Ice Link issue 53 (Page 3) - National Ice Skating Association

Ice 

INSIDE 

Issue 53 - February 2004 

Link 

The official voice of ice skating in the UK 

2003 British Figure & Dance 

Championships souvenir 

poster 

....centre pages 

Developing Youth Ice Sport 

Peter Morrissey 

reflects on NISA tests 

Coaches Corner .....p3 

2004 British 

Synchro 

Championships 

.......p5 

ROYAL MAIL 

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POSTAGE PAID 

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National Ice Skating Association of UK Ltd 

National Ice Centre, Lower Parliament Street 

Nottingham NG1 1LA 

Jon Eley scoops Junior Worlds 

Bronze medal in Beijing 

It’s certainly turning out to be a great year for 18 year old 

Jon Eley from Mohawks Ice Racing Club, who has proved he 

is up there with the best in the World with a fantastic 

overall Bronze medal at the 2004 Short Track Junior World 

Championships in Beijing, China, 9-11th January. Just days 

later in Zoetermeer, Netherlands, skating as a Senior in the 

European Championships he finished 7th overall. 

In the Beijing World Championships, Jon set the ice on fire and 

pulses racing in a closely fought race when he 

finished the 1500m final in 3rd place 

behind Ho-Suk Lee (KOR) the reigning 

Junior World Champion and Li-Deck 

Kwon (KOR). With the lead 

changing almost every lap, and 

just two laps to go Jon was 

in 5th place behind the two 

Koreans and two skaters 

from China. Jon decided to go 

for broke round the outside of the two 

Chinese skaters, but could not quite 

make it all the way to the front and 

that coveted gold medal. 

Saturday was the 500m 

distance, and again Jon 

proved he has the 

ability to compete 

with the 

best in the 

World, this time 

taking the silver medal position, just pipped 

once more by the reigning champion Lee (KOR). Although 

Jon had dominated the final from the start, Lee had to pull out a 

last lap of 8.5secs to beat him. 

Sunday saw the 1000m distance and the 1500m Grand Final. 

Although Jon missed out on a place in the Final of the 1000m he 

lined up in the 1500m Grand Final along with Lee (KOR), Kwon 

(KOR), Mathieu Gauvreau (CAN), Jumpei Yoshizawa (JPN) Takahiro 

Fujimoto (JPN) Yuri Confortola (ITA) and Sui Baoku (CHN). Jon 

placed 5th in the Grand Final giving him enough points to win the 

Bonze medal in the Overall results. Jon is a member of the GB 

World Class Performance Squad having been promoted from the 

Potential Squad this season - justification indeed! 

European Championships 

5,000 miles away and just four days later Jon continued his good 

form from Beijing, with an excellent performance at the European 

Championships in Zoetermeer, Netherlands. 

Jon Eley leads the Junior 1000m in 

last year's British Short Track 

Championships 

Jon placed just outside the medals when he finished 4th in both 

the 1500m and 500m finals. His 5th place in the 1000m and 8th in 

the 3000m gave him an overall ranking of 7th up 10 places from 

last year. 

The men’s competition was once again dominated by the team 

from Italy, but this time Fabio Carta who has taken first place for 

the past few years had to be content with the Silver medal overall 

behind his team mate Nicola Rodigari. 

Tom Iveson was Great Britain’s other representative in the men’s 

competition and placed 16th Overall. In the Ladies Championship 

Joanna Williams and Sarah Lindsay finished in 13th and 16th 

respectively. 

The Men’s relay team failed in their bid to make the Final when 

they took a tumble in the semi finals. 

2004 British Short Track Championships April 3 - 4th 2004 

iceSheffield - Don't miss it! 

Icephoto 

Photo - Susanne Kempf 

in Budapest 

First ever 

medal for GB 

at ST Junior 

Worlds 

Euro joy for GB Team 

Kerrs secure debut top 10 slot as Jenna fights 

back to a superb 11 th in Long Programme 

Brother and 

sister dance 

couple John and 

Sinead Kerr from 

Edinburgh, secured 

a terrific tenth place on 

their first appearance in 

Europeans, moving up two 

places from 12th after the 

compulsory dance, the 

Austrian Waltz. 

This result is the best placing in 

Europeans since Torvill & 

Dean's famous golden 

comeback in 1994 and before 

that Sharon Jones and Paul 

Askham's 6th place in 1989. 

In the Ladies, 17 year old 

Jenna McCorkell, fought back 

Icephoto 

Jubilation would be a bit of an 

understatement to describe the mood in 

the GB Team Camp following the 

European Championships in Budapest. 

brilliantly after a disappointing 

Short, to place 11th in her 

Long Programme and finish 

14th overall. In the Men's, 

Matthew Davies performed 

solidly to qualify and ended his 

Championship in 23rd place. 

A big well done to the whole 

team. 

The Kerr's, told just a few days 

before setting off for Budapest 

that their funding appeal to 

Sportscotland had been 

turned down, returned to 

Edinburgh to the great news 

that their position is to be 

looked at again. The Kerrs, 

together with NISA General 

Secretary 

Cont'd on p2 col 3

Ice Link Issue 53 page 2 

Ice 

Link Editor's Comment 

In this issue of Ice Link I am 

delighted to be printing lots of 

good news about GB skaters. Firstly 

Short Track speed skater Jon Eley bringing 

home a Junior World's Bronze medal, our 

first ever medal at this level, second a terrific 

Free Programme performance by Jenna 

McCorkell in the European Championships, 

her 11th place securing her a 14th position 

overall - and let's not forget she is still Bryan Morrice - Editor 

eligible to compete in Junior Worlds - and 

finally that amazing debut by brother and sister dance team John 

and Sinead Kerr, snatching a top ten position in the European 

Championships in Budapest! 

At the same time I am saddened to be carrying the news that Peter 

Morrissey has decided, for personal reasons, to resign his position as 

Coaching Director on the NISA Board. Peter has been a stalwart of 

our Association, and one of the hardest working volunteers NISA has 

known. Although we shall miss his contribution at NISA Board, I am 

pleased to say that he has agreed to continue contributing to Ice 

Link - at least for the time being. Indeed his article in this issue of Ice 

is extremely important, and should be carefully read and considered 

by all coaches, skaters and parents. 

He makes some very important observations on the new NISA test 

system, with its twin Standard and Competitive channels. Reviewing 

the statistics of the past year, since the two channels were 

introduced, it is clear that there is a fundamental misunderstanding 

of the philosophy underlying the system. For years, skaters and 

coaches have complained that NISA tests were too hard, and that 

pass rates were too low. Less than 1% of beginners ever achieved 

the highest level - gold, and even at bronze level, success was less 

than 40%. Compared to other sports, ours boasted a culture of 

failure. Under the new system, those in the Standard Test channel 

can reasonably expect to achieve to 'gold', while the Competitive 

Tests are aimed at challenging those few highly talented athletes 

focusing on national and international standards. Clearly this 

distinction has not been fully appreciated either by skaters, coaches 

or parents. There appears to be a view amongst some coaches, 

skaters and parents that only the Competitive Test is 'worth going 

for', resulting in far too many skaters who are well short of the 

required standard attempting, and of course, failing. 

If we could draw a parallel, would one really say that in education, 

only a masters degree is worth having, while 'O' and 'A' Levels, HND's 

or even Batchelor's degrees are of little value? 

That is ludicrous; and so too is the view that a Standard Test Gold 

Level 7-10 pass is worthless - on the contrary, it represents the 

pinnacle of achievement for all but the most highly talented of 

skaters. 

Just a few days ago, I was discussing tests with some adult 

recreational dancers and the Recreational Dance Tests that were 

introduced some five or six years ago. These too were developed 

to create opportunity for the majority of Adult recreational dancers 

who found themselves effectively blocked at the old Preliminary or 

Bronze test level. The Recreational Tests were geared towards 

creating realistically achievable targets. 

I must admit that although there was a design flaw in that test 

structure - not insurmountable by any means - however the final 

demise of the system was a result of too many coaches dismissing 

the scheme in favour of so called "real tests". Even with the 

introduction of the new Standard Tests, we are now six years on, 

and those very same adults sadly are no further advanced than when 

they found themselves 'blocked' at Prelim - a great disservice! 

Just as schoolteachers have a responsibility to guide their pupils into 

the most appropriate educational channels for each individual, so 

too must the skating coach. 

Editor/Designer/Layout/Chief Reporter/Dogsbody ~ Bryan Morrice 

Design Assistant ~ Julie Morrice 

Photographs ~ NISA Official Photographer - Icephoto 

Publisher ~ NISA NIC Lower Parliament Street, Nottingham NG1 1LA 

Tel: 0115 988 8060 Fax: 0115 988 8061 or e-mail on nisa@iceskating.org.uk 

Website: www.iceskating.org.uk 

Contributions, articles, news, photos and information from your rinks are 

always welcome. If you have a contribution, or would like to help, contact the 

editor at 'Brackenlea', Lower Glenhead, Kemnay, Aberdeenshire 

AB51 5PR Telephone: 01467 641389 (set to answerphone only 

/ no fax); E-mail on - morrice@globalnet.co.uk 

Views expressed in Ice Link are those of the contributors but not necessarily 

those of the Governing Bodies or Officers. Copyright is reserved and while 

all efforts are made for accuracy, no responsibility can be accepted for 

printed errors or matters arising from them. No part of the newspaper may 

be reproduced without written permission from the publishers. 

Next issue Ice Link 54 prints April/May 2004 (tbc) 

(Check with NISA / Editor for deadline) 

Letters to 

the Editor 

Dear Editor, 

I am a 14 year old who has 

used the old Altrincham ice rink 

regularly since the age of 4, 

and spent many hours training 

there. Its closure has affected 

me greatly, because now I only 

skate twice a week and it is 

becoming extremely expensive 

travelling to the 2 nearest rinks, 

either in Blackburn or Deeside. I 

know many people have given 

up the sport due to the ice rink 

being closed, which is a great 

loss of talent! 

Manchester is the only major 

city in the whole country that 

hasn't got a rink, and other 

cities recently have seen the 

amazing effects of new rinks 

being built. Please will you 

mention the need of a new rink 

in your paper so future 

developers can come forward? 

Manchester really does need a 

new rink! I look forward to 

hearing from you. 

Sarah Wagstaffe, Sale, Cheshire 

Ed: We are always fully 

committed to the 

development of new ice 

facilities and very aware of 

the situation in Manchester, 

so I'm delighted to print your 

letter on this subject 

Dear Editor 

I must belatedly congratulate 

you on this Issue of ice Link 

(52) - the best yet for quality 

and clarity of layout and 

writing. The centre spread of 

photos of the Adult 

Championships was splendid 

and motivated me to see if I 

could get back to recreational 

ice dancing - unfortunately not, 

Suffolk is a long way from an 

ice rink. I really liked the 

Events Diary - could you put an 

updated one in each edition 

(probably you do and I've just 

missed it) and is there any way 

of knowing if the events will be 

televised and indicated as such 

in your list, or is that going 

N 

Merchandise 

I 

S 

A 

NISA is pleased to offer 

members a range of quality 

skating clothing and 

accessories at very competitive 

prices 

All proceeds go to Skaters Fund 

Telephone order line: 0870 758 0278 

or check NISA website: www.nisa-uk.org 

Tights order line: 0870 758 0269 

that Dennis Bird, NISA comprised of local coaches 

Historian, might be able to as well as NISA proficiency 

help. 

judges. Including: John 

beyond the call of duty? 

Name and address supplied 

Ed: Thank you so much for 

your kind remarks - it really 

makes a difference, usually all 

I get is either stony silence or 

complaints! The events diary 

is usually printed, however on 

this past issue, I did expand 

it considerably to include a 

lot more international events. 

It is very difficult to get tv 

coverage for events in the UK, 

the tv companies, even the 

BBC, only seem interested in 

football, cricket and rugby. 

Recently, the BBC have even 

breached their obligations 

under the EBU (European 

Broadcasting Union) 

agreements in not televising 

European and World Figure 

skating championships. 

Dear NISA 

We will be holding what we 

believe to be our 30th 

Anniversary Open this year at 

Streatham in April. Would it 

be possible to have something 

put on the news sections, 

asking for anyone who has any 

historical information, 

memorabilia that they could 

give or lend us. We would like 

to put together an exhibition 

for the foyer. Do you as an 

organisation have all the 

records for that period 

showing who won each 

competition going back to the 

early competitions. We have a 

lot of records, but by no 

means all of them now. It 

would be good to get some 

information of 'Where are they 

now'. 

