and sabre tournaments required for women, recommended for men.

Groin Guard: required for men. Recommended for women.

Weapons:

All tournaments are conducted on a “Bring Your Own Sword” basis.

Weapons are to be checked for flexibility, signs of damage etc. You may not use a sword which has previously suffered a serious deformation and been re-straightened! Where we give example manufacturers these are merely examples of makers whose products we have experience with, not guarantees that any particular weapon will pass examination.

Sabre: “Heavy gymnasium” sabres with rolled tips. If a sabre doesn’t have a rolled tip, a rubber tip must be attached. 85cm blade length. Max weight 1000g. Note that Red Dragon “Easton” sabres are not allowed due to history of failures and design/manufacturing defects. Example manufacturers: Danelli Armouries, Regenyei. Hanwei Hutton sabres are not allowed.

Longsword: “Federschwert” type sparring longswords with either widened tips, rolled tips or an attached rubber tip. Maximum length 140cm. Maximum weight 1800g. Side rings of reasonable size are allowed. Cross-guards and schilts must be well rounded. Red Dragon federschwerts are not allowed due to history of failures and design/manufacturing defects. Example makers: Regenyei, Danelli, Ensifer, Pavel Moc, Szymon Chlebowski, Castille.

Rapier: Cup hilts or Pappenheimer guards are recommended for additional hand protection. Maximum blade length is 115cm. Tips must be capped with rubber archery blunt.

Daggers: Sail hilts are recommended for additional hand protection. Maximum blade length is 45cm. Tips as per rapier. Hanwei dagger blades are not allowed.

Sword & Buckler: Arming sword or sidesword with either widened tip, rolled tip or an attached rubber tip. Maximum blade length is 92 cm. Buckler maximum diameter 35cm. Safe edges, for example, leather or rolled steel, are required. Targas and other non-round shields are not allowed.

Smallsword: Smallswords. These may be foil, epee, ‘musketeer’ or schlaeger bladed between 30” and 35” long. They must have reasonable flex, be blunt and have the tip buttoned. They must have a simple hilt, but need not have a knucklebow. Foils and epees may be used – Pistol grips are not allowed.