Ted Nye has been fencing for more than 60 years and, at 83, says he still enjoys the sport.
Tomorrow, fencers from around the South will converge on Dunedin for the annual Ted Nye tournament.
Organiser David Barson said the tournament was a way to thank Nye for his contribution to the sport.
Proceeds from the tournament, now in its fifth year, will go to the Otago Community Hospice, in which Nye had been involved for many years.
The 83-year-old physician still fenced every week, and said it was a great sport because of its mix of both physical and mental demands.
"It is an interesting sport; a big intellectual challenge. You need some of the technical skill and an element of physical skill to progress," Nye said.
"But in saying that, if you go along for a weekend tournament, you could get anywhere between 30 to 40 bouts and you could probably only do the first three with just endurance. So you have to have the technical skills."
He said it was great for fitness and he still liked to have a few bouts every Saturday morning at an informal gathering of fencers.
He favoured the sabre and foil classes.
Nye was introduced to the sport while doing his medical training at the University of London and St Bartholomew's Hospital, and he took it up because it was something to do away from studying.
He fenced for his medical school, university and county team while in the United Kingdom, but emigrated to New Zealand in 1960.
He then represented Otago-Southland teams for "more years than I can remember".
"But I never won a national title. I had seconds and thirds on quite a few occasions, but never managed to get a title."
Nye represented New Zealand against Australia in 1969.
Age has not slowed him down. He helps run a hospital clinic one day a week, and also does a bit of work at the University of Otago Medical School.
He was not going to compete in the tournament tomorrow, as he had other commitments.
