Ice Link issue 69 (Page 3) - National Ice Skating Association

Ice 

INSIDE 

Issue 69 - November 2006 

Link 

The official voice of ice skating in the UK 

Sk8scotland 

Championships photos 

2006 .... pages 6, 7 & 8 

British Ice Figure & 

Dance Championships 

Jan 9-13 2007 

NIC Nottingham ...p5 

Developing Youth Ice Sport 

GB Short Track 

skaters 'clean 

sweep' ..... p3 

If undelivered return to: 

National Ice Skating Association of UK Ltd 

National Ice Centre, Lower Parliament Street 

Nottingham NG1 1LA 

Kerrs take gold medals at 

Oberstdorf International 

25 years since Brits last won dance gold in Germany 

Continuing where they left off ..... after a great season earlier this year including a 

fantastic 10th place in the Turin Olympics and an 8th place at Europeans, Britain's 

top ice dance duo Sinead and John Kerr have taken their first senior international 

gold medals at the ISU Nebelhorne Trophy at Obersdorf in the German alps. 

The Kerr's success brings to an end the 25 year 

reign of Karen Larsen and Mark Reid, the last 

British dance couple to take the Oberstdorf title 

back in 1981. 

Opening the ice dance competition, the 

Edinburgh team were 4th to skate the Rhumba, 

and immediately took a slender lead of 31.89 

points ahead of US rivals Matthews and Zavozin 

(30.78) and Israeli team Zaretski and Zaretski on 

30.28. Our second GB team of Phillipa Towler 

Green and Philip Poole from Streatham, skated 

to a creditable 6th place with 25.11 points. 

The Original Dance was a disappointment 

however, with US couple Matthews & Zavozin 

just edging ahead by the slimmest of margins - 

just 0.24 points separating them from the Kerrs, 

who nevertheless retained the overall lead. 

Phillipa and Philiip meanwhile dropped to 8th 

place on the OD. 

With the event approaching a nail-biting climax, 

the Free Dance saw Sinead and John retake the 

initiative with a winning performance to Trevor 

Jones' soundtrack of 'The Last of the Mohicans', 

scoring 82.66 ahead of rivals Matthews and 

Zavozin on 82.44. The Kerrs took the title with 

an overall score of 166.20 against the US team's 

total of 165.21. 

The Streatham team scored 64.05 to claim ninth 

slot and ninth overall. 

More recently however, the USA team of 

Matthews and Zavozin exacted revenge on their 

Edinburgh rivals on home soils at the Skate 

America ISU Senior Grand Prix in Hartford, 

Conneticut 26-29th October, with Sinead and 

John taking 5th slot just behind Matthews and 

Zavozin. This event was a much harder test of 

the Scots' skills, with 2006 Bulgarian World 

Champions Denkova & Staviski leading the field, 

nevertheless a solid result for the Brits as they 

head towards the British Championships in 

January 2007 and the prospect of the Europeans 

and Worlds ahead. 

Their next international however will be another 

tough test as they head towards the ISU Senior 

Grand Prix event Cup of Russia in Moscow 23-26 

November. As well as arch rivals Matthews and 

Zavozin, they face stiff competition from USA's 

Olympic Silver medal pair Belbin and Agosto, 

4th placed French duo Delobel and 

Schoenfelder and Russians Dominina and 

Shabalin on home territory. 

*********** 

NISA has been awarded an ISU Junior Grand Prix 

event to be held at iceSheffield on 3-7th 

October 2007. The event will incorporate all 

four disciplines of Ladies, Mens Singles, Pairs and 

Ice Dance. 

This brings to a total of three major ISU 

International events to be held in Great Britain 

during 2007 - the first being the European Short 

Track Championships scheduled for 19-21st 

January at iceSheffield, followed by the 

Synchronized Skating World Challenge Cup for 

Juniors will be hosted at the National Ice cEntre, 

Nottingham on 2-7th March, and finally the ISU 

Junior Grand Prix event in October. 

These events represent a major foundation for 

NISA's international events strategy, hopefully 

leading to the staging of the European Figure 

Skating Championships in 2010. 

reporting by Ice Link editor Gold medallists Sinead & John Kerr celebrate with (left) Morgan Matthews & Maxim Zavozin (USA) 

and (right) Alexandra Zaretski & Roman Zaretski (Israel) 

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Ice Link Issue 69 page 2 


Link Editor's Comment 

Iwas recently asked about 

whether everything printed in Ice 

Link represented official NISA 

policy. The answer to this is most 

certainly no. Ice Link, although 

published by NISA, contains 

articles, views and opinions by 

many contributors, and without 

these, the newspaper would simply 

not be possible to produce. It has 

Bryan Morrice - Editor 

always been my intention as your editor over the past 

15 years, to provide a forum for fair comment, and I 

think on the whole it has been successful in this. 

Of course, along with the NISA website, Ice Link is the 

association's principle vehicle for all official 

announcements, and where something is official, it is 

always designated as such, either under "Official Stuff", 

or by the author. For example, the article on 

Performance in this issue has been written by Cath 

Barker, NISA's National Performance Manager. 

Many other contributions are sent to me by members, 

rinks, Press Officers, journalists, coaches, parents and 

so on, or information which I have searched out from eg 

the internet, and of course these represent the 

personal views and opinions of the authors. 

As editor of Ice Link, I have always despatched 

anonymous contributions to the bin, but will respect 

requests for names and addresses to be withheld from 

publication. I will not print personal attacks or criticism 

of individuals, but I do believe that fair criticism 

deserves to be published and openly debated. 

Above all, Ice Link is YOUR newspaper, so please value 

it as such; if you have ideas or contributions please 

send them to me. If you want to help on a more regular 

basis, again please contact me. It is not easy 

producing a newspaper of this size and without the 

luxury of a team of journalists and reporters, what I 

don't receive or know about, I simply can't print! 

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

Design Assistant ~ Julie Morrice 

Photographs ~ NISA Official Photographers - Graham Taylor; Dave Page; 

Alison Gilkes 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 - bryan.morrice@btinternet.com 

Views expressed in Ice Link are those of the editor and/or 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. 

