2025 Lobster Pot Fencing Tournament

28th Annual Lobster Pot Fencing Tournament

Saturday, November 1st, 2025

Sponsored by Down East School of Fencing & the Northeast Division USA Fencing

Events & Check-in Times:

9:00 AM - Senior Mixed C & Under Epee (Open to all fencers rated C and lower)

9:00 AM - Senior Mixed Unrated Epee (Open to all fencers Unrated)

10:00 AM - Senior Mixed C & Under Foil (Open to all fencers rated C and lower)

11:30 AM - Senior Mixed Unrated Foil (Open to all fencers Unrated)

12:30 PM – Youth Development Mixed Y12 Mixed Foil (Open to youth fencers birth years: 2013-2016)

12:30 PM - Youth Development Mixed Y10 Mixed Foil (Open to youth fencers birth years: 2015-2018)

1:30 PM – Youth Y14 Mixed Foil (Open to youth fencers birth years: 2011-2014)

2:00 PM - Youth Development Mixed Y14 Saber (Open to youth fencers birth years: 2011-2014)

2:30 PM - Senior Mixed Unrated Saber (Open to all fencers Unrated)

DESF hosts USA Sanctioned events and Practice events during the day of the tournament:

For USA Fencing Sanctioned Events:

All fencers must be a USA Fencing Member or Canadian Federation Member. You can join USA Fencing on-line at http://www.usafencing.org. Information about memberships are at: https://www.usafencing.org/membership#Individual_Memberships_cs64). We recommended that you renew your membership before the tournament on-line. Present your printed membership card or proof of your current membership when you check-in (i.e., mobile).

Sanctioned events can be Senior, Junior or Youth (i.e., Y14). Ratings may be earned subject to established conditions. Please review the USA Fencing Age Class Chart for eligibility in all events: https://www.usafencing.org/age-classification-eligibility. "Senior" - Senior does not mean old people! It just means anyone who is age 13 and older. Any events that are listed as Senior: i.e., C or Unclassified, where a rating may be earned. You must be born 2012 or earlier. In any tournament where children can fence with adults, the fencer must be age 13 by January 1 of the competition season (August 1, 2025 - August 1, 2026). "Youth" – DESF often holds Y14 events, some sanctioned and some practice (Youth Development, see below).

1. C Senior Events = C, D, U, E rated & Unrated fencers may participate.
2. U or Unrated Senior Events = Only unrated fencers may participate.
3. Y14 Youth Events = Fencers with Birth Years: 2011-2014 may participate.
4. Mixed events = Gender combined.
5. Electric gear is required for all USA Fencing sanctioned events, and events are conducted with electric gear. 

For DESF Practice Events:

Youth Development Practice Events: DESF practice tournaments for youth. These events are designed as practice to assist youth to have a fuller learning experience at fencing tournaments and to address youth events that have had historically low turnouts in our region in Maine. The format involves fencers as volunteer mentors to assist in creating bouting opportunities for youth with the goal of developing a stronger local field of youth fencers. For more information, contact DESF at desfcg@aol.com or 207-974-8461 (cell/text). 

1. Y14 Youth Development Events = Fencers ages 11 - 14.
2. Y10 or Y12 Youth Development Events = Fencers ages 11 and younger may participate.
3. Y10 & Y12 Events may be combined age groups for practice.
4. Mixed events = Gender combined.

Teen or Adult Novice Events: DESF practice tournaments for teens or adults. These events are designed as practice for new fencers (less than two years), or fencers who are fencing for fitness and enjoyment. These events may be conducted non-electrically with judges, or with electric equipment depending on availability. For more information, contact DESF at desfcg@aol.com or 207-974-8461 (cell/text). 

1. Teen Practice Events = Fencers ages 12 - 16 may participate.
2. Adult Practice Events = Fencers ages 17 and older may participate.
3. Mixed = Men & Women events are combined.

