The 2010 Arnold Fencing Classic added cadet (U16) events for the first time to the event as well as brining back open events in all weapons. The RYC (Y10, Y12, Y14) events remain as always.

This year all events were held in the Franklin, Delaware and Union rooms of the Hyatt-Regency. The convetion center and Hyatt are newly remodled and will provide greater visibility to help visitors learn about fencing.

2010 will included finals strip publicly visible to all spectators walking through the venue and interactive displays. Visitors got to try fencing at the Try Fencing at the Arnold.

This was the largest Arnold ever although we’re sure 2011 will be even bigger.

2009 was a banner year for the Arnold Fencing Classic. We added a FIE Satellite World Cup event, drawing eight countries and being praised for how well run and organized the event was. It was even noted that we ran a Grand Prix caliber event.

That’s some compliment considering Royal Arts and particularly its fencing master and chair of the Classic, Julia Richey, managed and ran the entire event with only local community financial support. Quite a feat!

Julia’s army of volunteers, parents and sponsors once again demonstrated the dedication and love they have for Coach Richey’s vision.

The event also featured five of our Olympic stars.

In January of 2008, Arnold Fencing Classic Chair and founder Julia Richey was in a near fatal accident. Doctors had little hope of her survival. Emotionally raw and not feeling like working on a major event like the Classic, Julia’s army of volunteers, parents and friends pulled through and got the event ready.

Against all odds, we were blessed by Julia surviving. She was at the event although not her usual self as recovery took most of the year.

2008 also featured a wheelchair fencing demonstration.

2007 continued the traditions set previously by running an RYC event, the “Tournament of Kings” and an Elite Invitational. Fencing celebrities again participated in the event.

In 2006, the Arnold Fencing Classic became an RYC (Regional Youth Competition). Since 2006, the Classic has been continued to be an RYC. The RCY allowed Y10 and Y12 fencers to qualify for the 2006 Summer National Championships.

For 2005 featured both team and individual events for youth and seniors.

A big change was that the elite team event was run using the Titan rules format, a new format that used mixed-gender teams representing all weapons.

The youth portion fenced pools on Saturday and the top 16 on Sunday.

This format proved to be less than ideal for the event and we reverted to the traditional format for 2006.

2004 was the inaugural Arnold Fencing Classic. It was a special year with Sada Jacobson as a special guest. Several months later she would win a bronze medal at the Olympics. We also had Olympians Jason Rogers, Keeth Smart and Peter Westbrook.

The Classic was only a team event. It hosted youth and adult teams as well as elite multi-weapon teams from our Olympians and national team members.