NISA Diary 2006-7 

The full calendar can be viewed on NISA website 

November 

20-24 Welsh Championships & 

NJS (Deeside) incl British 

NJS Synchro Champs 

27 British Champs closing date 

December 

11-12 Field Moves Seminar (Lee 

Valley) 

28-29 Junior British Open Short 

Track (Nottingham) 

January 2007 

9-13 British Ice Figure & Dance 

Champs (Nottingham) 

12-14 ISU World Junior Short 

Track Champs (Czech 

Rep) 

19-21 ISU European Short Track 

Champs (Sheffield, UK) 

22-28 European Champs 

(Warsaw, Poland) 

February/(Mar) 

1-4 French Cup Rouen (Synch) 

11 Grimsby Opens 

26-(4) ISU Junior World Champs 

(Oberstdorf, Germany) 

March 

5 Romford Open 

5-6 Alex Palace (Solo Dance 

Qualifier) 

8-10 ISU Synchro World 

Challenge Cup for Juniors 

(NIC Nottingham) 

9-11 ISU World Short Track 

Champs (Milan, Italy) 

10-11 Magnum Opens 

12-13 Bradford Open 

14 Bristol Open 

17-18 ISU World Short Track 

Team Champs (Budapest, 

Hungary 

19 British Synchro RJS 

Champs (iceSheffield) 

19-25 ISU World Champs 

(Tokyo, Japan) 

25-26 WISA Free Open 

26 Solihull (Solo Dance 

Qualifier) 

28-29 Telford Open 

30-31 World Synchro Champs 

(London, Ontario) 

April 

3-5 Blackpool Open 

14-15 Dumfries (Scottish Home 

Nation Solo Dance Qualifier) 

23-24 Bracknell (English Home 


25-27 Bracknell Open 

May 

6-7 Deeside (Welsh Home 


11-13 Dundonald (N Ireland Home 


June/(July) 

19-20 iceSheffield (Solo Dance 

Qualifier) 

21-22 iceSheffield Open Figure 

26-27 Basingstoke Opens 

28-29 Bracknell Adult Open 

30-(1) WISA Dance Open 

July 

2-4 Guildford Open 

Oct 

3-7 ISU Junior Grand Prix 

iceSheffield 

Letters to 

the Editor 

Thanks for all your letters after an empty postbag 

last issue - keep them coming! 

Dear Bryan 

It's no secret that NISA, along with 

many other like organisations, are 

totally dependant on the volunteer 

force which support and sustain 

almost every event run by the 

governing body. In addition to this, 

NISA requires people to be Test 

Organisers to carry out the invaluable 

task of organising tests for the 

aspiring skaters in order that they 

may progress. Since this is in essence 

another "voluntary" task, why then 

does the volunteer have to pay for 

the priviledge of assisting the 

governing body in what can be an 

onerous task, and in turn receives no 

benefit for membership. 

Take for example the parent of a 

skating child, who already pays for 

the child to be a member of the 

governing body, who would be 

expected to take out a further 

membership of anything up to £40 in 

order to help facilitate tests for the 

governing body. Or indeed 

someone who does not even have 

children who skate but who has 

sufficient interest in skating to want 

to help. Is it fair that they should have 

to pay for the priviledge of "helping" 

NISA? 

Whilst I understand the ethics behind 

the need for a form of membership 

to volunteer to do the job of Test 

Organiser, would it not be possible 

to have a special nominal fee for 

membership for anyone willing to 

become a Test Organiser - it may 

bring many more volunteers into the 

fold who otherwise may feel 

financially unprepared or unable to 

do a very valuable job. 

I understand that you personally 

cannot "be the voice of NISA" on this 

one, but it would be interesting to 

hear comments and to have this view 

passed to the relevant committee for 

consideration. 

Helen Denholm (long time volunteer) 

Ed: I do indeed share your 

sentiments, but as you rightly 

comment, since stepping down 

from the NISA Board earlier this 

year, I am no longer personally 

involved in decisions of this nature. 

I have however expressed my views 

in the past that this is an area that 

needs to be addressed if we are to 

continue to enjoy the goodwill of 

our volunteers. 

Sir, 

I read with some interest that ice 

skating has now been included in the 

PE curriculum for the school children 

of Sheffield. How I wish I could have 

gone skating when I was at school, 

we had to play some games now 

outlawed in modern times like British 

Bulldogs! This certainly explains the 

overcrowded rink at the end of the 

summer term on the couple of 

occasions I went there. The only 

thing anyone could practise was 

avoiding collisions, anything more 

adventurous would have been 

dangerous. I always skate during the 

week specifically because it is quiet. 

This is an excellent idea, we may 

even encourage some champions of 

the future, after all Jayne Torvill 

started skating as a result of a school 

outing! Ice Sheffield has two ice 

floors, if they wish to invite school 

parties from most of South Yorkshire 

then why not have the other floor 

available for general use if it is free? 

Steven Brooke (Usually skate at 

Bracknell) 

Ed: I agree it's really great to hear 

about rinks linking with local 

education authorities to promote 

skating. I understand that 

iceSheffield has also developed 

their own educational resource 

material linked to Key Stages 1 & 2 

and offers educational tours 

specifically aimed at GCSE and 

NVQ students. Initiatives such as 

this linking ice skating with 

education are an important first 

step in making ice rinks part of the 

education system. If more rinks 

took this more seriously, 

appointed Skating Development 

People eople news 

Heather in bloom! 

We are delighted to announce that the 

marriage took place between Heather 

Green and David Lewis on the 25th 

March 2006 at Hove Registry Office followed 

by a reception at the White Horse Inn in 

Hurstpierpoint. It was a wonderful day that 

they shared with their family and friends. 

Photo: L to R. Justin Lewis (David's son), Mia O'Brien 

Jones ( Heather's granddaughter), Heather Lewis, 

David Lewis and Kay Robinson. 

Baby girl for 1999 Ladies Champion Tammy Sear 

Tamsin Sear-Watkins, 1999 British senior 

ladies figure skating champion, has just 

given birth to ARABELLA ALICE. She was 

born in Bolton Hospital on friday 13th 

October and weighed in at 8 lbs 1 oz. 

Those of you who know Tammy will be 

suprised to know that delivery took 40 

minuites from entering hospital. Tammy 

and baby are well. 

As hubby Richard Wakins is a Tennis 

Coach the family are wondering if a new 

sport of tennis on ice is on the horizon!! 

Thanks to a proud grandad for this story! 

Officers for example, and started 

talking seriously with local 

authorities, perhaps many more of 

our multi-million pound facilities 

would not lie virtually empty from 

9am to 4pm five days a week. 

Dear Editor, 

With three grandchildren skating (2 

girls and a boy) I thought I would try 

and keep costs down by making 

costumes. Easy! But where do I find 

paper patterns? I have tried all over, 

but no joy. So where do I find paper 

patterns? 

Judith Wroe (Leeds) 

Ed: Interesting question Judith. I 

simply entered "patterns for 

skating dresses" into Google and 

came up with over 370,000 hits. 

One of the first I tried was 

www.jalie.com which offered quite 

a large selection. Good luck. 

Dear Bryan, 

Please find attached letter for next 

issue of Ice Link, as you say, not 

receiving any for the last issue was a 

surprise. I hope this may also get a 

few of the older members to 

respond. 

Anybody with a long memory will 

remember those very popular days 

of skating at Richmond ice rink during 

the 1940 -1960s and from then till it 

closed, watching the ALDWYCH 

Speed Club race on Saturday nights. 