Karen Wallis Alexander 

Ed: If anyone can help please 

e-mail Karen on 

karen.wallis@lexisnexis.co.uk 

Unfortunately it is unlikely 

that NISA, after several recent 

office moves, holds back 

records on club opens, 

however it is just possible 

Dear Bryan, 

I have been trying to get an 

answer for my question for 

some time now from various 

sources but with no luck, it is 

to do with the new test system 

and whether there is a 

maximum mark that the judges 

mark out of as with 

competitions. There seems to 

be no merits awarded anymore 

and many skaters felt an extra 

special achievement if a merit 

mark was given for a test. We 

get an average pass mark but 

that seems to be it, can you or 

any of your readers help? 

Debra Wilde, Romford 

Ed: I have raised this issue 

with colleagues on the NISA 

Board, and I am pleased to 

tell you that it is to be 

looked at once more. There 

is considerable agreement 

that the 'merit' pass idea had 

a great deal of "merit", but 

before it can be introduced 

again we will have to look 

carefully at the logistics. 

Dear Bryan 

You do a great job on Ice Link 

and I know that you can only 

print what you are given. On 

the last edition on the front 

page it gave a picture of Vivien 

with a RIDL cake for 10 years 

and stated the final had just 

taken place. - no detail of 

who won etc. 

Inside were pictures of the 

British Adult competition again 

nowhere were there any lists of 

who won which event and 

pictures of the winners were 

not necessarily included. 

I am not complaining to you 

because as I said I know you 

can only print what you are 

given, but is it possible to 

correct and list the winners of 

the above events in the next 

Ice Link please. 

Julia Greenhough 

Ed: RIDL Final 2003 took 

place on Saturday 8th 

November at Guildford Ice 

Spectrum. Unlike previous 

years the judging panel 

Amiet, Mary Groombridge, 

Michael Jaye, Vivien Keirle, 

Edward Mills, Bill Pattern, 

Brian Pither. NISA was 

represented by Keith Horton 

who presented the medals 

and spoke with skaters at the 

buffet, answering questions 

about the role of the 

organisation in adult skating. 

The results were as follows: 

Juniors: 1st Central, 2nd S. 

West, 3rd S. East. 

Intermediates: 1st S. East, 

2nd North, 3rd S. West. 

Seniors: 1st North, 2nd S. 

West, 3rd S. East. 

As regards listing all the 

winners in the British Adult 

Championships, I can only 

apologise for not having 

enough space. I wish I could 

print everything. I 

understand however that you 

can check out the winners on 

the Adult Skating website 

www.nordet.co.uk. (there is a 

link from the NISA website). 

Dear Bryan, 

For many years Championship 

Cups, Trophies and Glass Bowls 

have been awarded to all 

British Champions in all 

disciplines and categories. 

To be a British Champion is a 

great honour, and some of the 

trophies awarded date back 

many years and have many 

famous names attached to 

them. I ask myself a question 

with the above in mind. Why 

are the trophies handed back 

each year dented, dirty, yellow 

and tarnished? Please British 

Skaters, return them as you 

would wish to receive them. 

Helen Poole 

Ed: Thanks Helen, and I echo 

your sentiments. At the 2002 

British Championships in 

Dumfries I was behind the 

scenes organising the medals 

and trophies. It was really 

quite disgraceful the state of 

several of the trophies - it 

took a lot of time to clean 

them up - and should have 

been quite uneccessary. 

Arrangements for the 

solo and couples 

dance events for 

Novice through to Gold 

standard are already in place 

During the two day event 

ADULT OPEN COMPETITION 

on 3rd 4th July 2004 at Sportiom Ice 

Arena, s’-Hertogenbosche, 

Netherlands. 

Registrar WIC2004 

47, Merryman Way 

Crowthorne, Berks 

RG45 6TW 

enclosing an (A5) SAE 

there is a wealth of social 

dancing, exhibitions etc. so you can still enjoy 

the event without actually having to compete. 

Rules, entry forms, competition details are also to be 

found on: 

For further details contact: 

www.members.aol.com/icedancehome/wic2004.htm 

e-mail jhbaster@aol.com or carolejoan133@aol.com 

Cont'd from Front Page World Ice Challenge 2004 

Kerr's funding review 

Keith Horton, are due to meet 

with Sportscotland later this 

month to review their future. 

This follows a period of 

lengthy negotiations between 

NISA and Sportscotland, and 

the association is very pleased 

with this positive response 

from Sportscotland in the light 

of the Scots couples' recent 

performance in Budapest. 

It is understood as we go to 

press, that discussions will 

cover an interim plan to cover 

the couple for the remainder 

of this season, and to work on 

a new 4 year plan starting next 

season. Good news indeed. 

The team selection for the 

World Figure Championships 

has been announced: 

Ladies: Jenna McCorkell 

Men: Neil Wilson (Res M Davies) 

Dance: Sinead & John Kerr 

Team Leader: Sorelle Kayne 

Scots to vote on 'SKATE SCOTLAND' 

During the past 2 years, NISA has 

developed and introduced a new 

corporate governance structure for the 

UK. Whilst ice skating is a UK based sport 

where competitors are only able to skate 

internationally for Great Britain, the need for 

independent Home Country Associations 

working within a UK framework, has never 

been greater. 

Following several consultation sessions 

throughout Scotland, attended by over 130 

skaters, parents and coaches, proposals for the 

launch of 'SKATE SCOTLAND' have recently been 

mailed to all voting members of NISA residing in 

Scotland. They will be asked to vote on 14th 

March 2004 to adopt the new constitution and 

so give birth to the new Association. Current 

NISA members living outside Scotland, but who 

may qualify as a SKATE SCOTLAND member, (and 

wish to do so) are asked to register with NISA 

Office as soon as possible. Similarly, any person 

who is a current voting NISA member living in 

Scotland who has not so far received a voting 

pack should contact NISA Office without delay. 

The deadline for postal proxy votes is 12th 

March 2004. The vote is also open to all current 

full or voting members of SISA, who should also 

contact NISA Office as soon as possible. 

Assuming the membership votes to approve the 

constitution, all eligible members in all 

categories will be transferred into the new 

Association - this will include current members 

of SISA as well as NISA, and there will then 

follow a call for nominations for the election of 

the SKATE SCOTLAND Board of directors. 

Membership of SKATE SCOTLAND automatically 

confers membership of NISA UK at no additional 

cost, with access to all national programmes, 

tests and events, together with voting rights and 

benefits appropriate to their membership 

category. 

The consultation meetings, held during October 

and December 2003, at Dumfries, Braehead, 

Murrayfield and Aberdeen, were wide ranging, 

and enthusiastically received, with the vast 

majority very much in favour of the proposals. 

Indeed they were most constructive, and many 

of the comments and observations were 

subsequently incorporated into the proposed 

constitution. 

The EGM to adopt the constitution will be 

held at Murrayfield Ice Rink, Edinburgh at 

12:30pm on Sunday 14th March 2004.

WIFA 

BOOT & 

BLADE 

STARTER SETS 

COACHES 

'Coaches Corner' is a regular feature of Ice Link 

and gives full details of seminars, education 

programmes and items of general interest both 

for Coaches and skaters alike. 

Congratulations to the following on achieving NCCP 

passes since last issue. 

Level 1 Fiona McGiff, Vicki Stonebanks, Paul Worth 

NCCP Passes 

CORNER 

(Short Track) 

Level 2 Kate Matthews 

Level 3 (Revalidations) Jill Simpson Cobley, Leigh Yip 

Peter Morrissey looks at the NISA test system - Standard and Competitive 

With this article for Coaches Corner I write firstly to inform you that I have recently resigned 

from my position on the NISA Board of Directors. This, I have done after much careful 

consideration. 

It was difficult to move away from something that has been a major part of my life for such a long 

time, however I felt that this was the right time to consider my options and take some time for myself 

having devoted so much of my time and energies into ice skating over many years. I will still be around 

and always ready to help in any way that I can and will be pro-active in ensuring a smooth hand-over 

to the new Board Director. 

With resignation comes a time 

for reflection on the future and 

also on the past. The whole of Ice 

Link would not be large enough 

to write about all of the projects 

that I have been involved with, 

however one thing that is certain 

is that there has been a great 

deal of change which has had or 

will have an impact on all 

coaches, skaters, and 

stakeholders in the sport. The 

sport of ice skating is constantly 

evolving and like the rest of the 

world we have to try and keep 

up with these changes if we are 

to compete positively at 

International level. One of the major recent 

changes has been the introduction of the 

standard and competitive test structures. This 

new structure was introduced to try to ensure 

that as many skaters as possible achieve a high 

standard within the standard test structure; 

following on from many years of skaters achieving 

a relatively low level of test pass within the old 

structure, this leaving many skaters and coaches 

frustrated with the very high level of failure. 

The philosophy behind the new structure was 

to eliminate this culture of failure and allow as 

many skaters as possible the opportunity to 

remain within the standard structure and pass 

tests to a high level. The competitive test 

structure was designed for the skater with their 

sights set on high level Championship 

participation; the standard required to pass is 

naturally higher than for the standard test 

structure. A series of educational seminars for 

both judges and coaches were delivered around 

the country to explain the standards and the 

reasoning behind the new structure! 

It would appear that now nearly everybody 

wants to try a competitive test, even though the 

standard required is above many skaters 

capabilities and the failure rate is as high as for 

the old test structure. 

It is important that coaches and skaters accept 

that to pass a competitive test, not only must the 

elements be of a high standard but that the 

skaters 'base mark' be to the required standard. 

Often the skater is simply not to the required 

'skating' standard, and that is before the skater 

has attempted the first element in the 

programme! It is important that everybody is very 

Peter Morrissey 

NISA Board Director 

Coaching 

aware of the 'skating' level 

required before attempting a 

competitive test, (or any test) – it 

would appear that many of the 

skaters attempting competitive 

tests would be more at home in 

the standard test structure and 

should be directed accordingly. 

Coaches, skaters and parents 

should be aware of the standard 

and not follow a route which is 

inappropriate for the skater's 

level, this to avoid the 

disappointment of failure. 

The simple advice is to be very 

aware of the required standards 

before submitting for a test, often a little more 

time in the standard structure will give the skater 

the opportunity to work on their basic skating 

skills and in turn, improve the chances of 

eventually passing a competitive test. 

It is important to constantly be aware of the 

ever increasing skating standards, rules and 

regulations. The possible introduction of a new 

ISU judging system...are you aware of this? Do you 

understand the implications for the sport? Did 

you as a coach attend one of the judge / coach 

education seminars? 

A coach should work rather like a manager in a 

world class company and expect world class 

standards from their skaters (employees) at what 

ever level and make it clear that not every 

employee has the qualities and or abilities to be a 

high flying executive. The World Class company 

will also have world class executives, secretaries, 

cleaners, and caterers, everybody understanding 

their roles and responsibilities, with the manager 

managing. A coach will have a range of skaters 

within his company and not every skater will be 

suited to competitive tests but more suited to the 

standard test structure. This must be made very 

clear to the skaters and their parents to avoid 

confusion, failure and frustration! 

I'd like to thank all my friends and colleagues 

who have been so supportive over the many 

years I have been involved with NISA, GOOD 

LUCK to you all in what is a wonderful, but an ever 

demanding, complicated and rigorous sport. 

Ed: This very important issue is currently under 

review by the NISA Board, and there are plans 

to introduce a major National Event based on 

the Standard Test system. 

For details and orders 

contact: 

WIFA INTERNATIONAL UK 

John Turner, 75 Springfield 

Road, Kings Heath, 

Birmingham B14 7DU 

Tel/Fax: 0121 441 3405 

Mobile: 077100 66218 

Cowling's 

Column 


Like to keep up to date with major skating competitions? 

James Cowling, Ice Link's independent 

skating journalist, is offering a unique 

new service to skating fans - detailed 

reports from a number of European events 

during the coming season, e-mailed 

directly to YOU. 

James Cowling, Ice Link's 

independent sports journalist 

brings readers skating news from 

around the globe 

Twice world pairs figure skating champion Zhao Hongbo has his sights set on the 

Olympics in Turin, Italy, in two years time. In a Chinese newspaper, the 30 year old 

said that he hopes to put his already glittering career to a perfect end by winning an 

Olympic title at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. It's the first time that I can recall that he's 

stated that he will remain eligible for Turin. "I have won everything but an Olympic gold 

medal, and this is the reason that I have not retired," he told Xinhua. "I want to own a perfect 

career." Zhao, along with his partner, Shen Xue, would have to be considered the 

favourties. The duo were also named in the top time Chinese athletes in 2003. 

Former world bronze medallist Vanessa 

Gusmeroli of France has announced that 

she's quitting the amateur ranks to skate 

in ice shows. Gusmeroli won world bronze 

medal in 1997 and has three national titles to 

her credit. The 25 year old said she made 

the decision after the French Federation 

failed to give her any national or international 

assignments. 

