Open Sessions Resuming from 3rd August
We are very pleased to announce that Open Sessions will be resuming for EVERYONE twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Thursdays 19:15-21:45, from next week 3rd and 5th August 2021.
You will all appreciate that our club processes have had to change to be in line with Scottish Government and our Governing Body Covid restrictions. Therefore it is really important that you read the following information in full.
All fencers must hold a valid British Fencing Membership, our session numbers are limited and will therefore only be available to our existing EFC membership (those fully paid up prior to Lockdown 1, March 2020), all fencers must book a place at a session in advance, fencers must ensure they have all the necessary kit, and adhere to our COVID rules including keeping a 2m physical distance and wearing a facemask in communal areas.
Open Sessions
We are really keen to get our Open Session regulars (of all ages) back into the club for some non-coached electric sparring. Therefore our usual pre-Covid Tuesday and Thursday Open Sessions will resume from 3rd August 2021. These sessions are most suited to self motivated experienced electric fencers, with all their own kit. However any of our U18’s who have already been attending our restart sessions this year, and are in possession of an electric weapon, wires and a lame, are also invited to attend these sessions.
Session times have been tweaked slightly to allow for set-up and a formal check-in, and now start at 19:15. Please make sure you arrive promptly, and wait in the car-park until you are invited in to the building by a Coach or Club Official.
** Please Note: Our regular Wednesday Cadet Foil and Sabre Classes, and our Thursday Cadet Sabre Class will not resume until Wednesday 25th August. An email with details will follow later.**
Payment
We are restarting monthly membership, and ask you to please click on the link to Request a Direct Debit Mandate. We will check your details and send you a follow-up email with next steps within 24hrs.
Membership types are, Standard £40 or Concession £30 (School Kids and Students – with ID). Alternatively those that prefer can opt for pay-as-you-go fencing charged at £10 per each individual session they attend, payable via the booking system (includes booking fee).
British Fencing
It is a requirement of our Insurance and Sporting Governing Body, that all fencers must have a valid British Fencing Membership. If you don’t have one, or it expired during lockdown, you will need to join or renew your membership before you can book a place at one of our sessions.
** Please be aware that any EFC session bookings made without a valid British Fencing Membership will be cancelled. **
Kit
All fencers must bring with them everything needed to fence on the box, this includes all fencing whites, safety kit, electric weaponry, wires and a lame.
No club kit will be available to borrow on the night
Book your place in advance
Due to current C19 restrictions all attendance at sessions must be booked in advance. When your Direct Debit Mandate has been completed, you will be sent a link to the booking system. Priority booking will be given to Monthly Members until 9am on Sunday 1st August, after such time an email with a link to general bookings including pay-as-you-go will be sent out and bookings will be open for everyone.
Please note that bookings are on a first-come-first-served basis and we cannot guarantee you a place at every session. If at some point in the future demand for a session exceeds capacity, a priority booking system may be employed to ensure fair access for all fencers.
For sessions beyond 6th August it is our aim to have bookings open at least 10 days in advance of a session, and Monthly Members will be given a minimum 48hr priority booking window.
** If you cannot attend your booked session please cancel your booking with at least 48hrs notice, so that your place can be taken up by another fencer. **
I want to resume fencing at Open Sessions from 3rd August, what do I need to do?
- Step 1, Ensure that you have a valid British Fencing Membership
- Step 2, Click on the Request a Direct Debit Mandate link above
- Step 3, Check your inbox for the DD Mandate email, and complete it asap
- Step 4, Check that you have full Kit, and it still fits!
- Step 5, Check your inbox for the link to the Booking System, and Book your place in advance
- Step 6, Come along and Fence!
If you have any questions or need any further information please do get in touch, we are really looking forward to seeing you all back at the club!
Kind regards,
The Committee
Edinburgh Fencing Club