Gahanna Convention And Visitor's Bureau
Coach Julia Richey and the Royal Arts Fencing Academy, in Gahanna, Work with the Arnold Sports Festival to Present the Seventh Annual Arnold Fencing Classic, March 6-7, 2010
GAHANNA, Ohio—Royal Arts Fencing Academy Coach Julia Richey comes from Russia with love—for fencing, Ohio and her new life in Gahanna, “It’s the best place in the world!” she said. Coach Richey is chair of the Arnold Fencing Classic, held in partnership with the Arnold Sports Festival, and the Royal Arts Fencing Academy, in Gahanna, is the host club for the seventh annual Arnold Fencing Classic 2010, March 6-7.
Coach Richey began fencing in her native Russia, then the Soviet Union, when she was 14 years old. Within the year, she was competing at high levels and, throughout her teen years, competed internationally as a 13-year member of the Russian National Team, living and training in the Olympic center. In 1989 she earned her Master of Sport and began training youth athletes at the Sport School of Olympic Reserve. At the Arnold Fencing Classic, Coach Richey applies her years of competitive experience as she works with her team to present 15 fencing events. They work year-round on the Classic, and beginning in October, they dedicate an average of 30-40 hours each week to organizing the event and even more hours as the tournament approaches.
Coach Richey said they are bringing additional excitement this year with a new spectator event: Try Fencing at the Arnold! Designed for visitors who would enjoy trying the sport of fencing, the event will provide participants with equipment and instruction, Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the fencing venues in Franklin, Delaware and Union meeting rooms at the Hyatt Regency where all the fencing events will be held.
In addition to her fencing, Coach Richey has a degree in physical education and physical therapy. She is also a certified personal trainer and Pilates instructor. Arriving in the United States in 1999, she began teaching in Norfolk, Va., before relocating to Columbus, Ohio, and forming the Royal Arts Fencing Academy, located at 560 Westbourne Ave., Gahanna.
Additional Information: • The Arnold Sports Festival is the largest sports festival in world with three times more athletes than the Olympic Games. • Olympic fencing medalists Mariel Zagunis and Tim Moorehouse will present awards and be available to meet athletes at the 2010 Classic. No other fencing event in the United States. has this caliber of talent under one roof. • Taylor McIntyre, a student at Royal Arts, was named the champion of the USA Fencing Summer National Championship held in Dallas, Texas, in 2009. The Summer National Championship is the largest fencing tournament in the world. Ms. McIntyre is the first woman from Ohio win such a prestigious fencing tournament. • Royal Arts is the largest youth fencing program in central Ohio. • Coach Richey and her team economically impact Gahanna through their hard work and dedication to the sport they love. She anticipates upwards of 500 athletes participating in the Arnold Fencing Classic this year. Each athlete will receive a welcome bag containing information about the event and Gahanna (courtesy of the Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau) upon registration. • In 2011 the economic impact will even be greater to the Gahanna community, as the Royal Arts Fencing Academy staff works towards developing clinics that will be offered a week before the Arnold Fencing Classic. • The Arnold Fencing Classic is a major undertaking and takes more than 250 volunteers to operate. Anyone interested in lending a hand with the Classic should contact the Royal Arts Academy at (614) 330-2445, and for more information, visit http://royalarts.org.
The Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau (GCVB) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization funded by a local hotel tax and partner support whose mission is to promote Gahanna as a vibrant destination by connecting the people and places of our community which contributes to economic prosperity. The GCVB annually presents the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival and Holiday Lights! Parade and Festival. For more information: www.VisitGahanna.com.
