The Epée Club Cup

The Epée Club Cup was a gift from the president, Luke Fildes. This cup had originally been the Challenge Cup for the Professional Championships of Great Britain at épée, and on the demise of that championship had reverted to the donor. The idea now was the masters might still be encouraged to take a more practical interest in épée if periodically they were ranged in competitions against leading amateurs. These latter would be specially invited to take part in the competitions, and would not have to be Epée Club members. The first competition for it was in March 1953 and was won by Jack Ellis. None of the masters survived the first round. The competition in the following year was the first occassion of a poule unique in this country, thus affording the masters the maximum possibility of fencing. The poule was won by Harrison and the following year by René Paul.

In 2025 the competition introduced for the first time a ‘Ladies Cup’, women having until then fenced in mixed poules with the men. Donated by Mr Malcolm Fare from his collection at the Museum of Fencing in January 2025, re-silvered and redesignated through the kind auspices of Mrs Susan Brooks in June 2025.

History of the ‘Ladies Cup’

The original Cup was presented to A Division of the South African Constabulary (SAC) who were the winners of an Inter Divisional fencing competition held in 1903. The SAC was a paramilitary force set up in 1900 to police the areas captured during the Second Boer War. Its first Inspector-General was Major General Robert Baden Powell, later the founder of the worldwide Scout Movement. There were four Divisions (A – D) in all, three in the Transvaal and one in the Orange River Colony. Each was commanded by a Colonel and a Lieutenant with up to 1000 troopers divided into Troops of 100 men.

It is more than likely that the “fencing” involved was a mixture of bayonet fencing and mounted sword and lance skills. These skills were necessary attributes in the SAC’s role as both a mounted police force and a paramilitary force after the Boer War.

Many will remember the demonstrations of similar military skills at the Royal Tournament, held at Earls Court until 1999. The Inter Services Military Fencing Championships had been held there for its whole 119 years history.

Winners