Well I am sure you will be pleased to 

know that a good number of the 

Aldwych meet for a meal and a chat 

over old times - such names as Len 

King, Bob Smithbone, Henry Howes, 

Bob Cocks, George Scudder, John 

Cosstick, Pete Naylor, Jack Hobbs, 

Peter Marchant, Pete Jennings and 

Pat Scarfield (Brighton) and myself, 

Roy Welham, as just a few. 

I have a good address book that I 

started way back that has been 

invaluable to keep us all in touch, but 

if anybody knows of other names 

that would like to join us in the future 

please let me know, or perhaps any 

who have moved. 

The ALDWYCH will be celebrating its 

100 year anniversary in 2008 when 

we will be having a dinner to mark 

the occasion and of course we need 

as many of our members as possible 

to attend, so please let me know of 

past members or associates of 

Richmond that might like to come 

along and make it an evening to 

remember. 

Roy Welham 56 Wentworth Avenue, 

North Ascot, Berks SL5 8HQ (tel: 

01344 883286) 

Ed: I am sure you will get many 

calls Roy and thankyou for writing. 

(PS I don't normally print full 

contact details, however in this 

case I make an exception). 

Dear Editor, 

I am an enthusiastic adult newcomer 

to skating and have recently 

attended a NISA test session. I 

would like to think that I too might 

be able to attempt a test myself in 

the future, but I noted that all the 

(female) skaters were wearing 

dresses. Following an accident some 

years ago I would prefer to wear 

trousers rather than a dress and 

wondered if this was allowed? I also 

noticed that the test session was 

quite a tense affair, and the skaters 

were only applauded if they passed. 

I asked someone whether this was 

usual, and they told me you were 

not allowed to applaud. Is this the 

case - it seems to me that if a skater 

tries their best, as I am sure they 

always do, then their efforts deserve 

recognition whether or not they 

pass. Name & address supplied 

Ed: I have checked with the 

appropriate NISA Technical 

Committees and I can confirm that 

ladies may now wear trousers. This 

is because of recent ISU regulation 

changes that allow ladies to wear 

trousers, although I suspect 

dresses are still preferred! 

With regard to applause at test 

sessions, I do agree that the 

silence can be very daunting. At 

higher levels (NJS), skaters can now 

only take their (Competitive) tests 

in actual competition, where of 

course applause from the audience 

is quite normal. As regards NISA 

National Tests, for some time now 

the NISA Test Organiser's 

Handbook has stated that 

"applause both during and at the 

end of tests as per a competition 

situation, is now welcomed". I do 

agree that a skater's efforts should 

be rewarded regardless of the test 

outcome. However, old habits 

always die hard in the skating 

world! 

Laura off to pound the beat 

Laura Hallam, who has been a key organiser of many NISA events 

over the past couple of years, has left the association to fulfil a 

lifelong career ambition - as a PC with Nottinghamshire Police. 

Laura, (25) qualified from 

Loughborough with a degree 

in Sports Science, and now 

faces a gruelling 32 weeks of 

training both at Police College 

and in stations. 

Coming from a family with a 

strong military background, 

she is looking forward to this 

new challenge. 

We'd like to make this a 

regular feature in Ice Link, 

so please send news of 

members, happenings, 

"where are you now" 

stories and we'll try and 

print as many as we can 

send to the editor 

bryan.morrice@btinternet.com 

Lynn retires to the sun 

After a lifetime of service to the association, 

Lynn Huddlestone has decided to retire from 

judging. In a career which spans 25 years as a 

national judge and the past 15 years as an ISU 

Championship Judge and International Competition 

Referee, she has decided that the time is right to 

spend more time with her husband at their second 

home on the French Riviera. Lynn is pictured above 

at the 2005 European Championships in Turin with 

John & Sinead Kerr. We all wish her a very happy 

retirement!

GB Team 

makes clean 

Short Track 

Update 

sweep at Star Class 

The Great Britain Short Track Speed Skating Squad made a clean sweep 

at the 2nd of the Star Class events when Jon Eley once again took the 

Overall title at the Star Class Master Cup in Reims, France Octber 27-29th - a 

fantastic start to the new season! 

Although Jon missed out on a place in the 

1500m final, he raced to first place in both 

the 500m and 1000m distances to take the 

Overall title. Oliver Horsepool improved 

from 3rd at the previous Star Class event to 

take 2nd place Overall, with team mate Paul 

Stanley finishing in 3rd. 

Unfortunately due to illness Sarah Lindsay 

Short Track's other Podium athlete was 

unable to compete at this event. 

The GB Squad are now focusing on the Alta 

Valtellina Trophy, Bormio, Italy, which takes 

place on the 10-12 November, where the 

competition will be tough with the best 

skaters from Italy, Hungary, Russia, France, 

The Netherlands and Belgium taking part. 

STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS 

News just reaching us from Bormio as we go 

to press is that GB team skaters Jon Eley and 

Oliver Horsepool, got off to a fantastic start 

with Jon winning gold in the 500m distance, 

ahead of Italy's Denis Bellotti and Fabio 

Carta, with Oliver Horsepool slotting into 

4th place. Jon slipped slightly in the 1000m 

taking 6th place, with Paul Stanley 

supporting in 8th place. However the 

1500m distance was disappointing for Jon, 

unable to progress from the semis after a 

DQ, and finishing down in 18th place. 

Overall however, the good news was that 

Jon took 5th place with Oliver in 8th 

position. Even better news came from the 

3000m Senior men Relay, with GB Team 

taking the silver medal. 

News 

Results 

Debate 

1 Jon Eley 2 Oliver Horsepool 3 Paul Stanley 

GILLINGHAM 

Vacancies for Professional Ice 

Skating Coaches 

We are seeking applications for committed, professional 

ice skating coaches to develop and enhance our 

coaching team at The Gillingham Ice Bowl. All 

applicants will be considered. Minimum NCCP 2 qualified 

Apply to: The General Manager, Ambley Road 

Gillingham Business Park, Gillingham 

KENT ME8 0PU 

For further information call 01634 388477 

ABERDEEN Ice Arena 

Vacancy for Professional Ice 

Skating Coach 

Closing date 31st December 2006 

We are inviting applications for a committed, 

professional ice skating coach to develop and enhance 

our coaching team at Aberdeen's modern beachfront ice 

arena. Ice Dance coach preferred however all applicants 

will be considered. Minimum NCCP2 qualified 

Apply to: The Duty Manager, Linx Ice Arena, Beach Esplanade, 

Aberdeen AB24 5NR 

For further information call 01224 655455 


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 

For full details also check NISA website www.iceskating.org.uk 

Due to lack of space in this issue, we are unable to publish all recent Official and Technical 

Announcements. Members are advised to always check the NISA website for full details 

1.The NJS synchronized skating competition to 

be held at Deeside on Sunday 19th 

November 2006 will be the NJS synchronized 

skating championship for the current season 

06/07. 