F ive 

times World Champion Michelle Kwan 

of the United States has switched 

coaches again in her renewed quest for 

gold in 2006. She left long time coach Frank 

Carroll in 2001 for Scott Williams. Kwan has 

now joined forces with Russian Rafael 

Artunian. The Californian worked with him 

part time in the run up to the Salt Lake City 

Olympics in 2002. 

Russian coach Tatiana Tarasova 

has shed 90 pounds. She has 

parted ways with the US skating 

sensation Sasha Cohen. Tarasova said 

it was for health reasons and that 

Cohen's schedule was too gruelling for 

her. Funny, the Russian looked pretty 

healthy at the recent European 

Championships. Something tells me there 

was a falling out somewhere. 

Former Olympic Champion Victor 

Petrenko is the latest high profile skater 

to be charged with drunk driving. The 

34 year old Ukrainian was charged with the 

offence after he crashed his car into a fence. 

Petrenko failed several sobriety tests but was 

not given a breath test. He suffered a minor 

injury but declined treatment. His arrest 

comes just a few months after Olympic 

Champion Alexei Yagudin of Russia was 

arrested for drunken driving and seven years 

after his compatriot 1994 Olympic Champion 

Oksana Baiul was done in for the same thing. 

The vice president of the International 

Olympic Committee, Kim Un-Yong, has 

been thrown in jail for diverting funds for 

his personal use and accepting bribes in 

return for favours. Kim is one of the most 

powerful figures in the world of sport. The 

IOC has since suspended Kim from his post 

pending the results of an investigation. 

T o 

celebrate the Christmas season, Jayne 

Torvill launched the ice rink at Somerset 

House. The former Olympic Champion 

adapted the a scene from the ballet 

Nutcracker to marks its opening. Torvill 

During summer months Mercian Ice Dance 

Club (Coventry Arena) generally runs 

smoothly, but in the hockey season 

(with much financial sponsorship) it's a 

different story. 

Although Planet Ice Coventry is very helpful, 

Mercian decided they needed funds to 

compete for winter ice - and a plan! 

They decided to apply to Awards for All - lottery 

grants for local groups - maximum given is 

£5,000. Having completed all the paperwork 

just before Christmas they heard at the end of 

January they had been fully successful in their 

quest. 

Mercian are holding their first Open Ice Dance 

Competition on Thursday 25th March to include 

a British Championship Accredited Competition 

for couples. On Friday 26th March they are 

holding a British Solo Ice Dance Qualifier. 

On 22nd April they are holding an Open 

Afternoon to try and attract past skaters back on 

the ice or to encourage those who can skate 

.....then look no further 

& join on-line 

www.figureskatingreports.com 

worked with choreographer Matthew 

Bourne. 

Most of the talk so far this year has 

been on the new Code of Points 

system that the ISU has implemented 

for the Grand Prix series. The Congress will 

vote on whether to adopt it for all major 

competitions when it meets in June in the 

Netherlands. So, what are some of the 

Russians saying about the new COP system? 

Coach Tatiana Tarasova said this in a Russian 

newspaper, "With any system, what you have 

to do is skate well, jump well, spin 

beautifully, and raise your legs like you're 

supposed to. Skating must be wellrounded. 

And it's great that the new judging 

system rewards skaters for many different 

things. It's not without its problems, 

just like the old system. However, the 

BBittss nn' 

piiecceess 

old system was just impossible to 

manage. If five judges make a deal, 

the skater could never to jump to No 

3 overall after 10th place in the short. 

The new system makes it possible, and it's a 

good thing for young skaters. However, the 

best ideas can be ruined by people. If 

judges start making deals, and I think they 

already know how, the new judging system 

will malfunction." In an article for a Russian 

newspaper, former Olympic Champion Alexei 

Urmanov was asked his prediction: Will the 

Olympics in Torino use the new judging 

system? Urmanov said, "To do that, IOC has 

to approve this reform in the summer of 

2005. This is not likely. Two years are not 

enough to test the new system." In other 

article coach Elena Chaikovskaya said it put 

back Russian skating by 20 years. Alexei 

Mishin who coaches World Champion Evgeni 

Plushenko said he could see the weak points 

in the system. He said, "Yes, (the system) 

limits progress (in the sport) One does not 

need to learn more difficult elements to win. 

The outcome is too dependant on one 

person - the technical specialist who is part 

of the judging team and determines which 

element was executed. And finally the 

athletes, the audience, the coaches are not 

given a chance to see "the face" of the 

individual judge. (He means "anonymity" 

prevents one from being able to observe the 

"judging pattern" of individual judges.) So, 

the result looks like a "mashed potato" where 

you don't get to see the individual potato. 

Reports are 300-500 words long and 

highlight jumps and other technical 

elements, choreography and analysis. 

Includes Short and Long programs, , 

and images included per report. 

Reports $10 per 

competition 

Major credit cards 

accepted 

Mercian Club celebrates Lottery Funding 

and are interested in ice dance to join us. 

Members will be there to assist plus two senior 

dance coaches Duncan Lenard and Lynn Burton 

(European contenders in 1994). Mercian 

Chairman Julia Greenhough is to be interviewed 

on Saga Radio (listeners from about 30 years 

upwards - officially 50 years upwards!) about 

MIDC and invite them to join the Open 

Afternoon. 

That evening they will be able to watch Hot Ice 

at Coventry Arena. Top quality skating, great 

costumes, lighting laser show, a full spectacular 

production. Hot Ice will remain at Coventry for a 

further 3 days before returning to Blackpool. Do 

go along and see the show. 

8th May MIDC are once again delighted to be 

hosting A Workshop with Master Coach Joan 

Slater, plus an Ice Dance Social skating to live 

music by Eddie Ruhier, over 3 hours of skating. 

MIDC are very grateful Awards for All has made 

their plans possible and look forward to 

welcoming everyone to Planet Ice Coventry.


2004 NISA National Events Diary 

Apr 3-4th British Short Track Speed Skating Championships 2004 iceSheffield 

Jul 24-25th British Solo Dance Championships 2004 iceSheffield 

Oct 3rd British Adult Championships 2004 (Practice available on Oct 2nd 17:00 - 20:00) iceSheffield 

Oct 16-20th NISA Scotland Open Championships 2004 (inc Accredited Events Figure/Dance) Dumfries Ice Bowl 

Dec 1-4th British Ice Figure & Dance Championships 2004 NIC Nottingham 

2004 Domestic Figure & Dance Diary (& Regional Tests) 

In order to clarify the position as regards Ice Figure open competitions / accredited qualifying events, we have produced the 

calendar below including full details as at date of printing. Any Ice Figure event not listed in the table below has not been 

registered with the NISA Ice Figure Committee and no permit will have been issued. All clubs should note that announcements 

and permit applications for Ice Figure competitions are to be sent to Maggie Worsfold, 54 Moat St. Edinburgh EH14 1PH 

Key to abbreviations: N/a = Not applicable (S) = Singles Accredited Event (P) = Pairs Accredited Event. (D) = Dance 

Accredited Event, P = Primary J = Junior S = Senior 

FULL DETAILS AND CONTACT NUMBERS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE NISA WEBSITE 

Date Event Announcement Permit Accredited Referee Contact 

Status Auth Events 

Feb 25th Bristol Opens Agreed - D Stevens J Murch 

Mar 1st Regional Tests - Milton Keynes (08:00 - 14:00) NISA Office 

2nd Regional Tests - Hull (07:00 - 12:30) NISA Office 

8-9th Bradford Opens Agreed - (S) P/J/S (P) P T Houghton M King 

8-9th Romford Opens Agreed - D Stevens J Wilkins 

10-11th A Palace Solo Dance Dates Notified - Solo Qual A Rogers 

13-14th Magnum Opens Agreed - (S) P/J/S A Findlay (tbc) S Wilson 

25-26th Mercian Dance Open Dates Notified - Solo Qual / (D) O Coulson J Greenhough 

Apr 1st Regional Tests Swindon (07:00 15:30) NISA Office 

19th Bracknell Solo Dance Dates Notified - Solo Qual 

20-23rd Bracknell Opens Dates Notified - (S/P) P/J/S V Riley / 

S Hanrahan S Truby 

24-25th Kyle Opens Dates Notified - (S) P/J/S (P) P M Worsfold R Otterson 

26-28th Streatham Opens Agreed - (S) P/J/S (P) P W Clay J Hopkinson 

May 3rd Nottingham Solo Dance Dates Notified - Solo Qual 

5th Regional Tests - Deeside (08:30 - 14:30) NISA Office 

10th Regional Tests - Aberdeen Linx NISA Office 

10th Deeside Dance Open Dates Notified - Solo Qual / (D) C Yates L McNulty 

10-11th Lee Valley Opens Dates Notified - (P) P/J S Hanrahan M Hunt 

14-16th Olympia Bowl Open Dates Notified - (S) P/J/S A Findlay J Rutherford 

15th Dumfries Solo Dance Dates Notified - Solo Qual 

24-25th Gillingham Open Dates Notified - (S) P/J/S S Lindsey A Hinksman 

Jun 2-4th Blackpool Opens Dates Notified - M Mallinson S Naylor 

7th Regional Tests - Nottingham (08:00 - 14:00) NISA Office 

13th Queens RIDL Dance 17:00pm D Arbiter 

14-16th Milton Keynes Open Dates Notified - M Chapman/ 

D Stevens D Moulden 

19-20th Deeside Open Dates Notified - (S/P) P/J/S L Littler J Lloyd Hazelgraves 

24-25th Bracknell Adult opens Dates Notified - S Hanrahan S Truby 

Jul 1st Telford Open Received - M Chapman A Smith 

5-6th Guildford Opens Dates Notified - A Terry 

10-13th Hull Open Dates Notified - (S/P) P/J/S J Dodd M Pickard 

12-13th Basingstoke Open Dates Notified - P Clews G McCann 

Aug 7-9th Dundee Open Dates Notified - (S/P) P/J/S M Worsfold (tbc) J Urquhart 

10th Regional Tests - iceSheffield (09:00 - 16:00) NISA Office 

Sep 13-14th Chelmsford Open Dates Notified - (P) tbc S Hanrahan A Willey 

20th Swindon Open Dates Notified - (S/P) P/J/S T Houghton A Hood 

24-26th Dundonald Open Dates Notified - (S/P) P/J/S M Worsfold J Passmore 

28th Regional Tests - Nottingham (07:00 - 15:00) NISA Office 

29-30th A Palace Open Dates Notified - (S/P) P/J/S J Dodd A Rogers 

Oct 16-20th NISA Scotland Open Championships (S/P/D) P/J/S 

28th Regional Tests - iceSheffield (08:30 - 15:30) NISA Office 

2004 ISU International Events Diary 

2004 

Mar 1-7th World Junior Figure Skating Championships The Hague, Netherlands 

11-13th Mladost Trophy (Junior/Novice) Zagreb, Croatia 

11-14th World Challenge Cup for Juniors (Synchro) Milan, Italy 

12-14th Isar-Pokal (Junior/Novice) Munich, Germany 

12-14th Copenhagen Trophy (Senior/Junior/Novice) Copenhagen, Denmark 

22-28th World Figure Skating Championships Dortmund, Germany 

31 - Apr 4th Gardena Spring Trophy (Junior) Selva di val Gardena Italy 

1-4th World Synchronized Skating Championships Zagreb, Croatia 

1-3rd Silver Skate Ankara, Turkey 

6-8th Mladost Trophy Synchro (Senior/Junior/Novice) Belgrade, Serbia 

6th International Figure Skating Challenge (Senior invitational) tba USA 

14-18th Triglav Trophy (Senior/Junior/Novice) Jesenice, Slovenia 

iceSheffield Junior Short Track Camp - Saturday 13th March 8:30 -19:00 

This camp is open to skaters in the Junior C category and below. It is free to attend and lunch will be provided; 

on and off-ice training and a Seminar from Craig Handford. Report time is 8:30 - 8:45am. Coaches are 

encouraged to attend, one from each Short Track Club may claim travel expenses. Numbers limited so names to 

NISA Office (Mina Machin) as soon as possible. Further details will be forwarded to skaters accepted on the 

camp. 

Recruitment of Officials for Short Track Speed Skating 

NISA is currently looking to recruit new officials for short track speed skating in the following positions. 

Referees; applicants should have skated and it would help if they had some knowledge of the discipline. 

Starters/competitor stewards/time keepers/line judges/heat box and ice stewards. 

Any enquiries should be sent to Ken Pendrey Ken@pendreyrefrigeration.fsnet.co.uk or Tina Noble 

hyacinth@tina72.freeserve.co.uk (sub committee Judges/officials for short track speed skating) 

ISU EXAM SUCCESS 

A belated congratulations to Diana Stevens who passed the ISU Championship exam in 2003. Well done Diana! 

