Expiration of Time and a Touch

[Shadow Fencer]

I've been studying the Referee Study Guide in preparation for a referee class I'll be taking. One of the questions is challenging me as I am having difficulty in interpreting a particular rule. The question is:
Is a touch that arrives after the expiration of time ever awarded? The possible responses are:
a. no
b. yes, if it is an immediate riposte
c. yes, if the action began before the halt

The rule, t.32 states: At the expiration of the regulation fencing time, if the clock is linked to the scoring apparatus (obligatory standard for finals of official FIE or USFA competitions), it must set off automatically a loud audible signal, and automatically cut off the scoring appratus, without cancelling touches registered before the disconnection. The bout stops with the audible signal.

If the cloack is not linked to the scoring appraturs, the timekeeper must shout 'Halt' (or operate a sound signal) which stops the bout; in this case evan a 'coup lance' is not valid.

Should there be a failulre of the clock or an error by the timnekeeper, the Referr must himself estimate how much fencing time is left.

Based on the rule, I want to say the answer is: a. no, because based on the rule, the machine would not allow a touch to register after time has expired and anything after 'halt' would be negated.

I'm just looking for validation that this is the correct answer.

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I live to fence and fence to live!!

[DarkTransient]

so what is the problem?

[neevel]

You're correct-- the halt due to time expiration is a "hard" halt, i.e. no touch is awarded after the halt, regardless of whether is was the finish of an action started prior to the halt.

-Dave

[Shadow Fencer]

Thank you Dave! Your explanation helped me to understand the rule.