2. The RJS synchronized skating championship 

for Juvenile, Intermediate and Adult 

categories is expected to be held at Ice 

Sheffield on Monday 19th March 2007 (to be 

confirmed) 

a)There will be a Beginner category 

NISA Bulletin 25: Synchro Update 

competition held on the same day - rules of 

which will be contained within the event 

announcement. 

b)There will be an open RJS Novice, Junior and 

Senior event offered. 

3.The new synchronized skating test structure is 

expected to be available in 2007 following 

consultation with synchronized skating judges 

and coaches. 

A synchronized skating overview is being 

prepared for a three-year plan. 

NISA Bulletin 25: Singles / Pairs Open Competition Generic Entry Criteria 

The 2007/8 criteria will shortly be published on the NISA website. There will only be very minor 

changes and these will be relevant to jump content in Beginner and Level One and spin clarifications 

in Levels Two and Three. All other criteria will remain exactly as per the 2006/7 criteria. 

NISA Bulletin 25: New NISA National Pair Test Structure 

Unfortunately there will be a delay in the implementation of the new National Pair Test Structure due 

to ongoing workload with the implementation of the new National Field Move Test Structure. It is 

hoped that the new Pair tests will be in place by March 2007. 

NISA Bulletin 25: New Test Structure Field Moves Seminars 

NISA officials have recently completed the last 

of 11 seminars introducing the new Generic 

Field Move Test Structure and, in all, nearly 400 

coaches and judges have attended and are now 

qualified respectively to enter skaters for 

National Tests and Open Competitions or to 

judge these events. 

The seminars were scheduled as far apart as 

London and Aberdeen between January and 

September 2006 in order to give all coaches 

and judges as much choice of venue and dates 

as possible. 

It is essential that when these Field Move Tests 

commence on 1st January 2007 as many 

1. The NJS synchronized skating competition to 

be held at Deeside on Sunday 19th 

November 2006 will be the NJS British 

Synchronized Skating Championship for the 

current season 2006/2007. 

2. The RJS Synchronized Skating Championship 

for Juvenile, Intermediate and Adult 

categories is expected to be held at 

iceSheffield on Monday 19th March 2007 (to 

be confirmed). 

a. There will be a Beginner category 

competition held on the same day - rules of 

Second Dancing on Ice 

series starting soon 

T op 

presenter Ulrika Jonsson is believed 

to be signed up by ITV to join the second 

series of Torvill & Dean's hit celebrity 

skating show Dancing on Ice, sheduled to 

start 13th January 2007. 

The former weather girl and Gladiators presenter 

will be among a host of big name stars 

rumoured to be skatingoff 

in the new series - 

among them ex Blue 

singer Duncan James, 

footballer Lee Sharpe, 

Boyzone's Stephen 

Gately and Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills. 

Amongst the girls, possible names include Donna 

Air, former Eastender Michelle Gayle and from 

Liberty X, Kelly Young. Other reports also on the 

internet and in the Sun newspaper hint that 

Kirsty Gallagher might be on Jayne and Chris's 

celebrity wish list. And spies report Jayne Torvill 

was spotted helping Bonny Langford on the ice 

recently at Guildford! 

The show has been a phenomenal success, with 

audiences in the UK peaking at 13m and British 

rinks reporting huge increases in attendances. 

Spin-off shows abroad have proved just as 

popular, with TV series in Australia, Netherlands, 

Beligium, Germany, Russia and most recently, 

Turkey. Although the ISU has effectively now 

prevented eligible skaters and judges from 

participating in any way, the huge increase in 

interest in skating generated by the show is a 

major benefit to our sport. 

coaches as possible have been introduced to 

the test structure and are able to enter their 

skaters for NISA National tests, Competitions 

and Championships in the future. All judges 

must also attend to continue to judge after 1st 

January 2007. 

To this end it is planned to hold a 'mop up' 

seminar, hopefully in December 2006 - venue 

and date to be confirmed. 

Please note that at this point no seminars are 

planned for 2007. 

Coaches and judges who have not yet attended 

should register to attend with Laura Hallam. 

Synchro Announcement re 2006 - 2007 Championships 

Gossip Corner 

which will be contained within the event 

announcement. 

b. There will be an open RJS Novice, Junior and 

Senior event offered. 

3. The new synchronized skating test structure is 

expected to be available in 2007 following 

consultation with synchronized skating judges 

and coaches. 

4. A synchronized skating overview is being 

prepared for a three year plan. 

Cam & Justin's new film 

inspired by Dancing on 


Again in the Sun, reports that hollywood 

star Cameron Diaz and boyfriend Justin 

Timberlake (one time boyfriend to Britney 

Spears) may be about to make their first film 

together. Based on an ice skating couple falling 

head over heels in love, the film is reported to 

have been inspired by T&D's enormously 

successful first series of 'Dancing on 

Ice' which the couple 

were addicted to when 

she was filming in the UK 

earlier this year. 

Apparently, Justin is 

rumoured to be taking 

ice skating lessons - so if anybody knows 

anymore, drop a line to "Gossip Corner". 

Dancing on Ice to tour with 

live show 

F ollowing 

the second series of Dancing on Ice 

starting January 2007, Phil McIntyre 

Productions together with Jayne & Chris will 

be touring top UK arenas including NIC, 

Birmingham, London Arena and Sheffield with a 

live audience version of the hit show. Top 

skaters and celebrities from the TV series will 

skate live for the audiences and spectators will 

be able to vote their favourites to win. Former 

contestant Andi Peters is to be the compere.


Performance Matters NISA 

Funding within Team Skate GB needs to be 

seen in context of the removal of 

Exchequer monies to NISA to support the 

National Governing Body. The removal of this 

funding holds a significant challenge for the 

association and has an impact on performance 

development. 

The funding changes occurring nationally are 

challenging for all sports. “Figure Skating has had 

significant success in securing funding for named 

skaters and work still continues to widen the 

funding support to develop performance figure 

skating in Great Britain.” Cath Barker said. 

“Funding is always excusive and not inclusive but 

all skaters within the performance environment 

must see sport as a business and about 

achieving targets. 

Funding parameters are strict in terms of 

performance standards relative to age and each 

funding level has specific criteria for the athletes 

to reach. Sustainability of funding is also an issue, 

as each of the funding streams is annually 

reviewed, with the exception of Podium Level 

which is fully reviewed after two years. 

We have also the challenge to support the 

development of talent, and funds for this area 

are minimal currently. It is a real concern to 

ensure that we can provide support for young 

athletes so that we have a sustainable 

development pathway within Figure Skating to 

ensure that success can be maintained.” 

Funding has been secured for a total of 19 British 

Squad athletes, with the further 7 athletes being 

supported through NISA funds. The World Class 

programme is staged as follows: 

Team Skate GB 

Feeder skaters into World Class Programme with 

this level of athletes being supported through 

NISA funds towards international competitions. 

Skaters on this programme must meet the Talent 

ID criteria to become a Team Skate GB member. 