COMPETITIVE DANCE TESTS 

As from 1st january 2004 all competitive dance tests will be organised through the NISA office and will be held 

at regional test centres. All rinks have been contacted to confirm whether they are willing to host these sessions. 

So far the response has been minimal. It is proposed that sessions are held bi-monthly unless numbers warrant 

more frequency. 

It may also be possible to arrange higher level standard tests at these venues if test organisers are experiencing 

difficulty in obtaining either ice time or judges. This will be by application to the NISA office and will be solely 

dependant on the amount of ice time remaining at each session after inclusion of all the competitive tests. 

Applications must be received in the NISA office at least 28 days prior to a test session in order that judges can 

be confirmed and all other arrangements made in good time. 

NISA official stuff! 

Attention all skaters, coaches, judges and officials - this is the page to read to keep 

up to date with all the Association's Official Information 

INTRODUCTION 

The National Ice Skating Association is pleased to 

announce the criteria for obtaining entry into the 2004 

British Championships, for Primary, Junior and Senior 

events. 

COMPETITOR ELIGIBILITY 

The Championships are open to the following 

competitors: Eligible members of the Association; Skaters 

who were born within or are citizens of the UK; Skaters 

who have resided in the UK for at least one year, but are 

citizens of another country whose National Association has 

granted permission for them so to compete; 

In the events of Pairs and Ice Dancing couples, one partner 

of the Pair or Dance couple must be a citizen of the UK, 

and the other partner of the Pair or couple may compete 

with such partner as a member of the UK, if so permitted 

by the National Association of the country of which he/she 

is a citizen and if the one year residency requirement is 

satisfied. 

Skaters need to fulfil the above criteria before 1st 

November 2004. 

Skaters who will not meet the residency qualification 

before 1st January 2004, may compete in the Accredited 

Open Events but must have achieved the residency 

qualification by the closing date for the British 

Championship of 1st November 2004. 

Further clarification on eligibility can be obtained from the 

NISA Office. 

QUALIFICATION FOR THE BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 

To compete in the British Championships 2004 at Primary, 

Junior and Senior level in all disciplines, skaters are 

required to meet 3 criteria: 

Compete in a minimum of 3 accredited open events for 

singles and 2 accredited open events for pairs and dance 

couples at the relevant standard. 

Hold the full test for the relevant standard before 1st 

November 2004 

Compete in the British Championship Qualifier and achieve 

a place within the final number for the appropriate 

Championship. 

Primary 12 

Junior 12 

Senior 12 

ACCREDITED OPEN COMPETITIONS 

The accredited Open Events in Singles and Pairs will 

commence in January and will end in October. A full list of 

accredited events and contact names will be published in 

Ice Link informing skaters and coaches of the events which 

will be accredited. 

The short program technical requirements will therefore 

commence on 1st January each year. 

The same technical criteria will apply to all Accredited 

Open Events at each individual standard and this will be 

published in the Ice Link/ on the Website. 

Skaters must hold the required test standard for the 

Accredited Open Competition by the closing date for the 

individual event. 

The maximum age criteria will not apply to these events to 

allow skaters who may not be eligible for the 

championships to compete throughout the season at their 

individual technical standard. 

INTERNATIONAL SKATERS 

Skaters who compete in a full International or a Grand Prix 

event for GBR between 1st January 2004 and 31st 

October 2004, and complete all parts of the event, short 

and long programs for singles and pairs and compulsories, 

original dance and free dance for dance couples, may 

count this event only as 1 of their accredited events at the 

standards in the chart below. Please note that club 

internationals do not qualify as a full international and 

therefore cannot be classed as an accredited event. 

UK Level International level 

Senior Senior or Junior 

Junior Junior or Novice 

Primary Novice 

Skaters who have been selected/invited for international 

competition/Grand Prix but, at the decision/agreement of 

NISA, do not compete, will be permitted to count this 

event as an accredited open. 

There will be no automatic entry into the British 

Championships for International Skaters. 

SKATERS WHO TRAIN ABROAD 

Skaters who train abroad may apply to NISA to have a 

maximum of 2 competitions (1 for Dance and Pairs) in 

which they plan to compete abroad recognised as 

Accredited Open Events. This will only be considered if 

the skater applies directly to the Performance Manager 

and/or the Appropriate Technical Committee not later 

than 6 weeks before the competition in order that checks 

can be carried out on the standard of these events. The 

application must be submitted using the appropriate 

application form available from the NISA office. If 

acceptable the skater will be provided with written 

confirmation that the event abroad has been sanctioned. 

Skaters in this category must submit the protocol for the 

competition with their application for the British 

Championship. 

This will only be allowed for a maximum of 2 events for 

Singles and 1 for Dance and Pairs and skaters must 

compete in at least 1 Accredited Open Event at home, or 

an international. All 3 events for singles and 2 events for 

dance and pairs must be completed between 1st January 

BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2004 QUALIFYING 

2004 and 31st October 2004. 

BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER 

All skaters will be required to submit an application form 

to compete in the British Championships by 1st November 

2004. The entry fee will cover the Qualifier and the 

Championship Final 

Where there are fewer than the required number of 

skaters in any category, The British Championship Qualifier 

will not be held for that individual event. 

The British Championship Qualifier, will require all 

entrants, including international skaters, to skate their long 

program or free dance. There will be one competition at 

each standard in Men’s Singles, Ladies Singles, Pairs and 

Dance and a free draw will be made to determine the 

order of skating. 

This event will be held at the commencement of the British 

Championships. 

Any international skater who competes in a Grand Prix 

event which clashes with the British Championship , may 

apply to the Performance Manager and/or the relevant 

Technical Committee to be exempt from the British 

Qualifier. 

APPLICATION TO COMPETE IN THE BRITISH 

CHAMPIONSHIP 

After the final accredited Open Competitions have been 

completed, skaters will submit their application form to 

the NISA office providing details of the 3 accredited 

Opens for singles and the 2 accredited Opens for Pairs 

and Dance couples in which they have competed. The 

last date for receipt of application forms is 1st 

November 2004. 

These entries will be checked against the protocols from 

the clubs. Skaters must have completed both the short 

and long programs in each of the 3 events for Singles. 

Pairs must have completed the short and long programs 

and Dance couples must have completed Compulsory 

Dances, Original Dance and Free Dance during the course 

of 2 Open events. 

Previous Champions must qualify, as there will be no 

automatic entry for previous champions at the same or 

from the level immediately below. 

Skaters must meet the following age criteria and must not 

have reached the age specified below before 1st July 

2004: 

Primary Junior Senior 

Ladies 15 19 n/a 

Men 17 19 n/a 

Pairs n/a n/a n/a 

Dance n/a n/a n/a 

Single skaters who qualify for more than 1 singles event 

after the British Qualifier event, e.g. Primary and Junior, 

may only choose to compete in 1 singles Championship 

event. This does not preclude a single skater from 

competing in their singles event and also pairs and/or 

dance. 

Should this occur, the numbers for the British 

Championships will be increased to the maximum number 

for the event from which the double qualifying skater 

withdraws by including the skater who finished in the next 

highest place in the British Qualifier event. 

Any skaters who withdraw from their event prior to the 

draw will be replaced by the next placed skater from the 

qualifier. 

Skaters who withdraw after the draw for that event at the 

British will not be replaced. 

Skaters who obtain a place in the first three in a Primary 

Championship, may not revert back to the Novice or Pre- 

Novice Championships in 2005, but may compete again at 

Primary level subject to meeting all other requirements. 

Pairs and Dance couples may return to Novice 

Championships if they compete with a different partner 

and meet all other requirements. 

Skaters who obtain a place in the first three in a Junior 

Singles Championship, may not revert back to the Primary 

Championships, British Championship Qualifier or 

Accredited Opens in 2005 for the singles event but may 

compete again at Junior level subject to meeting all other 

requirements. 

WILD CARDS 

Please note, there will be no wilds cards issued. 

REMINDER 

The Accredited Open Events will commence on 1 January 

2004 and will run for a 10 month period which allows all 

skaters adequate time to compete in the required number 

of Accredited Open Events. 

It is the responsibility of skaters to plan their season in 

conjunction with their coaches to allow for any injuries 

which may be sustained throughout the season or where 

numbers in later events may be restricted. 

Skaters who do not compete until the final three 

Accredited Open Events or a late international prior to 

1st November 2004 and sustain an injury or are unable 

to obtain entry because of restricted numbers which 

precludes them from fulfilling the requirement to 

compete in 3 Accredited Open Events will not be given 

any special consideration. Neither is it the 

responsibility of the relevant Technical Committee or 

the Open Competition Referee to allocate places to 

these skaters in the final Accredited Opens in 

preference to other skaters.

300 skaters make it a memorable 

Championships 

Eighteen 

The Adult competition saw 

four teams entered with the 

Diamonds and Manic having their first 

outing. With a split result the 

experienced Montem Majors in very 

smart black and green costumes took 

first place with 'Saturday Night Fever' 

from Jet Set's ABBA Medley. 

The Mixed Age section 

was an entertaining affair with five 

teams on show. The choice of 

music was extremely varied from 

Queen to Chicago to Latin, to 

modern Scottish. Bracknell’s Ice 

Fusion claimed top spot with 

Eclipse from Lee Valley runners up. 

It was good to see Gosport back in 

competition performing 'All That 

Jazz' and Moray Dolphins fielding 

the biggest team in this section 

which had the crowd clapping 

along with some traditional 

Scottish flourishes. 

The panel - Sandra 

Barker, Jane Brown, Sue 

Buckingham, Noel 

Grimshaw, Karen Larsen 

and Referees Chris 

Buchanan and Helen 

Poole thought the 

teams very well turned 

out and displayed 

improvements on 

previous showings. 

For the Novices Team Sparkle 

iced a full squad of twenty skaters. 

Wearing eye catching costumes in purple 

and cerise they gave a polished 

performance to 'Bugsy Malone' to lift the 

title for another year. 

Team Sunshine, from Lee Valley, were a 

strong second with 'Walking with 

Sunshine' which had some innovative 

moves in their bright yellow outfits. This 

display won the Chairman's Trophy for 

the Most Enjoyable Performance of the 

Day. Nottingham’s Shadows used music 

from a Harry Potter film, which needed 

more drive and rhythm. 

teams from Inverness in the North to Gosport in the 

South made their way to the National Ice Centre, January 18th for 

this year’s British Synchronized Skating Championship. Six trophies 

were up for grabs in the Seniors, Juniors, Novice, Juveniles, Adults 

and Mixed Age events 

For the very best in digital action ice photography 

www.icephoto.co.uk 


THE 'SYNCHRO' 

The Juveniles saw the judges divided 

but the Silhouettes came out on top with 

their attractive display to 'Bare Necessities' 

from Jungle Book. 

Team Storm’s Senior short 

programme was marred by a multiple 

fall. Attired in sombre black, Peggy Lee’s ' 

Fever ' was their choice of music for the free 

and they used it to advantage. They 

produced some good moves and skated at a 

fast pace. More improvements are 

scheduled prior to the Senior World's in 

Zagreb in April. 

Ice Illusions skating to 'A Little Less Conversation' produced a 

competent Junior short programme to this year’s complex 

requirements, while in the free their spin/spiral manoeuvre 

drew loud applause from the knowledgeable crowd. This 

outing will have been useful to the team's build up to the 

World Junior Challenge Cup in Milan in March. 

Update on 

Synchro news 

P 

A 

G 

E 

With an entry this large - over 300 

skaters- the logistics needed to 

ensure a smooth event are 

immense and the Centre staff led by NISA 

Events Director Donna Gateley and Sports 

Development Manager Cath Barker, did a 

tremendous job. No request was too 

much and everything stayed on schedule 

throughout the day. 

The skilled volunteers from the 

Nottingham Club under the guidance of 

Technical Delegate, Kay Robinson and Coordinator, 

Cyril Yates delivered their usual 

efficient operation. 

The Centre's IT Manager, Rob Williams 

even created a dedicated website 

especially for the weekend. It had a ''live 

commentary" page so that people who 

could not attend the event could get a 

feel of the atmosphere. 

On the day over 170 individuals visited 

the site and approx 100 watched live as 

the commentary unfolded. Visitors from 

Australia, the U.S.A, Italy, France, Finland 

and elsewhere tuned in to read the 

commentary posted by Rob and the 

Centre's Head Coach, Joy Sutcliffe. 

If readers would like to view the site 

themselves they can do so on 

www.britishsynchro.co.uk 

Mich Stevenson, OBE, Chairman of the 

National Ice Centre Board and his wife 

were present throughout the 

Championships and were enthusiastic in 

their support of the event. They were 

also very impressed by the level of 

participation and the travelling support it 

had attracted.


