Pridefecht sword-and-buckler tournament draws 21 fighters in Rhode Island
Pridefecht drew 21 fighters to Warren and logged 155 buckler bouts across two divisions. The charity format showed New England's sword-and-buckler scene has real depth.
Pridefecht put 21 fighters on the strip in Warren and split them into two official sword-and-buckler divisions, a turnout that showed just how serious the New England field has become around one of HEMA’s most technical weapons. The June 14 card produced 155 total fights, with 135 bouts in the mixed steel arming sword-and-buckler division and 20 more in the underrepresented-genders bracket.
That volume mattered as much as the head count. In a niche where a strong regional event can still feel hard to assemble, Pridefecht drew names from Boston Armizare, Forte Swordplay, New Haven Historical Fencing, Massachusetts Historical Swordsmanship, Black Cat Historical Fencing and other New England clubs, giving the tournament a broad competitive base rather than a single-school showcase. The roster included Andrew Gleason, Ania Chaney, Atticus Meche, Ben Baumgartner, Chad Opris, Devin Straley, Edward Meyers, Elizabeth Urban, Gabriel Villeneuve, Hanyi Wang, Isabel Branch, James Lamoureux, Joe DeMartino, Juno Locke, Katharine Bancroft, Lyra Riley, Read Ruddick, Sam Baumgartner, Sam Beardsley, Tyler Gracia and Weston Smith.
Black Cat Historical Fencing framed Pridefecht as a Pride Month charity tournament, with open sword-and-buckler, gender-equitable sword-and-buckler, a modified Nordic ruleset, Swiss Pool format and even a community talent show built into the broader program. The club said the event supported a local organization aimed at queer youth, a detail that gave the competition a social purpose without blunting the sporting edge of the day. The result was a card that blended fundraising, inclusion and bracket pressure in a way that has become increasingly important for clubs trying to grow the sport.
The event also points to Black Cat Historical Fencing’s growing role in Rhode Island HEMA. Founded in 2023 and based in Warren, the club has built a steady presence in eastern Rhode Island through weekly instruction and public introductory classes, and Pridefecht suggests that work is starting to pay off in the form of regional depth. HEMA Ratings still lists the event as waiting for organizer validation, so the results have not yet been folded into rankings, but the structure alone says plenty: Pridefecht is no longer just another local gathering. It is becoming a proving ground for sword-and-buckler specialists in New England.
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