Team Melia

For Open competitions and Cadet and Junior selection competitions, you will need a new mask bib for September if you are a foilist.

Leon Paul are offering a special price on a pre ordered 350N bib mask of £77.74. These will be shipped out in early June. These are acceptable for fencers who will only fence in the UK at Opens. You also need to have an ordinary mask/bib to continue fencing épée. This would mean that you could continue to use your existing mask for épée until it wore out. Bladesbrand are also offering a similar mask at £58.

If you plan to fence abroad (this season, or in the future), this is a false economy, as you will have to replace this mask as soon as you are selected. To this end, I would suggest an X-Change mask, which is more expensive at first, but probably cheaper in the long run, as when the lamé wears (which it inevitably will), you can replace the bib rather than the whole mask. You can also use the same mask for foil and épée competitions by changing the bib over.

Now for the bad news - this mask (ref F280CX) costs £140 with a foil lamé bib. If you also do épéé, the spare bib (ref 280CXB)costs £37.80. Remember, you can buy the mask without the épée bib and buy a spare when your old mask wears out. You will also need a mask wire (ref S17) £4.75, to connect the mask to your lamé jacket.

Have a chat to Rhys and he will happily show you the new mask and the lamé bib.

**Lamé bibs are not required for the Nationals in July**