2003 British Ice Figure and Dance Championships 

P 

HALL OF FAME AME 

h 

o 

t 

o 

Primary Ladies 

1st Jody Annandale 2nd Naomi Miles 3rd Sophie 

Johnson 

Primary Men 

1st Jason Thompson 2nd David Richardson 3rd 

Nicholas Buckland 

Primary Pairs 

1st Stacey Kemp & David King 2nd Gemma Reeve & 

Samuel Edwards 3rd Daniella Finch & Perry Drake 

Primary Dance 

1st Alex Zimbler & Nick Hughes 2nd Sophie Yates & 

Jonathon Hodgkinson 3rd Tamsyn Pack & Richard Boaden 

Senior Ladies 

1st Jenna McCorkell 2nd Danielle Guppy 3rd Kathryn 

Hedley 

Senior 

1st Sinead & John Kerr 2nd 

O'Dougherty 3rd Marika Hu

Dance Senior Men 

Pam O'Connor & Jonathon 

mphreys & Vitaliy Baranov 

1st Matthew Davies 2nd Neil Wilson 3rd Stuart Bell 

The best in digital ice photography 

www.icephoto.co.uk 

For every order placed 

Icephoto will donate 33% 

to the NISA Skaters Fund 


This superb photo collage* of Champions can be yours to 

frame as a lasting souvenir of the 2003 British Figure & Dance 

Championships. Available in two sizes printed on glossy 

photo paper: 

Super A3 (19" x 13") £15.00 inc p&p 

A4 (111 ⁄2"x 81 ⁄4") £ 6.00 inc p&p 

Orders to NISA Office, National Ice Centre, Lower Parliament 

Street, Nottingham NG1 1LA with cheques made payable to 

Icephoto. Please allow 28 days for delivery. 

* Collage of Champions excludes surrounding rostrum photos 

Junior Ladies 

1st Joanna Webber 2nd Karla Quinn 3rd Pauline 

Smith 

Junior Men 

1st Matthew Parr 2nd Alex Wilde 3rd Elliot Hilton 

Junior Pairs 

1st Rebecca Collett & Hamish Gaman 2nd Stephanie 

Smith & Jaymes Monte 

Junior Dance 

1st Nicola Trippick & Damon Latimer 2nd Michelle Royds 

& Jamie Whyte 3rd Kira Geil & Andrew Smykowski


GB adults scoop 23 

Golds in French 

International 

The 3rd Dune of Flanders Cup adult skating event 

(Dunkerque, France Dec. 5-7 2003) has shown us many new 

faces and skating talents in the world of Adult Skating in 

Europe writes Sally Hartwig, the event Organiser. 

This year the event attracted 91 participants from 

all over Europe including France, Belgium, Holland, 

Germany, England, Lithuania, and Singapore to 

perform in Freestyle, Dance, Pair Skating and 

Synchronized Team Skating. 

A large British team of skaters and supporters, 

coach Patrick Matten and judge Vivien Kierle made 

the journey across the Channel. The medal haul was 

impressive – out of 50 separate events the team 

from GB took 23 first places, followed by France 

(16 firsts) and the remainder divided between 

other countries. This year there was a much bigger 

dance entry, more youngsters and more higherlevel 

skaters which was very nice to see. 

John Fisher from Milton Keynes, a 'young men' Gold 

standard, skated a strong technical program 

perfectly. And Philip Taylor from Slough charmed 

everyone with his elegance on ice.... and made the 

French skaters think back of Robin Cousins. It was 

fantastic to see not one, but SIX entries in the 

'young men' gold class. Both John and Phil won 

their respective classes - and it was great fun to 

watch them fretting on the other performances, 

something they had not experienced before. 

It was a delight to see English elegance combined 

with technical quality on ice. Chantel Philps of SC 

Riverside Chelmsford skated 'young ladies' masters. 

After landing her first jump clean - double axel, she 

went on to skate the performance of her dreams. 

Kirsty Tofts also from SC Riverside Chelmsford won 

the 'young ladies' Bronze class. Robyn Pascoe of 

Montem Slough Dance Club showed us quality 

dance and won the pre-gold and gold solo dance 

category. Chris Pascoe (yes Robyn's mum!) went 

for it in the Interpretive program and enjoyed every 

Dance Partner wanted 

minute of it 

and so did the 

spectators. 

Among others 

taking home 

gold medals 

were Joanne 

Bushnell from 

SC Riverside 

Chelmsford, 

Caroline Atkinson 

from Basingstoke, 

Suzanne Kenward 

from Oxford, Caroline 

Lordan from Oxford 

and Nina Cartwright, 

also Oxford who 

won the prize for 

the most 

imaginative 

costume as 

Carmen 

Miranda. 

And let's 

not forget 

Jean Curtis 

and Michael Whitfield from 

Skating Club Basingstoke with a wonderful Pairs 

Interpretation program . In Synchronized skating 

Team Manic took first place... with a very well 

balanced program and beautiful outfits! 

There were many more English skaters at Dunes 

2003 showing us what adult skating is all about. 

for John Horne (age 17) Level 9 dance, height 5'7" to train at Sheffield with coach Jimmy Young. 

Looking for partner for Primary/Junior and available to train full time. 

Contact 07836 661000 or 07734 734400 

Robyn Pascoe 

Education 

Education 

Education 

& 

Education 

Skaattinngg 

In our last issue we heard from a 

proud skating mum how skating 

and educational achievement 

were not necessarily 

incompatible. This prompted 

another proud mum to tell us 

about her daughter's success 

both on the ice and in the 

classroom - this is Lauren's story! 

Dedication 

and 

discipline 

by Margaret 

Bradshaw 

Following on your story of Melissa Maczka and how well she has done with her education 

and skating, I would just like to say how proud I am as a mother of what my daughter 

Lauren Bradshaw has achieved so far. Which goes to prove that if you're dedicated and 

disciplined enough, you can achieve both. 

Lauren is 19, she attained 12 GCSE's; 5 A Levels (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Georgraphy and General 

Studies); she obtained a place at Nottingham University doing Physiotherapy and is now in her 2nd 

year. She trains early mornings, Monday to Friday, goes on to University, then back to the Arena 

some evenings too, then concentrates on her studying when she gets home. Through all this 

studying she carried on her dance training at 

The Dance Studios in Nottingham, to an 

advanced level in ballet, modern, tap and jazz 

until she started on her A Level course work 

and was sad that she had to forego her dance 

training which she thoroughly enjoyed and had 

competed in many Dance Festivals up and 

down the country. 

She was taught to skate by Wendy Paton and 

although Free was what she competed at, 

Wendy taught her Ice Dance too so that she 

kept up on her tests. At the age of 16 she had 

a skating injury which meant that she was no 

longer able to do Free but she was able to 

diversify into Ice Dance and in 2001 she 

competed for the first time in the 

British Intermediate Solo Ladies Ice 

Dance Championships and came 4th; 

in 2002 she had to compete in the 

Senior Ladies and came 4th. She 

skated in the Queen's Gala in 

Nottingham 2002 and was 

lucky enough to be 

chosen (with others) 

to meet the Queen 

and Prince Philip 

afterwards. The 

photo takes pride of 

place (alongside Gareth 

Gates of course) on my 

desk. 

Last year she had a "try-out" with Philip Tierney 

(22) from Middlesex who trained at Slough 

(he had just finished his University Degree in 

Product Design) and they decided that they would like to skate together. Philip made the sacrifice 

of travelling up to Nottingham on a Sunday evening after work staying at our home, training Monday 

- Friday, then drove home after the Friday morning session. He is now a Level 2 Coach and is now 

employed by the National Ice Centre. Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean gave me their honest 

appraisal in 2002 after the Dance Camp in Nottingham and said that if they worked hard, there was 

potential there. 

They started competing this year, came 3rd in Deeside; 1st in the Welsh Championships; 5th in 

Sheffield. They have worked hard and want to go as far as they can in skating and have no illusions 

of how tough the British Championships in Sheffield is going to be. It will be a learning curve and 

everyone has to start somewhere. 

NISA Chairman the power behind 

new sports academy 

A s 

we go to press, Haig Oundjian and two fellow 

directors of Watford Football club are waiting to 

hear if they have been given the green light from 

the government to press on with making their dream of 

a pioneering £24m sports academy in Harefield, near 

Slough come true. NISA Chairman Haig, hopes that for 

pupils interested in skating, use of facilities in Slough 

Ice Arena could be linked to the daily curriculum. 

On that subject, Haig says "Our curriculums have been 

approved by the Department for Educational Skills .... 

flexible and using IT heavily, so a gifted athlete who misses 

school, competing internationally or on a national training 

squad, can catch up through IT. Even if you are abroad, 

you could log on to that history class you missed via the 

internet" 

The new Harefield Academy will be run on continental 

lines, opening at 7.00am till early afternoon, with a 

voluntary third session offering GMVQ's, and an internet 

cafe open seven days a week, for up to 15 hours a day. 

Watford FC vice chairman David Mellor points out that the concept of the Academy has been the 

"brainchild" of Haig Oundjian, (as Ice Link readers will recall in previous issues). Haig reflects on his 

own sporting experience as a schoolboy having to travel miles every day to his rink to train before 

school, and he recalls "when I was first called up to skate in the Olympics, I was doing my A Levels. 

My headmaster wrote a letter to the Olympic Association asking if they could postpone it (the 

Olympics!) a couple of weeks. That was the thinking - sport was something you did for pleasure not 

for a career. The world has changed but we (Britain) have not; schools in France, America and 

Holland have sport built into their day".

SKATEWATCH 

February 2004 

Skatewatch is an independent editorial provided as a service to our members. The views and opinions expressed are not those of NISA 

Note from the editor 

First, an apology to Lauren Orr for making 

an error in the results of the Paisley Open in 

the last issue. I stand corrected in that 

Lauren actually won the competition – she was 

not third. Second was Vickie Rider and Karly 

Robertson placed third. I must have taken the 

short programme results by mistake. Sorry. 

Iwas really glad to see so many friends at the 

British in Sheffield and apologise that I 

probably did not manage to speak to 

everyone. It was a thoroughly enjoyable week 

and it was good to see so many spectators – 

particularly all those with no family connection 

Cup of China 

to the skaters, something which has rarely been 

the case in the past. I hope everyone enjoyed the 

event and look forward to seeing even more 

“Skatewatchers” in Budapest and Dortmund. 

Due to timing, this Ice Link will appear after 

Europeans, but the reports from there will 

feature in the next issue. I hope there is plenty 

to read this time. As always, I am glad to 

receive comments – whether favourable or 

otherwise. My home telephone number is now 

01234 871345, which will be cheaper to call 

than the mobile (07831 863004), but I can also 

be contacted by email on: 

Lreynolds@ringspann.co.uk. 

Courtesy ISU 

Press reports 

This was the first Cup of China, the event 

“Nutcracker”. 

replacing the Bofrost Cup which used to form 

The new marking system appears to have had an 

part of the Grand Prix series. Despite missing 

impact on the Ladies’ result. Fumie Suguri (JPN) had 

their plane and arriving a day later than planned, 

won the short, skating to a classical version of “Paint 

Tatiana Navka/Roman Kostomarov won all three 

it Black” by the Rolling Stones. However, Elena 

sections, starting off with a “bouncy” Yankee Polka. 

Liashenko (UKR) rocketed up from 7th to win the 

Silver and bronze were fought over by Elena 

competition, skating first and landing triple lutz- 

Grushina/Ruslan Goncharov (UKR) and Isabelle 

double toe, double axel and four more clean triples. 

Delobel/Olivier Schoenfelder (FRA). The Ukrainians 

Her score put her ahead of the marks of Yoshie Onda 

placed second in the CD but the French overtook them 

(silver) and Fumie Suguri, who dropped to third after 

with an OD containing intricate footwork sequences. 

under-rotating and two-footing the second jump of her 

However, the French couple almost fell during their 

triple lutz-triple toe combination and falling on the 

“Merlin” free dance, leaving the way free for Elena and 

triple flip. Unfortunately, this was not a scoring 

Ruslan to win silver with a “sombre” programme to 

event for Elena Liashenko. 

