Ice Link issue 62 (Page 3) - National Ice Skating Association

Ice Link Issue 62 page 10
SKATEWATCH
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Champions Gala
The Hot Ice show took off for a visit to
Europe during June and the Pleasure
Beach Arena hosted this Gala instead.
Skaters were mainly taken from the show cast,
with special guests former British Dance
Champions Marika Humphreys and Vitaliy
Baranov, who are now skating professionally.
To borrow a metaphor from our soccer
friends, it was a show “of two halves”, in more
ways than one. Oula Jaskelaainen was present
on film on the big screen, acting as a kind of
MC and introducing the skaters’ numbers.
After the opening where everyone was
introduced, though sometimes rather inaudibly
(and I apologise if my powers of recognition
were not quite accurate), it was a traditionalstyle
gala with separate items from each of the
participants.
It started promisingly with French
skater/pianist Romain Gazave playing the
piano with feeling for a solo by Tammy Sear-
Watkins. It was good to see Tammy back on
form ; last year when I saw her she was still
looking a little fragile from illness. Romain
then also skated the “Music” piece he does in
Hot Ice. Unfortunately, most of the rest of
the first half seemed rather tame and lacking in
energy. I except Marika and Vitaliy from
that, as Marika especially demonstrated her
personality (and physical flexibility) in her
own inimitable way. Some of the other
skaters seemed distinctly wobbly and/or
hesitant.
Anyone who had given up at the interval made
a mistake (but the men in the front row
weren’t likely to after the close-ups they got of
Nicky Scott, the Showgirl of the company).
Everyone seemed to warm up for the second
half and it was really enjoyable. Romain
started off with a very expressive rendering of
“Quixotic” (from Moulin Rouge I think), full of
smoulder and passion and some good jumping
NJS Sheffield
July already, and I hadn’t seen a
competitive skating event since Europeans
in Turin. More to the point, I didn’t have
a clue what everyone had been doing since the
British, so a last-minute decision took me to
Sheffield on 4-6 July 2005, where NISA
was conducting the very first UK session under
the New Judging System. It was not a
competition, as the ISU had tweaked the
system just beforehand and the updated
software was not yet available. As this was a
first time for the judges, too, it would not be
kind to report in detail – and I wanted to learn
as much as possible myself at the same time.
As the ISU is adamant that the new system
(NJS for short) is here to stay and that all ISU
sanctioned Internationals (and the Olympics)
will henceforth use it, NISA has decided to go
for it at this year’s Nationals. The ISU will
reimburse the cost of “a set of the identified
ISU Judging System hardware equipment” as
well as providing the software free of charge.
Watching the judging team in action, it seemed
not to take too long before they were more at
home with the system, though there was some
understandable delay at times whilst they
sought to clarify details among themselves. I
expect that, by September, they are likely to
be more familiar with its operation.
The skaters were anxious to receive their
feedback, in the form of detailed sheets
showing their marks for each element of the
programme. As at Internationals I have
attended, the skaters do appreciate this
information, which is much more formal and
detailed than anything they have received in
the past – which has often amounted to no
more than a few off-the-record comments
from a sympathetic judge. At least now they
can see how their elements are graded and can
understand better how their placing is decided.
This is obviously invaluable in revising and
improving the level of difficulty and other
aspects of performance in order to obtain
higher scores in the future.
The event comprised Junior and Senior Singles
Lesley Reynolds
reports from Blackpool
and spinning. Definitely quality skating.
Andrea Law demonstrated she is still a good
spinner alone and in a routine where she was
joined by Tammy and another girl that I am
afraid I didn’t recognize. Then, one of the
Russian Pairs skated to an upbeat “Ave Maria”.
I scribbled my notes in the dark and now can’t
read the next bit! I noted one of the skaters
bore a remarkable resemblance to Prince
Edward anyway. Marika and Vitaliy’s second
number was like watching one of their Free
Dances, with her incredible flexibility
demonstrated in various splits positions
(though mercifully not the upside-down ones
now outlawed by the ISU). I was a little
bemused as to why Jenni Calvert’s solo
involved her perching on a birdbath which
then started to emit smoke, at which point she
was pushed off the ice by John Dunn. John
then returned for some real ice dance with
Amanda Galloway.
