YDS Round 2 Update - Please Read

The Foundation Council have recently become aware of another fencing competition which has been organised on the same weekend as the Youth Development Series Round 2 (YDS 2) event on 22^nd/23^rd November.

Update: After many messages of support from fencers, coaches and parents (for which we would like to thank you all) - and searching through the calendar for alternative dates which would not impact on anything else (which is pretty tough), we have decided that the best course of action we can take for the YDS fencers is to go ahead with YDS Round 2 as planned.
Therefore we can confirm that Round 2 will be held on 22nd/23rd November at High School of Glasgow - look for entry forms on the site very soon, and at YDS Round 1 - next week.

We will continue to depend heavily on those people who are kind enough to come along and support us on the weekend and if you haven't already told us you can help out there is still loads of time - click here - all help is as ever most welcome.

Original Posting:

Whilst we welcome any new opportunities for competitive fencing in Scotland, this clash is causing us some concern and looks very likely to impact on the YDS 2 event to at least some degree.
We were unaware of the possibility of another competitionon the date we agreed with Scottish Fencing for YDS 2 and further had actually requested the organiser not to use YDS dates if possible for events this year after a similar clash of a YDS event and a youth steam foil competition last year.

The fact that the date clash has subsequently occurred - and that the organisers did not take one of the many opportunities which have existed since the YDS dates were published in late July to inform the Foundation of the clash is a source of some disappointment to us. We are hoever committed to trying to do the best we can for the affected fencers.

The Foundation operates the YDS on a strictly non-profit making basis and as such is wholly dependent upon the generous support we have enjoyed from coaches, fencers and parents who give up their time to referee and help at the competitions, and also to those schools who provide us with their fantastic facilities at much reduced cost. We simply cannot afford to book venues at commercial rates like Open competitions do.

As a result of the above constraints, the options now open to us are limited - our major area of consideration is that a reduced number of available refereees and helpers might force us to restrict or abandon the competition - though we are working to avoid that if possible and are receiving much appreciated support from Scottish Fencing and from the series main sponsors - Allstar UK.

If we are able to collate a list of sufficient support we hope to be able to confirm that the competition will go ahead as planned by the end of this week (Sun 12th October), so that the fencers - who are our primary concern - are not adversely affected.

If you are able to provide any support or assistance on either day of YDS 2 we would therefore be very grateful if you could inform us using this link, so that we can get the most realistic picture of how impacted YDS 2 might be and factor this into our planning.

The Foundation for Scottish Fencing Council