“Hanging Escape” by Alexander Golshtein, which 

sounds like their usual kind of dramatic routine, and The surprise winner of the short was Song Gao (CHN), 

contains a change of edge lift and good twizzle 

who skated clean elements, including quad-triple 

sequences. 

toeloop combination. Timothy Goebel (USA) fell on 

his triple axel to lie second, with another Chinese, 

With the current strength of Chinese Pair skating, it 

Chengjiang Li, in third – he fell on his finishing pose 

was obvious that they were on a mission. Shen/Zhao 

and just couldn’t believe it! Things were a little 

were observed to be more “polished” than at Skate 

different in the free. Tim pulled up to win, reeling off 

Canada the previous week, and had no difficulty in 

triple axel-double toe-triple loop combination, triple 

wining the event, ahead of team-mates Qing Pang/Jian 

flip and quad-triple toe all in the first minute, to a 

Tong, and Maria Petrova/Alexei Tikhonov (RUS). All 

medley of hits by Queen. Brian Joubert (FRA) pulled 

the medallists’ short programme jump elements were 

up from fourth to take silver, with his “Matrix” free 

thrown triple loop and side by side triple toeloops, and 

containing quad toe, triple salchow, axel, toeloop and 

only Tikhonov made any error, stepping out of the 

loop, but he then repeated the salchow without adding 

landing of his individual jump. The rest of the 

another jump for a combination – something of which 

competition looks to have been quite high-quality, the 

he seems to be making a habit. Li took bronze after 

winners' free containing double axel-triple toeloop 

including two quads (toeloop and salchow, but the 

sequence, thrown triple salchow and loop and another 

latter was two-footed). The overnight leader, Song 

side by side triple toeloop, skated to Tchaikovsky’s 

Gao, dropped to fourth after struggling with his axel. 

Lalique Trophy Lesley 

Reynolds 

LALIQUE TROPHY, Paris, Nov 14-16 2003 

than turning the event into a “jump-fest”, it looks as 

DUE TO LIMITATIONS OF SPACE WE HAVE ONLY 

BEEN ABLE TO PUBLISH EXTRACTS OF LESLEY'S 

COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON THIS EVENT. THE 

FULL ARTICLE CAN BE ACCESSED ON THE ICE LINK 

PAGE ON THE NISA WEBSITE. 

In a way, I am sorry not to be bringing you Albert 

Saadi’s usual pithy and entertaining report of the 

Lalique Trophy, but as I was able to go this year 

you will have to make do with my impressions 

instead. No pigeons to liven things up this time, but 

I did get a good first-hand view of the new marking 

system by sitting immediately behind the judges, and 

can describe the new arrangements to you (though 

not the Code of Points itself just now, as that is far 

too complicated!). Basically, the judges sit rinkside 

as usual, all with touch-screen laptop computers 

before them (or slightly to one side, to be accurate). 

On a raised platform behind them and slightly to one 

though the complete package is going to be properly 

acknowledged once some anomalies have been 

resolved (see later). It is going to take some time to 

become accustomed to just seeing an overall score for 

each skater, and I do wonder how it will work with a 

field of 30 or so, as opposed to a smaller competition 

like Lalique with less than a dozen. I am also none 

too convinced of the need to declare the skater’s 

“previous best” score – in the case of Lalique, not 

many can have actually participated in many 

competitions using the new system. It does rather 

engender the idea that it is some kind of race, 

particularly when a large part of the audience 

manifestly does not understand skating – as at Bercy 

a lot of the time! On that subject, those with 

experience of the place might like to know that 

nothing has changed : it is still a “2 shows a day” 

venue, highly spectator-unfriendly (and it’s the same 

for the Press, if you care!)................. 

side (at Lalique anyway) sat the Referee, the two 

“spotters” (officially known as Technical Specialist 

and Assistant Technical Specialist) with head 

microphones so that they can name the elements as 

they are performed, alongside the Technical 

Controller, who transfers the information to the 

computer to be accessed by the judges. The two 

most important people, therefore, look to be the 

Technical Specialists since it is on their word that the 

judges must rely for identification of the elements 

completed. Alexei Urmanov can probably be trusted 

to know what he is seeing, and it is to be hoped the 

same confidence can be placed in all others who 

perform this role. Presumably, the presence of an 

Assistant is the safeguard. To be honest, before 

seeing the system in action I did have my doubts, but 

it did seem to reward quality of skating and, rather 

Ninth to skate (in the Ladies) was our own Jenna 

McCorkell, the first British lady to be invited to skate 

in a senior Grand Prix competition (for those who 

didn’t know, participation is by invitation unless you 

are one of the top six in the world, which accounts 

for why we don’t have too many representatives at 

these events). In a new sparkly pink and blue dress, 

Jenna looked more mature with stronger skating than 

when I last saw her at Worlds. In the warm-up she 

landed double axel and her triple lutz-double toe 

combination. Starting with a nice smile and skating 

to “Poeme” by Secret Garden, she unfortunately fell 

on the triple lutz. Going straight on with triple flip 

and the rest of her programme, including the double 

axel, the smile was maintained to the end, though the 

error cost her dear, putting her in 9th place. 

JGP Finals Results From ISU 

reports 

MEN 1. Evan Lysacek (USA), 2.Andrei Griazev 

(RUS), 3. Christopher Mabee (CAN) 

LADIES 1. Miki Ando (JPN), 2.Lina Johansson 

(SWE), 3. Viktoria Pavuk (HUN) 

PAIRS 1. Jessica Dube/Bryce Davison (CAN), 2. 

Natalia Shestakova/Pavel Lebedev (RUS), 3. Maria 

Mukhortova/Maxim Trankov (RUS) 

DANCE 1. Nora Hoffmann/Attila Elek (HUN), 2. 

Elena Romanovskaya/Alexander Grachev (RUS), 3. 

Morgan Matthews/Maxim Zavozin (USA) 

Skate Canada 

MASTERCARD SKATE CANADA, 

Mississauga, Ontario, Oct 30-Nov 2 

2003 

T 

he Ravensburg Waltz was the 

drawn Compulsory and Tatiana 

Navka/Roman Kostomarov (RUS) 

won this section, a lead they 

maintained throughout. Apparently, their 

Free Dance is to “The Pink Panther” and 

“Austin Powers”, so this should make for 

some entertainment at Europeans. However, 

Albena Denkova/Maxim Staviyski (BUL) were 

a close second. The highlights of their OD 

were a spin in a difficult low position and a 

lift with Maxim in a spread eagle. Galit 

Chait/Sergei Sakhnovski (ISR) were in third 

after their usual fast OD, but dropped back to 

4th in favour of Marie-France 

Dubreuil/Patrice Lauzon (CAN) in spite of the 

latter having a fall. 

In the Pairs event, Xue Shen/Hongbo Zhao 

(CHN) just led Tatiana Totmianina/Maxim 

Marinin (RUS) after the short, both debuting 

new programmes – the Chinese to “Kismet” 

and the Russians to Rachmaninov. However, 

the positions were reversed after both Shen 

and Zhao made errors in the free. The 

Russians were still using last year’s “Cotton 

Club” but promised a new programme to be 

shown for the first time at Russian Nationals. 

The bronze medal was taken by Poland’s 

Dorota Zagorska/Mariusz Siudek skating to 

“Warsaw Concerto”. They are now training 

in Montreal, Canada and overtook that 

nation’s Anabelle Langlois/Patrice Archetto, 

who had been in third after a Spanish themed 

short. 

Five years after last winning Skate Canada, 

Evgeni Plushenko (RUS) started his campaign 

Had you heard ....? 

Jenna McCorkell received a last-minute 

invitation to compete at the NHK Trophy when 

Elena Sokolova withdrew due to injury. However, 

after careful consideration with coach Yuri 

Bureiko, she reluctantly decided to decline as she 

would only have returned from Japan for a day or 

two before the start of the British. Good that she 

is being recognised internationally. 

It was announced at the Lalique Trophy that 

Brian Joubert would be working with Alexei 

Lesley 

Reynolds 

courtesy ISU 

Press Releases 

with a quad-triple toe in the short and went 

on to premiere his new long, dedicated to the 

Russian ballet dancer Vaclav Nijinsky with 

music specially arranged for him by composer 

Edvin Marton. Despite his only combination 

being a “meagre” triple salchow-single toe, he 

won pretty decisively. “Local boy” Jeff Buttle 

(CAN) sent the audience wild by coming 

through from fourth to take the silver medal. 

Skating last in the free, he fell on an underrotated 

quad toe, but then nailed two triple 

axels (one in combination with double toe) and 

two more triples, as well as excellent spins. 

Takeshi Honda (JPN) had been second after a 

short in which he completed quad-triple toe 

and triple axel but missed the triple lutz, but 

he ended up with bronze after struggling and 

missing the quad toe twice. Canadian 

Champion Emanuel Sandhu was third in the 

short, though the crowd had “sighed in 

resignation” when he fell on his opening quad 

toe. Errors in the free relegated him to fourth, 

but inspiration came from Kevin van der 

Perren (BEL) who made a meteoric rise from 

11th to 5th with a clean long containing a 

triple salchow-triple toeloop-triple loop 

combination. 

Sasha Cohen continued her campaign to retain 

her Grand Prix title with wins in both 

programmes, despite some errors - notably 

the lack of a combination in her free. Sixteen 

year old Yukina Ota (JPN), World Junior 

Champion, skated a sparkling short including 

triple lutz-double toe, triple flip and double 

axel, but was overtaken by her team-mate 

Shizuka Arikawa for the silver, and Julia 

Sebestyen (HUN) for bronze. This was Julia’s 

first senior Grand Prix medal, and only her 

second competition since Worlds in March, so 

she was obviously delighted. 

OTHER INTERNATIONALS 

CUP OF RUSSIA GALLINA BLANCA, Moscow, Nov 

21-23 2003 

Information from ISU Press releases 

British interest here with the first GP appearance of Sinead 

and John Kerr. They achieved results of 11th in the CD, 

8th in the OD and 9th overall. Out of 12 couples, an 

impressive debut. 

Tatiana Navka/Roman Kostomarov took their third GP 

title with apparent ease, ahead of Tanith Belbin/Benjamin 

Agosto, though Kati Winkler/Rene Lohse (GER) outpointed 

them on the Ravensburg Waltz. Kati and Rene lost the 

advantage, though, in the free dance (a modern routine 

they named “Day and Night”) when they did not execute 

the required backward twizzles correctly. They slipped to 

fourth, and the bronze was taken by Galit Chait/Sergei 

Sakhnovsky. 

Elena Liashenko (UKR) dominated the Ladies’ competition 

and won the gold medal, with Carolina Kostner (ITA) 

second and Galina Maniachenko (UKR) third. By all 

accounts, this was not a vintage contest, with everyone 

making mistakes. Carolina’s was described as the 

performance of the day : triple loop, triple flip-double toe, 

triple flip-triple toe, triple salchow being her elements. 

Elena Sokolova was 9th, but has since reported serious 

injury problems. 

Once again, Evgeni Plushenko was dominant, but not 

without errors. Worryingly, he told the press of the 

meniscus injury which might require surgery before too 

long. Alexander Abt (RUS) had been second in the short 

but doubled so many jumps in the free that he fell back to 

6th. Other shifts in the placements: Chengjiang Li, 5th in 

the short, skated strongly to move up to second, while 

Frederic Dambier took bronze in a performance which 

must have been vastly better than at Lalique. Michael 

Weiss dropped from 3rd to 5th after a fall on his quad and 

Stephane Lambiel (SUI) skated the third-best free and was 

5th. Don’t know why he missed Paris. 

Tatiana Totmianina/Maxim Marinin regained their poise 

to win, despite her falling (again) on the salchow. China’s 

Qing Pang/Jian Tong took silver and Dan Zhang/Hao 

Zhang bronze. It seems everyone made some mistake in 

the free, except the bronze medallists, who hit everything 

well. 

NHK TROPHY, Asahikawa, Japan, Nov 26-30 

2003 

From ISU as usual 

Running out of space, so results only. The Dance was 

won by Albena Denkova/Maxim Staviyski, ahead of Elena 

Grushina/Ruslan Goncharov (silver) and Galit Chait/Sergei 

Sakhnovsky (bronze). Maria Petrova/Alexei Tikhonov 

dominated the Pairs event, with Anabelle Langlois/Patrice 

Archetto in silver position and Dorota Zagorska/Mariusz 

Siudek taking bronze. 

Japanese Ladies took two of the three medals, Fumie 

Suguri gold and Yoshie Onda bronze. Elena Liashenko 

dropped from first place in the short to second. The 

Men’s result was unpredictable. Second in the short, Jeff 

Buttle pulled up to win the gold, pushing Timothy Goebel 

down to second overall. Song Gao picked up bronze, his 

first ever senior GP medal, earning the highest technical 

score into the bargain (68.0) and just qualifying for the 

Final. 

Yagudin in the “camp” of Tatiana Tarasova. In a 

photocopied hand-written statement, Alexei said “It 

is my honor and privilege to start working with 

Brian. I think that his talent and determination 

combined with hard work will bring great results 

… Brian reminds me a lot of myself. He is a 

fighter. Together we will fight all the obstacles 

that face us.”

