DCU hosts the International Fencing Competition Michael Ryan

Foils, epees and sabres were in use as teams representing Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales met for the annual international. And before you ask, no blood was spilled, no heads lopped off, and other than one sprained ankle, everyone went home none the worse for wear. Though listening to the shouts, screams and roars that accompanied much of the action, and considering that almost one hundred and twenty fencers were taking part in five hundred fights, it did seem at times that casualties would run into at least double figures.

All three weapons were in use. Firstly, the foil, the lightest of the three, was once used just for training. Only hits made with a thrust movement count and these hits must be on the trunk of the body - everything else is 'off target'. The training origin of the weapon is reflected in the rule that the hit that counts is not the one that arrives first, but the one that starts first. Although hits are registered electronically when they arrive there is still a need for a referee because who started first can't be determined electronically.

Secondly, the epee is the heaviest of the three weapons, and is essentially the old duelling rapier. Again, only hits with a thrust movement count, but now these can be anywhere on the body. Unlike foil, all that counts is who arrived first, and this can be determined electronically. So all the referee has to do is ensure the fencers stay on the 'piste', a strip 14m by 2m. This fight ends after six minutes or after one fencer scores five hits.

Thirdly, the Sabre is the one weapon where hits can be scored with a 'cut', or a 'slash' as the rest of us might call it. The target is everything from the waist up, and timing is like foil. To describe sabre refereeing as tricky seems something of an understatement.

England were the overall winners on Saturday, with victories in the Men's foil, epee and sabre and in the women's sabre. Wales were victorious in the women's foil, and Scotland in the women's epee. The Irish squad fought well, and had some victories, but not enough to come out first in any of the weapons.

One Irish victory though was for the DCU gym and the overall organisation of the event. The gyms, and the associated facilities, were described by many as the best they had seen. It is also the first time the event was carried out on just one day. One of the visiting team captains praised the successful organising and the fact that the competition ending ahead of schedule.

The DCU sports centre staff, the fencers from other clubs and the secretariat of the Irish Amateur Fencing Federation should all take a bow for their part in organising this year's International Fencing Competition.