NEUSFA 2025 Pomme De Terre

There was a glitch in the system that was allowing fencers who are too young to enter this event. If you entered with a birthyear of 2012 or later, you are ineligible. If you got through and show up at the event as age ineligible, you will not fence and you will not be refunded. See #6 below.

PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW.

PLEASE:

1) DO NOT EMAIL via askfred. PLEASE email merritt55@comcast.net for questions, info. etc. The email address connected to askfred is not used on a regular basis so if you email me via askfred your question may not be answered in a timely manner.

2) DO NOT EMAIL if you have had a recent classification change and it's not reflected in askfred. Your profile will update when the event is uploaded to the computer and results from this event are posted back to askfred. Only classifications noted in the USFencing database are accepted.

FYI: If you are fully registered for the E and under event and earn a higher classification before the Pomme, you may still compete in the event. As long as you are fully registered, earning a higher classification does not disqualify you from competing. Use it as a practice event.

Also, DO NOT contact me if you miss a deadline. There are no exceptions for late entries. See #1 below.

For any other questions NOT ANSWERED below, please contact:

merritt55@comcast.net

I recommend you read all current info below before contacting me with questions.

LIVE RESULTS WILL BE ON FENCINGTIMELIVE.COM

POMME DE TERRE INDIVIDUAL

BILL HALL VETERAN EVENTS

New England Division USFA (NEUSFA) will hold the 36th Annual Pomme de Terre fencing tournament in the Gorman Athletic Center at Brandeis University on June 14 & June 15, 2025.

PLEASE READ BELOW FOR FAQs and IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR FOREIGN FENCERS.

1. NO EXCEPTIONS ARE MADE FOR LATE ENTRY. Please, DO NOT email me with your reason for not registering on time. The answer will not be any different than what is stated here. Your inability to register on time is not my problem. Register early to avoid any issues. Registration without complete payment does not mean you are entered. Register AND COMPLETE PAYMENT before the stated deadlines. Please remember to check t-shirt size.

2. NO WALKINS WILL BE ALLOWED - only preregistered and PAID competitors may fence.

3. US fencers - you must be current ACCESS or COMPETITIVE MEMBERS of USFencing. There are no day memberships and noncompetitive memberships are ineligible. Collegiate members MUST be on their U.S. college/university official roster.

4 FOREIGN athletes. We welcome your participation at the PdT; however, you must be a current international member of USFencing to compete. Please go to the usafencing.org website/membership to obtain your international USFA membership. This includes our friends from Canada.

5. Any FOREIGN national with a world ranking within the last 5 years, at any level, is not allowed to fence in the E and under. No entries will be refunded for any ineligible fencer registering for this event. We will take your money and not give it back.

6. National point standings DO NOT APPLY at this tournament. If you are underage, you may not participate. See eligibility below.

7. BLUE GAUNTLET will be on site for equipment needs.

8. For those unaware pomme de terrre means POTATO in French; therefore, medals and potato specific prizes (PSPs), are awarded to top 8 in individual events. If you are unable to stay for the award presentation, you may have someone collect your medal. No awards will be given out before the presentation.

FORMAT: Vet and E and Under are 100% promotion from pools to Direct Elimination. Opens are 80% promotion from pools to Direct Elimination. Seeding is by classification only; national point standings are not used.

Currently, there are no capacity limits; however, we reserve the right to make changes should an epidemic or some other event beyond our control occur.

REMINDER: Event Restrictions: You may fence in only one individual event per day (Open or E and under) (exception if also qualified for a Vet event). If you are in two events on the same day, (Vet and Open or E and Under) you MUST present yourself at the appropriate strip when called; they may not be scheduled at the same time. If you register for multiple events on the same day (i.e., different weapons) you will be removed from one and there will be no refund.

ELIGIBILITY

Open and E and under Events:

Birth year 2011 or earlier. In any tournament where children can fence with adults, the fencer must be 13 BEFORE January 1 of the competition season

(August - July) i.e., competitor must have turned 13 by Dec 31, 2024. NATIONAL POINTS DO NOT COUNT!!!!!!

Vet Events: Born 1985 or earlier.

All fencers must be a current access or competitive member of the USFencing by June 13. Memberships will be checked on Friday the day before the start of the event; if you are not compliant you will receive an email requiring you to join/renew and bring proof of current membership. No event will be held up because you are not a USFencing member at check in.

Check in WILL require current USFencing membership card to be scanned. Printed copy is best option. You can print out your membership card from your USFA profile. Phones do not always work, and you will hold up the line for other competitors.