Pre-registration & Entry Fees: 

USA Fencing sanctioned events: At check-in, proof of membership is required for USA Fencing or Canadian Federation Member sanctioned events: Please show your membership card or proof

of membership (i.e., mobile). All official members must be on the USA Fencing members list by the date of the tournament. Those without proof of membership, you may join on-line at the event with your mobile at: http://www.usafencing.org.

Entry fees: 

Attention!!: Pre-registration closes earlier on Wednesday, October 29th by 9:00 PM.

USA Fencing sanctioned events: $25 per event per fencer if you pre-register on Ask-FRED by the close of pre-registration on Wednesday, ,October 29th by 9:00 PM. $30 per event at the door.

Practice Youth Development, Teen & Novice Adult events: $20 per event per fencer.

Pre-register here NOW: https://www.askfred.net/tournaments/0f0f7aeb-6ec4-4448-aff8-59e44bc151a5/preregister

These fees only apply to DESF hosted tournaments. Entry fees go towards tournament management costs: rental, refereeing, awards, materials and strip set-up costs (i.e., tape), wear and tear on electric equipment (i.e., electric strip equipment maintenance). If you would like to make additional donations toward the "referee" fund, a box will be available.

Courtesy of pre-registration is highly encouraged, but those wishing to register at the door are welcome. When appropriate, incentives (i.e., discounted entry fees) will be offered to encourage additional participation in low turnout events to increase fencing opportunities. The tournament manager reserves the right to determine the type and amount of these incentives on an

individual event basis.

Awards:

Medals for the top three finishers will be given for each event. Lobster prizes are also traditional at the Lobster Pot. Any ratings in USA Fencing sanctioned events will be awarded according to USA Fencing tournament rules and conditions:https://assets.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blteb7d012fc7ebef7f/blt87be89259d2523de/Ratings%20Chart.pdf.

Fencers this season (2025 - 2026) will receive points for attendance and placement at our DESF tournaments toward an end of the season prize (Down East Season Point Challenge). Please inquire regarding details of the system. Rules and standings will be posted periodically.

The Fencing Flea Market:

DESF will provide tables for a flea market for fencing equipment. Fencers are welcome to bring used or new equipment they wish to trade, sell or donate. Price your own items, or John will be available to help you price any used equipment if you need assistance. Please ensure that the equipment you sell is clean and in good shape. If you are not sure if your used equipment is in good condition, bring it anyway, and we can evaluate its condition. Important: Please provide contact information (name, telephone, e-mail) at the table, so that buyers may be in touch with sellers. Many new fencers may be looking to purchase used equipment for the first time. Contact information is important in case the buyer will want to contact the seller directl

Venue:

G.H. Jewett School Gymnasium

66 Bridge Street

Bucksport, Maine 04416

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SE6QzdX7ByqC41Ue9

Parking is behind and across street from school. Entrance is behind the building. Look for DESF road sign on School Street to direct you to the rear of the school for most direct parking.

Tourist Information: Venue very near to Bucksport Harbor Walk, Downtown, Fort Knox, Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory. There are many places in town for eating: Subway, McDonalds, Ming's, House of Pizza, Dairy Port Ice Cream, Warren's, Waterfront, My Buddy's Place, Char-Lee’s.

Special thanks to Bucksport YMCA for hosting this event. The USFA Events above are sanctioned by the Northeast Division USFA. See http://www.askfred.net for a listing of Northeast Division events (Search Northeast Division for Tournaments). Youth Development and Novice practice events are hosted and sponsored by Down East School of Fencing.

Next DESF Tournament: 

TBA

Contact and host club:

John Krauss

Down East School of Fencing

207-974-8461(cell/text/facebook messenger)

desfcg@aol.com

www.facebook.com/desfcg

Weather/Tournament Updates: www.facebook.com/desfcg

COVID-19 Procedures: The State of Maine (CDC) recommends that immune-compromised individuals wear masks indoors. Masks are no longer required for attendees, fencers and

persons (including parents and spectators). If you are feeling sick on the day of the event, please stay home.