The Arnold Fencing Classic 2011,  More than a Tournament

The Arnold Fencing Classic 2011, More than a Tournament

The Arnold Fencing Classic 2011 will be the biggest and best ever. The event will continue to be an RYC and $2,000 scholarship. Additional events include: Cadet Open, Mixed Open, Veteran, Y8 and “Try Fencing at the Arnold.” Registration is already filling.

Columbus, Ohio, October 1, 2010 – The eighth annual Arnold Fencing Classic is filling faster than usual this year. Registration is full steam ahead and by all accounts this will be the biggest and best Arnold Fencing Classic yet. Registrations do not usually start until late December normally, according to event Chair Julia Richey.

The event runs from March 4 – 6, 2011. This year they started in July.

Richey, former world-­‐class foil fencer and owner of sponsoring club Royal Arts Fencing Academy, has been the chair of the event since the event was added to the Arnold Sports Festival in 2004. Every year the event is a Regional Youth Circuit event in addition to providing other events and exhibitions. In 2009, the Arnold Fencing Classic hosted a FIE Satellite World Cup Epee.

The Classic in 2011 will feature the RYC (Regional Youth Circuit). This year sees the return of a Cadet (under 17) open and mixed open (over 13) in all three weapons.

Additionally, spectators and fencers alike will be able to participate in the “Try Fencing At the Arnold” interactive exhibit. It also adds youth international events.

Each year the Classic brings US fencing Olympians and other celebrities to meet the fencers and present awards. Arnold Schwarzenegger visits the fencers briefly and speaks to the crowd. For 2011 Olympic silver medalist Tim Morehouse will be presenting awards and speaking to the fencers. Two-­‐time Olympic gold medalist and World Champion Mariel Zagunis will also be presenting awards and meeting athletes. World Team Member Daria Schneider will be joining them. Other celebrity announcements will be forthcoming at the beginning of 2011.

The Columbus Rotary will award a $2,000 scholarship to the best “citizen fencer.” Nominees must be a competitor in the 2011 Arnold Fencing Classic, be between thirteen and seventeen, demonstrate academic success and submit an essay supporting the theme of the 2011 Arnold Fencing Classic, “A World of Fencing.” Winners will be announced on Saturday, March 5th and the presentation to the finalist will be on March 6th by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

For additional information on the Arnold Fencing Classic, contact Tim Mills, Director of Operations

About the Arnold Fencing Classic: The Arnold Fencing Classic is a part of the Arnold Sports Festival, the largest multi-­sport festival in the nation. In 2009 the Festival boasted more athletes than the Olympic games, making it one of the largest mulit-­‐sport events in the world. The event has hosts over 170,000 athletes and spectators over four days. All events at the Festival are entirely volunteer run. Royal Arts Fencing Academy proudly hosts the Classic every year with the support of the Columbus area fencing community, families and corporate sponsors in order to help it to continue to be a signature fencing event for America’s youth fencers.