One of the Russians did a number which
included juggling with 3 balls (with the help of
the front row at one point). Tammy skated a
beautiful piece to Debussy’s “Clair de Lune”
(was that Romain playing??) which included
double lutz and flip. Elegant expressive
skating like we used to see from Tammy at her
best.
Most of the costumes were straight out of Hot
Ice and sometimes were perhaps not as
flattering as they could have been. Some of
the numbers were from the show but seemed
different in this context. The lighting was
atmospheric without being too dark or
obscuring the skating and it was just a pity
that there were so few “bums on seats” on the
Saturday night we attended. I hope to make
another visit to Hot Ice later in the season, as I
usually do, just to sit and enjoy the show
without composing another critique in my
head but that is a difficult habit to break….
Lesley Reynolds
reports the first NJS
Assessment event
and Dance, as well as Primary, Junior and
Senior Pairs. The dancers presented one
Compulsory and their Original Dance . Two
Primary couples also performed two
Compulsory Dances. If the dances presented
by the 7 Junior and 3 Senior couples here are
anything to go by, the technical standard at
the British is going to be high, with some very
interesting (and exhausting) performances.
Five Junior Men and six Seniors gave their
Short programmes for scrutiny, but some did
not stay to show their Free. There were 9
Junior Ladies and 8 Seniors but, again, not all
skated both sections. We saw two Primary
Pairs and one Junior Pair, with a glimpse of a
new Senior partnership in a Short programme.
It would not be fair to comment on
performances, as the purpose of the event was
not competition, but rather assessment under
the new system. Obviously, so early in the
season there is room for development and I am
looking forward to the next NJS assessment
event in September. Competitive scoring will
again not be in use there, but the Scottish
Championships in October will see the
system implemented “properly”.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to be there, as
it clashes with the Karl Schaefer Memorial in
Vienna which I hope to attend.
On the subject of the KARL SCHAEFER, this
is to be the Olympic Qualifying event at
which skaters whose countries have not
already earned places for Turin will be
competing for the remaining berths. As
Sinead and John Kerr are the only figure
skaters to have qualified to represent Great
Britain in the Olympics, thanks to their 12th
place at this year’s Worlds, John Hamer,
Jenna McCorkell and Pamela
O’Connor/Jonathon O’Dougherty will
skate in Vienna. They will be up against some
stiff opposition, all looking for that chance of a
lifetime. Full report in the next issue of
Skatewatch in October.
ST Olympic
squad trials see
Short Track
Update
fast & furious racing
News
Results
Debate
Squads selected for Asia World Cups & Olympic qualifying
The Olympic Squad trials were held at Nottingham NIC over two weekends the 27th-
28th August and 3rd-4th September 2005, these trials were held to select the team
that will compete at the World Cup events in Asia and the 2 International Olympic
Qualifying events in Bormio and the Hague in November.
These trials were only open to National Squad
members.
Over the two weekends there were three
1500m competitions, three 1000m competitions
and three 500m competitions, the results of
which determined who would be selected for
the team. All selections are subject to medal test
time qualification. We are allowed to enter 3
skaters into each Olympic Qualifying distance.
However only 2 can qualify into the Olympic
Games.
The competition was fast and furious, there
were some very close races and these were very
exciting to watch.
The team that will travel to the Asia World Cups
and the Olympic Qualifying Events are:
Men: Jon Eley, Oliver Horsepool, Paul Stanley,
Paul Worth and Philip Brojoka.
Ladies: Sarah Lindsey, Joanna Williams (Olympic
Qualifiers only)
This Team will be joined by Alex Whelbourne,
Chenai Flack and Charlotte Gilmartin for a
competition in Germany, the first time Great
Britain has entered a full Ladies team at an
international competition since January 2000,
when they took the Bronze medal at the
European Championships.