Total of 7 athletes: 

Men: John Hamer and Daniel King 

Ladies: Katie Powell, Amy Tanner and Marissa 

Henderson 

Ice Dance: Kira Geil and Andrew Smykowski 

John Hamer 

World Class Programme (talent level) 

Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (core TASS 

funding of £3,000 per annum) and part support 

through NISA funds. Funding supports: 

Performance Analysis, international coaching, 

international competitions, medical insurance, 

sports nutrition, sports psychology, performance 

lifestyle, Squad Camps. Each of the skaters on 

this programme are enlisted onto educational 

courses alongside skating, and this is a condition 

of the funding alongside an age performance 

level criteria. 

Total of 8 athletes on this programme: 

Men: Thomas Paulson and David Richardson 

Ice Dance: Pippa Towler-Green and Philip Poole 

Ladies: Vanessa James 

Pairs: Stacey Kemp and David King 

Ice Dance: Leigh Rogers* 

World Class Programme - funded through 

Northern Ireland Sports Council supported by 

Northern Ireland Ice Skating Association. 

Funding supports Performance Analysis, 

international coaching, international 

competitions, medical insurance, sports 

nutrition, sports psychology, performance 

lifestyle, Squad Camps. The award is for two 

years, and the skaters on this funding must meet 

the agreed performance targets to ensure future 

funding. 

Total of 3 athlete on this programme: 

Ladies: Jenna McCorkell 

Pairs: Tameron Drake and Edward Alton 

Tameron Drake and Edward Alton 

World Class Programme (development level) 

TASS 2012 funding of £10,000 per annum and 

part support through NISA funds. Funding 

supports Performance Analysis, international 

coaching, international competitions, sports 

nutrition, sports psychology, performance 

lifestyle, medical insurance and Squad Camps. 

This funding also provides support to the 

infrastructure to support performance 

development. Performance criteria and 

performance potential forms the criteria for 

selection onto this level of funding. 

Total of 6 athletes on this programme: 

Men: Jason Thompson, Matthew Parr, Elliot 

Hilton 

Pairs: Sally Hoolin and Jake Bennett 

Ice Dance: Lloyd Jones* 

*Lloyd and his partner Leigh Rodgers share both 

their funding at TASS and TASS 2012 levels. Due 

to the restriction of numbers nationally on this 

programme the partners are listed in two 

different programmes. 

World Class Programme (Podium Level) 

Funding of £90,000 (per annum and Sports 

Scotland interim funding leading into October) 

plus a personal athlete award to assist in 

personal living costs which is reviewed 

dependant on world placing. This funding 

supports training, competition costs, costuming 

and kit, Squad camps, performance analysis, 

medical and physiotherapy support. This funding 

also provides support to the infrastructure to 

support performance development. 

Performance criteria and performance potential 

towards 2010 medals forms the criteria onto this 

level of funding. 

Total of 2 athletes onto this programme: 

Ice Dance: John and Sinead Kerr 

Team Skate GB Competitive Analysis 

Notable results have been achieved so far in the 

season by Team Skate GB, with John and Sinead 

Kerr leading from the front at Oberstdorf 

International at the end of September. 

The Kerrs performed well in this early season 

competition to win the event and take their first 

international gold medal. “This was an important 

step for John and Sinead. Not only was it the 

first competition under their new coach Evgeny 

Platov but it was a change of strategy as they 

have not competed in what was for them 

essentially a warm up international prior to the 

start of the Senior Grand Prix series. This was a 

bold move and the couple faced the new 

challenge of leading an international competition 

with a relatively narrow points gap. They 

handled this different kind of pressure 

excellently and kept their cool to take the gold. 

This experience will provide them with 

additional skills which they will be required to 

use over the next four years towards 2010.” said 

Cath Barker 

Also at Oberstdorf Team Skate GB (comprised of 

John and Sinead Kerr, Pippa Towler-Green and 

Philip Poole, Thomas Paulson and Stacey Kemp 

and David King) placed 4th out of the 23 teams 

entered in the international. 

Also within Ice Dance, Pippa Towler-Green and 

Philip Poole drew on their experiences at early 

internationals to improve their scores and their 

performance of the programmes at Dumfries NJS 

competition. Their scores have now made them 

eligible for selection to the European and World 

Championships in 2007. 

Cath Barker commented “Diane Towler Green 

has worked very hard with the couple this 

season and has taken on board advice given to 

improve the skaters scores. It is very pleasing to 

see that Pippa and Philip relaxed at Dumfries to 

perform their programmes with flair and 

personality. They have put the work in so far this 

season and I am sure that with the continuation 

of this work ethic they will improve their scores 

further this season.” 

Within the Junior men, Matthew Parr narrowly 

missed out on top 10 position at his first Junior 

Grand Prix (Romania) this season. An unfortunate 

call on one of his spins cost him the top 10 

placing but he finished a credible 11th. 

In the coming months, two other junior men, 

Elliot Hilton (NIC), Jason Thompson (iceSheffield) 

and Pair team Sally Hoolin and Jake Bennett are 

due to make their return back to competition 

following rehabilitation from injuries sustained 

last season. “I will be delighted to see Jason, 

Elliot and Sally and Jake return to competition as 

they are talented young skaters and alongside 

our other Team Skate GB members, provide GB 

with a strong potential for the future. It is not an 

easy road to return from injury and to maintain 

the required level of commitment and focus 

which is necessary to compete with Figure 

Skating, but all these skaters are now close to 

re-starting back into the competitive 

environment.” said Cath Barker. Also returning 

from injury is Jenna McCorkell who is due to 

compete in November. 

Vanessa James had a credible showing at Junior 

Grand Prix (Hague) where she recovered from 

mistakes in the Short Programme to place 6th in 

the Free Programme giving a final place of 8th 

out of the 34 competitors. “This is Vanessa's first 

international experience and she has presented 

herself very well. She can achieve higher scores 

as she improves this season, but she and her 

coach Karl Kurtz should be delighted with their 

first outing.” Cath Barker commented. Vanessa's 

scores now make her eligible for selection for 

World Junior Championships in 2007. 

Leigh Rogers and Lloyd Jones improved their 

personal best scores for the season at their final 

Junior Grand Prix (Czech Republic) to place them 

in 9th position at the competition and to collect 

important world ranking points. Rogers and 

Jones have also met the criteria for selection to 

the World Junior Championships 2007. 

Full details of all the Team Skate GB competitive 

results are on the NISA website. 

Performance Manager 

Cath Barker explains the 

funding and support 

structure for our GB Squad 

athletes 

BITA Young Coach 

of Year 

The BITA (British Ice Teachers Association) 

award for Young Coach of the Year 2006 

was awarded earlier this year to Carol 

Dawn Spendlove. 

Dawn coaches at Blackburn and being a former 

World Professional Pairs skater herself is 

particularly encouraging towards pairs. She 

coaches British Champions Stacey Kemp and 

David King.

Don't miss the Championships Grand 

Finale Banquet on Saturday 13th 

January 2007 ...... 

