Fencing
Bulgarian Fencing Federation
contacts:
Address: 75, Vassil Levski blvd.,1040 Sofia, Bulgaria
tel. 00359-2-9300646
tel./fax 00359-2-9300647
e-mail: fencing_bg@mail.bol.bg
URL: http://www.bff-bg.com/
History of Fencing in Bulgaria
Fencing as sport in Bulgaria develops after 1900. It begins in the barracks of Russian officers with cavalry sabre. Then Czech and Swiss specialists who have taught fencing are involved. The first fencing master is the Italian Branioni, who is considered to be the first fencing teacher in 1894. During this year appeared the first handbook in fencing with squadrons. In 1896, the Military School appoints two more foreigners – the Italian Bela Saite and the French Vorbuik.
After the Balkan war, the fencing is introduced in the Leib Guard and First Horse Regiment. Tracing back the development of fencing in Bulgaria in the years after Liberation, special attention should be given to the activities of the Russian Specialist – Colonel Vladimir Andreev, who has been one of the best experts of fencing art before coming to Bulgaria. He manages to attract many young people for the fencing cause. Under his supervision is created the first national Bulgarian team.
On the grounds of archive documents it is found that upon initiative of V.Andreev and his enthusiastic trainees on 2 March 1926 in Sofia is established Bulgarian Fencing Club. This is a crucial moment for the development of fencing in Bulgaria. The Club becomes a member of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee and Bulgarian National Fencing Committee and strengthens its organizational structure.
On 26 September 1931 in Sofia is held the first Balkan tournament in fencing in which participate: Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria.
In 1936, D. Vassilev takes part in the Olympic Games in Berlin and finishes
at 11 place (at that time he is a student in Germany). In Germany he wins the student competition in sabre and epee.
Violeta Tomova (Katerinks) and her brother Lyubormir Tomov take part in the World Student Champion Games in 1939. Here we have to stress that the French fencing in Bulgaria starts in 1932.
In 1950 is organized a course for instructors in fencing, and after that is held the First Republic Championship in foil for men and foil for women.
In 1949 is created a Fencing Unit at the Higher Committee for Physical Culture and Sport with Chairman Nikola Bandulov and Secretary Violeta Katerinska.
In 1951 are developed centers in the towns of Rousse, Shumen, Varna, Plovdiv and later in Pleven, Bourgas and Stara Zagova.
The first international meeting held in Bulgaria is organized in Sofia with the Romanian team in 1954.
For the first time the Bulgarian fencing masters take part in the World Championship held in 1959 in Budapest with a sabre team. For the first time the Bulgarian fencing masters take part in the World Championship held in 1959 in Budapest with a sabre team.
Four years later in 1963 in Gdansk, at the World Championship Bulgaria is presented with two sportsmen for all arms. Dyakovski and Djubrilova finish in the direct eliminations in foil for women and sabre for men. In 1965 at the World Championship in Paris, the sabre team finishes at 7-8 place. At the World Championship in Ankara in 1970 our team of Stavrev, Spiridonov, Dudekov, Mihailov and Nikolov finish fifth. After the competitions in Vienna in 1971, Grenobel in 1977, Hamburg in 1978, takes a little for our team to finish in the head six places. Not before 1981 in Clermont – France, our team finishes at forth place, in 1982 in Rome the sabre team finishes at fifth place, in Vienna in 1983 our team again finishes forth. At the World Championship in Barcelona comes the biggest success of the sabre team. It team finishes second in members Vassil and Hristo Etropolski, Marin Ivanov, Georgi Chomakov and Nikolay Marincheski. Individually, second finishes Hr. Etropolski, and V. Etropolski is third.
In 1980 in Moscow, V. Etropolski finishes forth and Hr. Etroploski finishes fifth.
In 1986 in Sofia is held the World Championship for men and women.
In 1998 in Plovdiv is held the European Championship for men and women. Several international tournaments for men and women are also held in Bulgaria.
This year (2004) for 16 times shall be held the international tournament in sabre category Grand Prix “Sword of Asparoukh”.
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