Open trials select squads
The Open Squad trials were held on the 13-14th August 2005, for all short track speed
skaters in the Juvenile age category (Junior C) and above, who have achieved at least a
bronze medal test time in their age category, are members of NISA and would be available
for selection for the National Squad.
In total 27 men and 11 ladies participated at
these trials.
The first event was the 777m-time trial. After this
the men were split in to two pools, A and B, the
fastest 16 in the time trial make up the ‘A’ pool
and all other skaters make up the ‘B’ pool. The
skaters are then ranked in their respective pools
depending on their finishing times in the time
trial and from these rankings the heats for the
first distance are decided. Next comes the
1500m, followed by the 500m and 1000m.
There were some very good, close races during
these trials which were very exciting to watch.
From the results of the trials and medal test
times achieved, the National Squads for the
2005/6 season have now been selected:
Performance/Potential
Jon Eley, Tom Iveson, Paul Stanley, Oliver
Horsepool, Paul Worth, Phil Brojaka, Anthony
Douglas, Matt Wilson , Matthew Lindsay
Sarah Lindsay, Joanna Williams, Alex Whelbourne
Charlotte Gilmartin.
Development
Ian Upcott, Gerard Williams, Stuart Loughrey,
Ryan Broughton, Stephen Chaston, Jack
Whelbourne, Chenai Flack, Elise Christie.
Also selected for the Development Squad are
Lesley Llewellyn (top Pee Wee Girl from the
2004 British Championships who has moved up
to Juvenile) and Nathan Soles (additional skater
selected by the National Coaches. Both skaters
are from the Mohawks club.
The Squad skaters then went on to compete at
the Olympic Trials, and the results of those trials
were used to select the teams to compete at
the first 2 World Cup events and the 2 Olympic
Qualifying events. (see report above).
Sheffield hosts ST camp
During the week following the Open National Squad Trails in Sheffield we held a week long
residential open camp at Ice Sheffield from the 15th – 19th August 2005. Club skaters
were invited to train along side the National Squad skaters under the expert guidance of
the National Coaches and support staff.
In total 47 athletes attended the camp from 7
clubs around the country and 1 from Belgium.
Thanks should go to the volunteer chaperones
Shelley Adams and Sue Williams who did a great
job getting the junior skaters to each session on
time and keeping them out of trouble.
We also had two club coaches, Brian Reid and
Ian Cavin who attended and took part in the
camps program. The skaters were split in to
three groups according to their age and ability
on the ice. Off-ice the club skaters trained
along side the National Squad skaters.
As well as the physical training the skaters
worked on their mental skills at two psychology
workshops delivered during the course of the
week, and the skaters also received video
feedback of their skating.
All the skaters attending the camp worked very
hard, but it was not all hard work and no fun, in
the evenings the skaters where entertained with
trips out at either a restaurant or the cinema.
All-in-all a successful and enjoyable camp.
Nicky Gooch
Assistant National Coach
Mohawks plan 70 anniversary
Mohawks Ice Racing Club will be celebrating the 70 years Anniversary of the club this year,
and are planning an Open Short Track competition on the afternoon of 3rd December.
A warm welcome is extended to all past, present and future skaters and spectators.
The club hopes 'past skaters' will be sharpening
their blades for the fun exhibition race to be
included, depending on time and number of
entries. (Skin suit not compulsory!)
A new trophy will be presented on behalf of the
Milton Keynes Ice Racing Club to the overall
winner. Other trophies have been donated by
Woods Trophies & Engravers, Bradford.
The Mohawks are concerned about the decline
in the number of speed skating clubs in Britain.
THe difficulty in attracting new skaters and the
rising cost of ice (rapidly approaching £100 per
hour for private hire) threatens the survival of
our club. Sponsorship and grant aid is being
sought and if anyone wishes to make donations
towards ice time it will be most gratefully
received.
Paul Iveson Chairman MIRC