SKATEWATCH February 2004 p2 

J ust 

International 

Competition 

Reports 

a reminder, if it is needed, that the 

following report is my own personal 

view, and by no means an “official” 

one. I apologise in advance if I have misreported 

anything, as I never claim to be 

infallible and one or two corners of the ice 

were not 100% visible from my seat. As 

I’ve said before, I have the utmost respect 

for all skaters and would not want to 

offend anyone – as usual, please let me 

know of any gaffes and I will try to make 

amends. LESLEY REYNOLDS. 

From the moment I walked into IceSheffield on 

Wednesday 3 December, I could sense a “buzz” that 

I haven’t felt at any previous British 

Championships (and this at 9 in the morning!) 

Practices were under way in the main rink and we 

were able to say “Hello” to various skaters and 

their families who were already there for their 

events that day or later in the week. The 

competitions began just after or around lunch time. 

I have to say that the catering staff pulled their act 

together and coped up to Saturday – which 

someone should have told them would be the 

busiest day. With lots of people queuing, they 

“mislaid” the chef (I kid you not!) and could not 

take lunch orders till just before 12, with the 

Primary Pairs starting at 12.30. To their credit, 

the food did arrive pretty quickly once the missing 

person had reappeared, but a few were rather 

disgruntled to find the bar running out of supplies. 

Nevertheless, things were better than I had expected 

and everything else appeared to run well – the 

Sheffield volunteers did a good job and all the 

stewards brought in for the occasion were goodnatured. 

The only real problem – outside anyone’s 

control – was the forced evacuation of the building 

before the Senior Mens’ free on Saturday (the 

coldest day of the week, wouldn’t you know?) 

when some clown on the public session next door 

decided it would be fun to activate the fire alarm. 

Half an hour in a freezing car park until the Fire 

Brigade declared it safe for everyone to return… but 

no-one panicked and the skaters were given 

additional “warming-up” time (aptly named). It 

put the banquet back over an hour and a half, but 

it’s amazing how quickly you can get ready when 

you have to (15 minutes to be precise…) I hope the 

skaters’ performance wasn’t influenced, but you 

never know. 

I think I will cover things by event, rather than in 

chronological order, starting with the Primaries. 

Stephanie Smith (KYL) had the honour of being the 

very first skater to take the ice for a British at 

IceSheffield. A nice programme with double flip, 

double loop-single loop and single axel. The short 

was won by Jody Annandale (NOT), who landed 

double axel, triple salchow (but I’m not quite sure 

it was totally rotated) on which she just put a hand 

down, and double flip. Jody went on to win the 

Primary title with another good skate including 

triple loop and salchow, and good presentation. 

Second in both sections was Naomi Miles (SWI) , 

who also had triple salchow (just a step off in the 

free). Lauren Orr (KYL) had been third in the short 

with good musical interpretation and good speed, 

but she was overtaken for the bronze medal by 

Sophie Johnson (BLA), whose combination spin in 

the short I had noted as particularly nice. 

Jason Thompson (SHE) started the Primary Men’s 

competition with a triple toe-double toe 

combination and completed a clean programme 

(double axel, double flip) to take the lead. David 

Richardson (COV) stepped out of his first triple, but 

held onto the double axel and had no trouble with 

the flip to be second, with Nicholas Buckland (NOT) 

third. I noted Nicholas for particularly good lines 

in his parallel spin. The three positions remained 

the same after the free – all three young men 

exhibiting good presentation and musicality. 

I don’t think I’ve seen so many Primary Pairs! Six 

in all, some of whom I had not seen skate before. 

Stacey Kemp/David King (BLA) stood out for the 

quality of their skating, confident lifts and unison, 

winning the title. In second were Gemma 

Reeve/Sam Edwards (CHE), again with a good lift 

and, like the winners, they included thrown double 

salchow. Last year’s champions Daniella 

Finch/Perry Drake (LEE) could only finish 3rd, 

though their short was fast and lively and the 

quality of their basic elements was good. I am 

hopeful for British Pair skating in future. 

There were six couples, too, in the Primary Dance 

competition and, again, this was the first time I had 

seen some of them. Alexandra Zimbler (AP) has 

had success as a solo dancer, but her partnership 

with Nick Hughes looks extremely promising. 

They won all sections, looking classy and wellmatched 

and starting the free dance with a difficult 

spin. In second place were Sophie Yates/Jonathon 

Hodgkinson (NOT) with a fast free dance. Third 

place was fought over by Tamsyn Pack/Richard 

Boaden (BRA) and Sophie Wright/Darren Powell 

(BLA), with the former showing difficult moves 

and generally slightly stronger skating to overtake 

the latter overall. 

The 12 Junior Ladies who had qualified had a 

tough championship. Some I had seen skate well 

earlier in the season had problems on the day. 

National 

Competition 

Reports 

According to my notes, in the short nobody landed 

a clean triple and only two managed double axel 

(Pauline Smith, MUR, and Laura Matthews, AP). 

The new Junior Ladies champion is Joanna Webber 

(SWI), who started her free with a triple toeloop 

and completed a clean programme. Second was 

last year’s Primary winner, Karla Quinn (DUN), 

landing double axel in the free and showing 

increased power, but falling on both triple 

attempts. Third was Pauline Smith, who also 

completed double axel but could not hold onto her 

two triples. As Joanna looked at the trophy, she 

was no doubt seeking out the name of her 

grandmother, Pat De Vries, who also won this 

event in 1948 – a remarkable “double”. 

The Junior Men’s competition was a bit of an 

unknown, as several of last year’s contenders had 

moved on to Seniors and a few young men had 

come into Juniors at quite an early age. First a 

word of sympathy for Mark Hanretty (EK), who 

struggled back from injury only to re-activate his 

foot tendon problem just before the championships. 

He battled through the short to place fourth, but 

pain forced him to withdraw. Nottingham skaters 

scooped the podium, with Elliot Hilton third, Alex 

Wilde second and Matthew Parr on the top step. A 

good few triple jumps were tried. According to my 

notes, Gary McKenzie (AB) landed three in the free 

but the rest of his programme was not enough to 

raise him above 6th. Thomas Paulson (NOT) was 

3rd in the short, just stepping out of the triple loop 

into double toe, landing double axel and showing 

good steps and a high jump sit, but a few errors in 

the free relegated him to 5th. The combination in 

Robert Murray’s short did not go as planned, but 

he looked more confident in the long, combining 

triple flip-double toe and double axel-double toe 

and landing a good triple salchow and double axel 

alone to finish 4th. Elliot did triple toe-double toe 

combinations in both programmes, two more 

triples in the free but having a bit of trouble with 

the double axel. He displays intense concentration 

in his skating. Alex could not hold the landing of 

his triple lutz this time, but his double axel was 

fine and he landed three clean triples in the free (one 

in combination). His footwork and use of edges 

and spreads fill the programme and are always 

good to watch. Matthew also had triple-double 

combination in both sections, with double axeldouble 

toe in the free, and no problem with the 

double axel in the short. Slight errors on two 

more triples (two-footed loop and hands down on 

the salchow) were the only obvious flaws in the 

long. His circular step sequence was worthy of a 

note and his musical interpretation is really 

impressive for someone of his age. Indeed, I have 

high hopes of all our Junior Men in the years to 

come. 

The standard of the two Junior Pairs was 

encouragingly high. Stephanie Smith/Jaymes 

Monte (DDE) have improved strongly since last 

year, despite geographical differences and the fact 

that Jaymes is now at University. The lifts are 

confident and their unison is good, but one or two 

little errors crept in and they could not hold onto 

their title. Rebecca Collett/Hamish Gaman (BLA) 

have been together for less than a year and the 

progress I have observed over the past few months 

has been astonishing. Their lifts have become 

more powerful and all the basic elements are there, 

including thrown double loop and salchow. Not 

sure about powder blue chiffon on a bloke – but, 

hey, the Russians get away with it. To achieve the 

Junior Championship after such a short time is a 

major success. 

The Junior Dancers (like the Primaries) still have to 

do two Compulsories – in this case, the Quickstep 

and the Paso Doble. Michelle Royds/Jamie Whyte 

(DEE/BLA) won both and went on to triumph in 

the OD , where I noted “fast, confident, expressive” 

in their Blues and Jive. Nicola Trippick/Damon 

Latimer (PET) were second in both compulsories 

and with their lively Blues/Rock and Roll OD, but 

their free dance to Queen gave them the title. It 

was obvious that they really felt their music and it 

was full of fast steps, though some of the holds 

might have been a bit rocky. Michelle and Jamie 

had an original spin and lots of hold changes, but 

had to settle for second place. Third throughout 

were Kira Geil/Andrew Smykowski, now training 

in Sheffield and supported well by their friends in 

the audience. I noted smooth lifts and some 

original moves in the free dance, particularly an 

upside-down lift with one arm. 

The Senior competitions got under way on Friday. 

Five ladies were basically up against Jenna 

McCorkell (COV), who consolidated her 

international experience by retaining her British 

title fairly emphatically, though not without some 

mistakes. In the short, she started sparklingly 

with triple lutz-double toe, but then singled the 

loop. A lovely layback was followed by double 

axel. As I have said elsewhere in Skatewatch, Jenna 

has improved in strength this year, which gives her 

a substantial advantage over her rivals. In the free, 

she repeated the combination, along with three 

other triples and a double axel which she just 

stepped out of. An inexplicable fall on triple 

salchow was the only major flaw. Laying claim to 

International 

Competition 

Reports 

second place was Dannielle Guppy (BLA), doing 

triple toe-double toe in the short, just stepping out 

of the double axel but two-footing the triple flip. 

She achieved three triples in the free (one in 

combination), looking better than I have seen her 

all season. The bronze medallist was Kathryn 

Hedley (DDE), who did not have a good short 

technically, but her interpretation of her “Cats” 

programme was good. In the free she started off 

with a good triple, but then two-footed the double 

lutz, coming back with double axel-double toe. 

Unfortunately, she also fell on the triple salchow, 

but it was enough for her to overtake Jennifer 

Holmes (KYL). 

There were, of course, no Senior Pairs, but next 

year maybe… 

I was eagerly awaiting the Senior Men’s 

competition. Difficult for me, as I count a few of 

the contestants as friends these days – so it’s a bit 

like watching my children skate. However, they 

all know (I hope) that I wanted the title to go to the 

best skater on the day. With 12 in contention, we 

hoped for a good competition. Neil Wilson was 

first to skate the short, but started on a wrong note 

when he fell on his triple axel, though he recovered 

to land triple flip-double toe and triple loop, with 

fast steps. As far as I could ascertain, Neil was 

using the same programmes as last year, and he 

came out of the short in first place. Second was 

Matthew Davies (NOT), who also fell on his 

attempted triple axel as well as his triple lutz. The 

loop looked OK. James Black was third at this 

stage, starting with double axel-double toe, then 

going on to triple lutz and double axel. Fourth 

place went to Stuart Bell (SOL), with triple toe 

(extra turn)-double toe, triple salchow and single 

axel. Most of the others had pretty mixed 

performances. Fifth-placed David Hartley (SHE) 

combined triple flip with double toe, stepping out 

of the first jump, then doubling the lutz but 

making a high double axel. Next came Matthew 

Wilkinson (COV), who was awarded 6th place 

despite managing to land his triple axel; then he did 

triple flip and triple-triple combination, falling on 

the second jump. John Hamer (GIL) was 7th, 

having two-footed the triple flip of his 

combination, landing his second triple but 

uncharacteristically singling the axel. Chris Tees 

(BLA) put a hand down on the triple flip part of his 

combination with double toe, then the double axel 

was OK but he singled his next jump, to be in 8th. 

Tristan Cousins (NOT) would probably prefer to 

forget his short, though he started with a good 

triple salchow-double loop combination. He fell on 

the other two jumps, though his parallel spin free 

leg position was textbook! Ninth place. Nonvintage 

performances from Neal Bone (DDE), 

Simon Surridge (COV) and Iain George (COV) put 

them 10th, 11th and 12th respectively. As 

mentioned before, we were kept in even more 

suspense for the free by the malicious fire alarm; 

how much that contributed to the final results, we 

will never know. It certainly did something for 

Tristan – I don’t think I will ever forget his free (I’m 

buying the video to watch it again). For me, it 

was the performance of the week, particularly 

knowing how hard it has been for him to come 

back from injury. He landed six triple jumps 

(including two combinations – triple loop-double 

toe and triple salchow-double loop) as well as 

double axel. I love to see a good spreadeagle, and 

this was good, with lovely knee bend and body 

lines throughout. As element succeeded element, 

Tristan and most of the audience were carried along 

and the programme culminated with a tear in my 

eye (it takes a lot to affect me that way, I can tell 

you!). It deservedly placed him third in the free, 

but unfortunately could not pull him up enough to 

get a medal, but he was fourth. Stuart Bell’s 

renowned footwork and spins, along with triple 

toe-triple toe, triple flip and salchow, triple 

salchow-double toe and double axel-double toe 

gained him the bronze medal. James Black 

effectively put himself out of contention with three 

falls, and Matthew Wilkinson dropped back to 8th, 

despite another triple axel; he also had a fall, but 

did land two other clean triples. I would say that 

Matthew’s style has also improved during his time 

in Canada this year – but I wish he would smile! 