Make it a night to remember at the Nottingham Council House in the heart of 

the City from 7:00 pm - 12:00 midnight. For all details and to download a 

booking form go to the NISA website and click on the link to the John Wilson/ 

MK British Ice Figure & Dance Championships 2007. 

Book early to avoid disappointment - deadline Friday 8th December 2006. 

PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE 

(Subject to change pending entries at closing date 27th Nov 2006) 

Tue 9th Jan 

Nov Lad / Men Short Prog 

Wed 10th Jan 

Jun Lad / Men Short Prog 

Nov Lad / Men Free Prog 

Thu 11th Jan (*possible change) 

Nov /Jun /Sen Pairs Short Prog* 

Nov/ Jun /Sen Dance Comp Dance 

Jun Lad / Men Free Prog 

Fri 12th Jan (*possible change) 

Sen Lad / Men Short Prog 

Jun / Sen Dance Orig Dance 

Nov Dance Free Dance* 

Nov / Jun Pairs Free Prog* 

Sat 13th Jan 

Jun Dance Free Dance 

Sen Lad / Men Free Prog 

Sen Dance Free Dance 

ISU European Short Track Track 

Speed Skating 

Championships 2007 

Hallam FM Arena Sheffield 

19-21st January 2007 

Tickets for this exciting event are now on sale from the Hallam FM 

Arena Box Office Tel: 0114 256 5656 or online: 

www.hallamfmarena.co.uk 

Ticket Prices 

Adult day £8; Concession day £4 (U16 / 60+) 

Adult weekend £20; Concession weekend £10 

Group discount 10% on 10 tickets or more 

'Early Bird' 10% discount for tickets purchased before 1st December 


Home Countries Focus 

A roundup of news from the Home Countries 

Braehead Arena 

to re-open for 

ice skating inJanuary 

Following the bad news reported in the last issue of Ice Link, that major frost heave damage 

to Paisley Lagoon Ice Rink had caused its closure for the forseeable future, comes news 

that the 4,100 seater Breahead Arena is to lay permanent ice once again, and to open to 

the public for skating in January 2007. 

The arena, featuring its Olympic sized 60m x 

30m ice pad, is one of no fewer than 3 separate 

ice surfaces within the Braehead Shopping and 

Leisure Centre. Attached to the centre is the 

main curling pad, where over 1,500 club 

members support the 'roaring game', while the 

25m diameter leisure rink in the centre of the 

shopping mall is always popular with shoppers. 

In recent years, the Arena has not had 

permanent ice, instead only laid for touring 

shows such as Disney or Holiday on Ice, and 

mostly used for 'dry' events including basketball 

or concerts. 

The likely long-term closure of Paisley however 

has prompted a complete re-assessment of the 

situation, and with a huge catchment area 

including Glasgow on the door-step effectively 

without ice facilities, the decision to lay ice was 

a natural one. 

In addition to skating, with the Paisley Club 

being offered ice time, the Arena will see a 

Welsh News update 

Welsh Championships 

now open to all 

T he 

Welsh Ice Skating Association has 

decided to open all Welsh Championship 

events to enhance the status of the event. 

The Welsh Championships used to be a single 

event, but WISA has split this into three separate 

championships in order to fit in with NISA‚s 

national programme, and ensure that the Welsh 

home nation events all fall shortly before the 

British events. 

In addition to the Welsh Open NJS Figure Skating 

NIC hits a million 

There were celebrations at the National Ice 

Centre on Tuesday 24th October – as they 

welcomed their millionth ice skater. 

11 year old Isaac Weaver from Mansfield was the 

lucky visitor who became the millionth customer. 

Isaac will now be a regular face at the NIC after 

winning a year’s worth of free ice skating. 

He’s already enrolled on skating lessons and is 

planning to spend his vouchers for the NIC 

Sports Shop on hockey equipment so he can 

fulfil his dream of playing for the Nottingham 

Panthers. 

The six week Skate UK course he also scooped 

as part of his prize package will help him 

develop the skills he’s already picked up. 

Geoff Huckstep, Chief Executive at the NIC, 

presented a very surprised Isaac with his prize. 

He said: “We were delighted to welcome our 

millionth skater to the NIC today and Isaac 

makes a great winner. He’s already keen on 

skating so the prize will definitely get some 

good use. 

“Reaching our millionth milestone is a great 

achievement for everyone here at the NIC and 

with skating becoming increasingly popular more 

people than ever are coming through our 

doors– in fact our skating figures are up 20% on 

last year.” 

welcome home to the local hockey team the 

Paisley Pirates. 

With a new series of 'Dancing on Ice' also 

beginning in January, the re-opening of 

Braehead is just in time to capitalise on the huge 

increase in interest the show will undoubtedly 

generate, and Leisure Manager Bruce Harley was 

up-beat about prospects for the new year. "Our 

Skate UK courses were very busy last year so it 

will be good to build on this". 

Initially, the ice will only be available 4 or 5 days 

a week, but with a commitment to at least the 

next couple of years of permanent ice, and 

depending on usage, this couuld well be subject 

to an early review. 

The Arena will continue to host 'dry' events and 

is investing nearly £150,000 in special insulated 

flooring, to enable dual use to continue. 

NB: Paisley has laid a new plastic surface at the 

Lagoon rink to enable continued leisure use. 

Championships, these 

competitions will include 

the Welsh Open Free Championships (RJS), to be 

held on 25th and 26th March 2007, which will 

include the NISA Cup Welsh team qualifiers. 

Finally, the Welsh Open Dance Championships 

(RJS), which will take place on 30th June and 1st 

July 2007, will give Solo Dance competitors the 

opportunity to skate the compulsory and the 

free dance shortly before the British Solo Dance 

Championships. This event will also include 

Beginner and Pre-NJS Couples, as well as adult 

competitions. 

COOL FACTS ON THE NATIONAL ICE CENTRE 

* The National Ice Centre is open 364 days a 

year and stands over 100 feet tall. 

* The original Ice Stadium opened back in April 

1939 and closed its doors for the last time in 

March 2000 – just over 60 years later. 

* In 1998 specialist contracts had to be 

brought onto the site to begin the task of 

exhuming remains from a 19th century 

graveyard beneath a car park on the site of 

the new centre. 

* The buildings first roof support – an 80 metre 

long, 106 tonnes double truss – was lifted 20 

metres off the ground and fixed to the steel 

frame of the Arena in March 1999. 

* The NIC was funded with Nottingham City 

Council’s largest-ever European grant of over 

£4 million. 

* Under the Arena ice rink there are more that 

11 miles of ice-making pipes. 

* It took 34 miles of scaffold tubes, 34,000 

tonnes of stone and 20,000 tonnes of steel 

to build the NIC. 

* On average, around 1,200 pints are drunk at 

a Nottingham Panthers’ game. 

* It would take approx 88,000 pints to create 

the ice pad with a thickness of 1.5 inches.