COST

Individual Events

Early Registration/Entry Fee

March 1 - March 30

Registration $45.00

Entry $55.00 per event

Regular Registration/Entry Fee

March 31 - May 10

Registration $55.00

Entry Fee $65.00 per event

Late Registration/Entry Fee

May 11 - May 24

Registration $110.00

Entry Fee $130.00 per event

REALLY LATE Registration Fee (per event)

May 24 - May 31

Registration $165.00

Entry Fee $195.00 per event

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ABOVE – NO LATE ENTRIES OR WALKINS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE FINAL DEADLINE OF MAY 31. DO NOT CONTACT ORGANIZER ASKING TO REGISTER LATE OR HAVE LATE FEES WAIVED. You are wasting your time and mine. Preregistration without completing payment does not mean you are registered or can walk in.

Payment is required with registration; unpaid preregistrations are not considered as fully entered and will be periodically deleted.

REFUNDS - For refund of event fee(s), withdrawals must be received by email to the organizer (merritt55@comcast.net) no later than May 31, 2025. There will be no refunds for self-withdrawal, COVID, any other illness or medical issue, family situations or ANY OTHER REASON. EVEN WITH A DOCTOR NOTE, there are no refunds after the deadline stated . AGAIN, absolutely no refunds after May 31. Refunds will be processed immediately upon request, so be very sure you wish to withdraw. How long the refund takes to process through this new system, I have no idea.

We are not responsible for any askfred website outages or any other issues regarding payment and will not make fee adjustments for any reason. Please register in a timely manner to avoid any payment issues on askfred. Again, your inability to register by stated deadlines, is not my problem. Don't wait until 11:55 pm of the deadline date to register. Make a decision, you are coming or not.

To receive a free t-shirt, you must register and pay by May 31.

Registering early helps us ensure we have enough qualified referees for this tournament. Please avoid late fees by registering early! No late entries will be accepted FOR ANY REASON so please do not waste your time and mine by asking.

The tournament will be held in the Gosman Athletic Center at Brandeis University. Information about the Brandeis campus, including directions, can be found here. http://www.brandeis.edu/about/visiting/

Commuter Rail (Fitchburg/South Acton line, Brandeis/Roberts stop) and bus access (Bus #553, stops at Brandeis) are available. Check schedules at http://www.mbta.com.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

(Times listed are close of registration and are always subject to change to ensure the smooth flow of the tournament - event days will not change) Plan accordingly; i.e., don't multi book yourself on your event day.

Saturday, June 14 (times subject to change)

08:00 AM - Men's Epee Open

08:00 AM - Vet Men's Foil

08:00 AM - Vet Women's Foil

08:00 AM - Vet Women's Sabre

11:00 AM - Men's Foil E-Under

11:00 AM - Men's Sabre Open

1:00 PM - Women's Foil E-Under

1:00 PM - Women's Epee Open

1:30 PM - Women's Sabre E-Under

Sunday, June 15 (times subject to change)

08:00 AM - Men's Foil Open

08:00 AM - Men's Epee E-Under

08:00 AM - Vet Women's Epee

11:00 AM - Men's Sabre E-Under

11:00 AM - Women's Sabre Open

12:30 PM - Women's Foil Open

12:30 PM - Women's Epee E-Under

12:30 PM - Vet Men's Epee

2:00 PM - Vet Men's Sabre

Check In will begin at 7AM each morning.

Weapons Check:

Friday 4 - 7 pm.

Saturday 7 am - end of tournament

Sunday 7 am - last scheduled event

If you are only fencing on Sunday you are encouraged to have your weapons checked on Saturday; please come after 1PM for weapons being checked for Sunday.

Full equipment check, mask, lames, gloves, body and head cords

Host hotel information below.

Holiday Inn Express

Winter St

Waltham, MA

Group Name: Boston Fencing Club - NEUSFA

Dates Group discount is available: Thursday June 13, 2025 checking out Sunday June 16, 2025

Group Rate: $179.00 plus 11.7% occupancy tax per night

Cutoff Date: Thursday May 16, 2025

Link: Boston Fencing Club - NEUSFA

For guests that do not want to book online, please inform contact the reservations office at (877) 213-6796 to make a reservation. You must state the name of the group, Boston Fencing Club-NEUSFA, to receive the discounted rate. If guests require any special room accommodations, it must be stated at the time of making reservation. If guests would like to reserve dates that are not included in the group block or have any questions making a reservation, please contact Anya Wright at awright@plhghotels.com.

DIRECTIONS TO BRANDEIS

Using an online mapping service? The address of the Gosman Athletic Center is 415 South Street, Waltham, MA.

QUESTIONS? NEED MORE INFO? INTERESTED IN REFEREEING? Please be advised, we do not hire minors from outside the New England division.

Contact Linda Merritt, merritt55@comcast.net