Neil also fell on his opening triple axel, and despite 

fast steps, the rest of his jumps were a bit variable – 

he fell on the flip but landed three others, plus 

triple flip in combination with double toe. It has 

to be said that he seemed to lack some of the 

conviction he displayed last year, so it was not 

really a surprise that he ended up in second place. 

Someone else who had just about the skate of his 

life was Matthew Davies, regaining the title he won 

in Basingstoke in 2001. Skating to an instrumental 

Beatles medley, which was well edited to develop 

throughout the whole programme, he started with 

an attempted triple axel – but he landed on two feet 

and put his hands down. Triple lutz-double toe, 

triple toe-double toe, triple loop, triple salchow, 

spreadeagles and two split jumps all followed, 

though he singled the lutz alone and doubled 

another jump. What was good was that Matthew 

himself seemed inspired and actually looked as 

though he was enjoying himself. 

National 

Competition 

Reports 

Skatesmart.com British Championships 2003 Lesley 

Reynolds 

The closest event of the week was always 

anticipated to be the Senior Dance. Both last year’s 

Champions Pamela O’Connor/Jonathon 

O’Dougherty (DEE) and Sinead Kerr/John Kerr 

(MUR) have had international success recently, and 

then former champions and Olympic competitors 

Marika Humphreys/Vitaliy Baranov (DEE) 

returned to the fray after Vitaliy’s knee operation 

last year. The Austrian Waltz was drawn as the 

Compulsory and was won by first-to-skate Pam 

and Jon. Actually, I hardly recognised Pam – a 

shorter, sharper hairstyle, more sophisticated 

“look” and a totally different approach to her 

skating : much more flamboyant and, dare I say 

it, “French”. They had nice flow, despite a tiny 

touch of nerves at the beginning, and really 

expressed the spirit of the waltz. In second place 

were Marika and Vitaliy who, while skating 

strongly and with the most power of all the 

couples, seemed to be not quite comfortable. 

Sinead and John placed third in this section, 

looking good but maybe not quite as strong as the 

other two. Phillipa Towler-Green has not been 

skating that long with Phillip Poole (STR) and 

maybe the partnership needs a little more time. 

They were 4th at this stage, with Candice Towler- 

Green/James Phillipson (STR) 5th, a little slower 

and with a slightly smaller pattern. Pam and Jon 

drew first to skate again in the OD, a wellpresented 

Jive/Blues/Boogie-Woogie programme, 

with a particularly good step sequence, though I 

thought I detected a couple of little hitches on hold 

changes. Marika and Vitaliy opted for 

Jitterbug/Swing and presented the dance with 

Marika’s usual brio, but the judges placed them 

third, behind Pam and Jon. Sinead and John’s 

Swing/Blues OD has caused them to rise in the 

placings in international competitions, and so it 

was in Sheffield. They won the OD with their 

polished highlights and fast moves. They appeared 

to use the whole of their bodies to express the 

music. Most of the other couples’ placings 

remained the same. The much anticipated free 

dance would obviously be the decider and as this 

was the last event, it was not until the presentation 

was due that anyone (including the skaters by the 

look of things) really knew who had won. In fact, 

the result went as the OD had done. Marika and 

Vitaliy were third, skating to Eastern music It was 

again strong skating, showed Marika’s flexibility to 

the full, but was very much a “traditional” 

programme. Pam and Jon opted for music from 

“Moulin Rouge”, and there was an unfortunate 

“glitch” in the music twice over, which must have 

unnerved them (and don’t’ forget the delay caused 

by the earlier evacuation). The first half of the 

dance was very intense and totally convincingly 

skated. There were some fast rotational lifts and 

lots of hold changes. I may have detected a slight 

wobble on a twizzle, and I have to say that, for me, 

the second half was not quite as strong as the first 

– though we are talking of a high basic standard 

and I am thinking “international” here. Sinead and 

John’s “Matrix” programme was always going to 

enthuse the younger element, if only for the music. 

Right from their impressive starting position, their 

highlights were original and exciting. John did fall 

early on in the dramatic first part, but they 

recovered immediately to complete a modern and 

slick programme. It was a close finish – as in fact 

it had been last year, but this time the decision 

went in favour of the Scottish brother and sister. 

NISA’s innovative idea of text voting for the 

“people’s champions” also resulted in the Kerrs 

being presented with another trophy at the banquet 

later that evening. 

No doubt people will be talking about this British 

for a long time to come, and no doubt some will 

have their axe to grind. It is now up to the 

Champions to justify their win, as all of them are 

down to represent GB at the European 

Championships in Budapest in the first week of 

February. I am also pleased to report that Rebecca 

Collett/Hamish Gaman are to be given an 

opportunity to compete there in the Pairs event. 

Next year the Championships are to be held at the 

National Ice Centre in Nottingham, who will have 

to work hard to outdo IceSheffield. 

BRITS ABROAD 

Only a little more to report over and above what 

was in the last issue. 

In the Bofrost Cup in Gelsenkirchen we had 

representation by Pam O’Connor/Jonathon 

O’Dougherty, who came 7th. 

In the Golden Spin of Zagreb in November, Neil 

Wilson placed 5th (having been 7th in both 

programmes – you’d have to study the matrix to 

work that one out!) and Matthew Davies was 

15th (17th in the short, 13th in the free), out of 

a total entry of 20. Also in Zagreb and taking an 

excellent silver medal were dancers Pamela 

O’Connor/Jonathon O’Dougherty (only 7 

couples competed in all here).

The 

TechFile 

You can use the three turn to 

turn from forwards to 

backwards or vice-versa. You 

turn from one edge to the 

opposite edge on the same 

foot and rotate in the same 

direction as the 

curve you are 

skating on. 

Page 

In the start position 

1for the three turn 

your heels are 

together and 

you should 

bend strongly 

before you 

push off 

British Championships 

Belated congratulations to all National Ice Centre 

skaters who performed extremely well at the 

British Championships held in December at Ice 

Sheffield. 

Notable success for the NIC came from Matthew 

Davies who reclaimed his title to become the 

British Senior Men’s Champion. Whilst Tristan 

Cousins also performed a fantastic free 

programme in the Senior Men’s and received a 

standing ovation from the crowd. Jody 

Annandale secured the Primary Ladies 

Championship title and has since been made 

reserve for Junior World Championships. 

There was also a clean sweep in the Junior 

Men’s as National Ice Centre skaters 

monopolised the competition and came out 

with Matt Parr as Junior Men’s Champion, Alex 

Wilde in second place and Elliott Hilton as the 

third man on the podium. 

Matt and Jody have since been selected to 

attend the British Olympic Association camp in 

Sheffield alongside Joy Sutcliffe, NIC Head 

Coach and Karen Fletcher, NIC Deputy Head 

Coach. This should stand them in good stead for 

the 2010 Olympics. 

European Championships 

National Ice Centre skater Matthew Davies will 

be flying the flag for Great Britain at the 

European Championships in Budapest, Hungary 

from 2-8 February 2004. This will mark not only a 

great achievement for Matthew but also for his 

team of coaches at the NIC who have helped 

him achieve his full potential. 

Matthew will be representing Great Britain in the 

free skating competition after winning the 

prestigious title of Senior Men’s British Champion 

at the end of 2003. The technical committee 

chose to send Matthew to Budapest following 

his excellent, strong performance at the 

championships. Since then he has attended a 

monitoring session at the beginning of January in 

Coventry to check that he was still at the same 

standard. 

Matthew has made an unbelievable comeback 

after being injured just two seasons ago. To take 

the Senior Men’s title and then to qualify for the 

Europeans is a triumph and success in itself and 

anything else he achieves will be an added 

bonus. 

GB and NIC Head Coach Joy Sutcliffe said ‘He is 

going from strength to strength’ and added 

‘hopefully with a successful skate at the 

Europeans he will be chosen to represent Great 

Britain at the World Championships at Dortmund, 

Germany in March’. 

Also flying out from the National Ice Centre is 

Tatiana Wood, NIC choreographer and former 

Push off and 

2skate forwards on 

the outside 

edge. Make 

sure the skating 

side of your 

body is in 

front 

3 Before 

you start 

to turn, slowly rotate 

your arms and 

shoulders until the 

opposite ones are in 

front. Bring your free 

foot in to form a 'T' 

shape with your 

skating foot 

Quickly turn from 

4forwards to 

backwards and skate 

on a backward 

inside edge. Keep 

looking in the same 

direction. Make sure 

your feet remain in the 

'T' position. 

5 After 

the three turn, 

close your feet 

and change your 

feet so that the 

free foot 

becomes the 

skating foot. 

Glide backwards 

on the outside 

edge. 


SKATE UK is NISA's flagship 'learn to skate' programme designed to ensure beginners to the sport receive the very 

best instruction, delivered by fully qualified coaches, in a fun and enjoyable way. 

Once you have mastered skating forwards and 

backwards, you need to learn how to turn. There are 

many different turns - the mohawk, choctaw, bracket, 

counter and rocker. In this issue we will look at the 

commonest turn - the Three Turn 

News 

Update 

National Ice Centre 

The heart of the action 

Bolshoi Ballerina, to help out with Matthews off 

ice training and to assist the Finnish team who 

have been taking advantage of the world class 

facilities and training at the NIC in Nottingham. 

Synchronised Skating 

Championships 

The National Ice Centre was host to the pinnacle 

of the Synchronized Ice Skating calendar on 

Sunday 18 January 2004 in the form of the British 

Championships. It was the first time that the 

event has been held in Nottingham and was 

deemed a great success. A total of 18 teams 

participated from all across the UK, including 

four teams from the NIC itself. 

All teams competing from the National Ice 

Centre earned themselves a podium place, 

however the success story for the National Ice 

Centre came from the participants in the juvenile 

category. The Nottingham Silhouettes skated 

their way to victory in striking bright green outfits 

dancing to a Jungle book Medley, they 

performed a 

tight starting 

formation and 

some nice 

timing to "Bare 

Necessities". 

They finished 

with a four 

spoke 

formation 

which marked 

the end of the 

piece with a 

salute and roars 

from the 

crowd. The 

team’s top 

performance 

earned them a 

The Ice Tracing 

'T' positions 

Last year, Ice Link brought you a series of features 

for the complete beginner We are pleased to 

continue our series of 'Technical Tips' and introducing 

more advanced techniques for the SKATE UK skater 

The tracing on the ice should be in the shape of a number 

three, as above. Note the 'T' positions your feet should be in. 

gold medal for their outstanding efforts. 

The other teams competing from the NIC 

achieved amazing results with the other three 

entrants each obtaining a very commendable 

third positioning. These included the Nottingham 

Diamonds, the Nottingham Starlights, and the 

Nottingham Shadows who all took third place in 

the adult, mixed age and novice competitions 

respectively. 

Dragon Trophy 

Alex Wilde will be representing both Great 

Britain and the National Ice Centre at the Dragon 

Trophy held in Ljubljana, Slovenia from 11 – 16 

February 2004. This is his first selection by the 

governing body to represent Great Britain having 

had experience at many club Internationals in 

the past. 

Alex has produced some excellent skates this 

year winning open competitions. The technical 

committee has been monitoring his progress all 

season and feel that his skates have had enough 

content and improvement in them to be 

rewarded with an International. 

NIC deputy Head coach Karen Fletcher said. 

‘Alex is a local lad who is going from strength to 

strength’, she added ‘ this should now give Alex 

the opportunity to be seen on the International 

scene and give him some valuable experience’. 

Partner Wanted 

Lloyd Jones, aged 15 would like to compete in 

the Junior Ice Dance Competition and is looking 

for a partner to accompany him. 

Lloyd is 6ft tall with blonde hair and has 

previously medalled both nationally and 

internationally. 

If you are interested then please call: 0115 853 

3073 or e mail: icedance@national-icecentre.com. 

Nottingham Silhouettes 

Every turn must be done without 

scratching, flow easily and skated on 

correct edges - it requires tremendous 

control of your hips, shoulders 

and body weight 

This Learn-to-skate 

series adapted from 

'The Young Ice Skater' 

by Peter Morrissey 

Female Dance Partner Wanted 

For Nathan Stowe (16yrs) 6'2" slim, Level 8, 

2nd Solo Dance Championships 2003. Oxford 

based, would like a partner to compete in the 

2004 Primary Ice Dance Championships etc. 

Cheery disposition essential, 

Tel: 01235 519987


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Ice Link issue 53 (Page 3) - National Ice Skating Association

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