Senior Men 

1 Matthew Parr (Dundee) 2 David Richardson (Coventry) 3 Nick 

Rigby (iceSheffield) 

Senior Pairs 

1 Stacey Kemp & David King (Blackburn) 

Scottish Open Championships 2006 

Senior Ladies 

1 Karly Robertson (Dundee) 2 Phillipa Pickard (Dundee) 3 Sarah 

Daniel (Solihull) 

Over 650 competitors from all 

parts of the UK took part in 

this years Sk8scotland Open 

Championships, making it the 

highest entry on record. 

Now in its 6th year, the event has 

become a favourite in the British 

skating calendar, and is the only 

Championship to incorporate all 

discipines - Figure, Dance, Solo 

Dance, Synchro and Short Track - a 

veritable Festival of skating! 

Our sincere thanks must go to all 

who have made the event such a 

great success, to Dumfries & 

Galloway Council for their financial 

support, to the judges, officials 

and volunteers who have given so 

much of their time to help, and of 

course to the skaters who are the 

stars of the show. 

Photos from the Dumfries NJS Scottish Open Championships 2006 

Senior Dance 

1 Phillipa Towler-Green (Streatham) 

not pictured: 2 Nicola Trippick & Jamie Burns (Blackburn) 3 Kira Geil & 

Andrew Smykowski (iceSheffield) 

Junior Dance 

1 Rebecca Forsyth & Christopher Hockaday (Bracknell) 

2 Melissa Chan & Tobias Wallis (Streatham) 

Technical Delegate Ann Findlay receives a thankyou from the 

Sk8scotland Board presented by Ice Bowl manager Colin 

Freeman for all her hard work in making the 2006 

Sk8scotland Open Championships a huge success 

Unfortunately photo not available as 

Sarah & Fergus had to leave before 

presentations 

ISU Novice Dance 

1 Sarah Cunliffe & Fergus Finden Brown (Guildford) 

ISU Novice Men 

1 Mark Frost (Aberdeen) 2 Stuart Urquhart (Dundee) 

Councillor George McBurnie accompanied by Referee Tish Houghton 

ISU Novice Pairs 

1 Catherine Clement & James Hunt (Chelmsford) 

Dumfries & Galloway Councillors Alf Hannay & David McKie 

accompanied by Referee Suzanne Lindsay 

Junior Ladies 

1 Katie Powell (Blackburn) 2 Amy Tanner (NIC) 3 Laura Kean (Dundee) 

Junior Pairs 

1 Gemma Reeve (not pictured) & Sam Edwards (Chelmsford) 2 

Tameron Drake & Edward Alton (Dundonald) 

Junior Men 

1 Daniel King (Bradford) 2 Steven White (Chelmsford) 3 David Bratt (NIC) 


ISU Novice Ladies 

1 Annabel Colenutt (Basingstoke) 2 Natasha McKay (Dundee) 

3 Jessica Roebuck (Hull) 

Photos thanks to Judy Clinton


Solo Dance 

Scottish Championships 2006 

Novice Ladies Solo Dance 

1 Annika Maczka (Chelmsford) 2 Miriam Woollcombe (Aberdeen) 

3 Olivia Smart (iceSheffield) 

Primary Men Solo Dance 

1 Matthew Barlow (Deeside) 2 Mark Frost (Aberdeen) 3 Jordan 

Cruickshank (not pictured Kirk/Perth) 

Intermediate Ladies Solo Dance 

1 Natalie Yates (Nottingham) 2 Beverley Carstairs (Nottingham) 3 

Tamsyn Pack (Bracknell) 

Juvenile Synchronized Skating 

1 Northern Lights (Inverness) 

Novice Men Solo Dance 

1 Ryan Sharp (iceSheffield) 2 Rory Ross Docherty (Kirk/Perth - 

pictured) 3 Alexander Thompson (Deeside) 

Junior Ladies Solo Dance 

1 Rachel Clare Little (Paisley) 2 Louise Weir (Paisley) 3 Peaches 

Buttress (Altrincham) 

Intermediate Men Solo Dance 

1 Joseph Buckland (Nottingham) 

Photos from the Sk8scotland Solo Dance and Synchronized 

Skating Championships events at Dumfries 

Primary Ladies Solo Dance 

1 Heather Sneddon (Paisley) 2 Jennifer Brown (Kirk/Perth) 3 

Ashley Mitchell (Paisley) 

Junior Men Solo Dance 

1 Rory Peter Shanahan (Nottingham) 2 Ryan Sowter (Montem) 3 

Alexander Smith (Montem) 

Senior Ladies Solo Dance 

1 Victoria Blud (Guildford) 2 Gillian Smith (Aberdeen Linx) 3 

Robyn Pascoe (Murrayfield/Montem) 

Intermediate Synchronized Skating 

1 Moray Dolphins (Inverness)

Check before you go - the 

details in this article are all 

taken from the internet so 

Ice Link cannot guarantee 

100% accuracy 

SOMERSET HOUSE 

22 Nov 2006 to 28 Jan 2007 

London's original and most 

beautiful open-air ice rink returns 

to the courtyard at Somerset 

House, located just off The Strand 

within easy reach of Covent Garden 

and 'Theatreland'. Telephone 0870 

145 1163 

TOWER OF LONDON 

25 Nov 2006 to 14 Jan 2007 

Nearly 940 years after William the 

Conqueror founded the building, 

the Tower of London will be host 

to a magnificent open-air real-ice 

rink situated in the dry moat 

beneath the North wall of the 

Tower of London. Telephone 0870 

145 1163 

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 

9 Nov 2006 to 21 Jan 2007 

Once again The Natural History 

Museum in South Kensington is set 

to open London's most spectacular 

winter attraction this year - a 

stunning outdoor Ice Rink and 

traditional Christmas Fair. The 

1,000 square metre outdoor ice 

skating rink, with 75,000 Christmas 

lights in the surrounding trees, is 

sure to be one of the most 

impressive outdoor rink in London. 

Telephone 0870 145 1163 

HAMPSTEAD HEATH 

2 Dec 2006 to 14 Jan 2007 

Enjoy skating in the open air, in 

wonderful surroundings on a 

magnificent real ice rink is 

guaranteed to enthral all at the 

Hampstead Heath Ice Rink at 

Parliament Hill Fields. Telephone 

0870 145 1163 

DOCKLANDS CANARY WHARF 

18 Nov 2006 to 18 Feb 2007 

The Canary Wharf Ice Rink will be 

located in Canada Square Park, 

which is surrounded by Canary 

Wharf's famous towers. The Park will 

be decked with holiday lights 

transforming it into a winter 

wonderland. The 30 metre by 24 

metre ice rink also features an iceside 

cafe - Smollensky's on Ice. 

