hors concours

[qatet]

Hello.

I'm studying for the Moniteur exam and have come across the term "hors concours," which means to take a non-scoring part in a competition - in other words, to fence but not keep score. How would this ever come about? Would this be, say a medical withdrawal? Warming up another fencer? Reffing? I'm baffled.

[Epee_Pox]

In other sports, "hors concours" rules allow otherwise ineligible people to participate in a competition, at the discretion of the organizers. This gives such people a chance to have the experience, without affecting the outcome.

For example, a racer who didn't make a qualifying time may still be allowed to race hors concours, in order to have the experience without affecting the outcome. Likewise, people may be allowed to compete in a league they don't belong to, in order to have the experience without affecting the outcome.

I presume that's the same for fencing as well.

[oiuyt]

Can also be used on the other extreme for people that are just too good for the competition. They fence, which provides the rest of the entrants with the benefit of the experience of fencig against this incrediable fencer, but aren't considered in the final rankings (or eligible for prizes). A few years back when the numerical rating system was being proposed there was provision to, in certain circumstances, declare (before the fencing began) a fencer hors concours, in which case s/he wasn't used in any of the ratings change calculations (and therefore was not at risk of drastically hurting his/her own rating due to a fluke result and would not positively skew the results of other fencers who might be inequitably rewarded merely for having participated in a tournament with a super highly rated fencer).

-B :)

[qatet]

Ahhh. Great! Thank you!

[Artisan]

So I guess thats what our teammate did last summer when he "filled in" at the wheelchair event.

[qatet]

Makes sense. (Who was this who fenced the wheelchair?)