Telephone 0870 145 1163 

GREENWICH 

2 Dec 2006 to 14 Jan 2007 

Following the success of last year 

the Old Royal Naval College will 

once again host a real ice rink 

within its landscaped grounds on 

the banks of the River Thames in the 

centre of the Maritime Greenwich 

World Heritage Site. Telephone 

0870 145 1163 

KEW GARDENS 

25 Nov 2006 to 7 Jan 2007 

Kew's historic landscape is hosting 

an ice rink in front of the 

spectacular Temperate House, 

where last year this proved to be a 

magical place to enjoy winter days 

and nights. Telephone 0870 145 

1163 

BLUEWATER SHOPPING (KENT) 

9 Nov 2006 to 23 Jan 2007 

Combine Christmas shopping with a 

visit to the spectacular new, 

outdoor Ice Rink at Bluewater this 

festive season! The award winning, 

ice creation team behind ITV1's 

Dancing On Ice, will transform the 

outside of the Water Circus into a 

stunning ice rink experience. 

Telephone 0870 145 1163 

HAMPTON COURT PALACE 

2 Dec 2006 to 14 Jan 2007 

Once again The Hampton Court 

Palace Ice Rink will be located on 

the beautiful west front of Henry 

VIII's historic red brick palace, the 

ideal festive setting to enjoy 

Christmas fun and outdoor skating. 

To book: Telephone 0870 145 

1163 

ROYAL WINDSOR (BERKS) 

2 Dec 2006 to 14 Jan 2007 

Ice skating in a beautiful Victorian 

setting of Alexandra Park Gardens 

in Windsor with views of the castle 

and next to the Thames. The real 

ice rink will cover some 800m2 while ice rink cafe will sell warming 

hot chocolates, mulled wine and 

festive snacks. To book: Telephone 

0870 145 1163 

Get your skates on this Christmas 

For your yuletide festivities Ice Link has searched the internet to provide readers with the definitive guide to Xmas rinks 

HALIFAX PIECE HALL 

25 Nov 2006 to 7 Jan 2007 

Come ice skating in the courtyard 

of this truly stunning Grade I Listed 

Building. Made from real ice, the 

30-metre wide rink will be open 

daily except Christmas Day, Boxing 

Day and New Year's Day. Telephone 

0870 145 1163 

BELFAST CUSTOM HOUSE 

Expected to be operating during 

Dec 2006 

Custom House Square is Belfast's 

premier outdoor event space and 

throughout Dec Custom House 

Square will be brought to life with 

a range of activities for all the 

family - the centre attraction being 

a synthetic ice rink. So what are 

you waiting for, get your skates on 

and we'll see you there. Not 

Booking Yet. 

EXETER 

2 Dec 2006 to 14 Jan 2007 

The Exeter Christmas Ice Rink will be 

set up in Bampfylde Street next to 

the Exeter Bus Station). It will have 

a winter wonderland atmosphere 

with specially selected music to set 

the mood and beautifully lit up at 

night. 

GLOUCESTER 

25th Nov 2006 - 1st Jan 2007 

Enjoy the Ice Rink situated in the 

heart of Gloucester in Kings Square. 

There are skating sessions to suit all 

ages. The rink has been organised 

in partnership by Gloucester City 

Council and Stage Electrics. 

BRISTOL 

19th Nov to 8th Jan 2007 

Have a fantastic time skating when 

The Magical Ice Skating Rink opens 

on Castle Park! We're open every 

day except for Christmas Day. This 

will be the first major Bristol centric 

event the city has seen since its 

millennium celebrations. 

BROMLEY 

27th Nov to 8th Jan 2007 

Visitors to Bromley town centre will 

be able to get their skates on for 

the first time this Christmas, as 

planning permission for a 

temporary ice-rink has been 

granted. Alongside the rink will be 

a marquee providing an area for 

skate-hire, cloakroom and catering 

facilities for corporate events. 

Tickets will be available from 9th 

Nov from the Churchill Theatre. 

WARWICK CASTLE 

2nd Dec - 7th Jan 

Experience frozen fun at the Castle 

this winter. 

www.christmasatthecastle.co.uk 

New for 2006 is the UK's first REAL 

ice slide. The slide will sit right 

below the Castle's dramatic towers 

and ramparts and will be a 60 

metre adrenaline-fuelled icy 

adventure! The ice rink also returns 

for a third fantastic year - take to 

the ice in the unique setting of the 

Castle courtyard. 

The frozen fun doesn't end when 

the Castle closes its doors… 

Experience Slide & Glide after dark 

with lights twinkling in the trees and 

the Castle itself lit up in frosty 

colours against the night sky. 

Tickets either online or by calling 

0870 442 2375 . 

LINCOLN 

16th Nov 2006 to 14th Jan 2007 

Experience the magic of real ice in 

Lincoln this Christmas on the Lincs 

FM BIG Ice Rink in City Square near 

the Waterside Shopping Centre. 

The Lincs FM BIG Ice Rink is back for 

a second year this Christmas and is 

set to be even bigger and better 

than 2005. 

GLASGOW ON ICE 

25 Nov - 24 Dec 2006 

Enjoy the festive atmosphere at 

one of Europe's largest open-air ice 

rinks. Step through the grand 

entrance, skate underneath the 

beautiful backdrop of the City 

Chambers and the Christmas lights, 

enjoy a mulled wine in the rinkside 

cafe bar and be delighted by the 

staff 'in character' who'll help you if 

you wobble. All tickets are 

available in person from the ice rink 

at George Square - admission, 

includes skate hire. 

CARDIFF 

16 Nov 2006 - 17 Jan 2007 

Cardiff's Winter Wonderland returns 

to the beautiful Civic Centre. The 

bmibaby open-air ice rink is back, 

giving a cool 52 days of skating. 

There are also plenty of other 

attractions around the arena 

including the ice cafe bar, heated 

terrace overlooking the ice, 

traditional childrens carousel and 

rides, Big Wheel and free festive 

entertainment. 

YORK ICE FACTOR 

From 18 Nov 2006 to 07 Jan 2007 

Set against the spectacular 

backdrop of Clifford's Tower in the 

centre of York, The Ice Factor is a 

unique Christmas attraction for 

young and old alike. It 

encompasses a picturesque 600 

square metre ice rink centred 

round the illuminated oak tree in 

the Eye of York. Ticket prices and 

session times on the website 

www.theicefactor.co.uk 

WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL 

1 Dec 2006 - 7 Jan 2007 

Don your hat and gloves and head 

to Winchester's first Christmas ice 

rink, set against the stunning 

backdrop of the city's worldfamous 

cathedral. Booking line: 

01962 857 276 For further 

information go to www.winchestercathedral.org.uk 

SWANSEA 

Nov 19th 2006 to Jan 6th 2007 

The all weather real ice rink will be 

one of the major attractions in this 

specially themed area which will 

provide a magical Christmas 

atmosphere on the lawns next to 

the dramatic backdrop of the 

National Waterfront Museum. 

EDINBURGH 

Grand opening 23 Nov 2006; 

Public Skating 24 Nov 2006 - 7 

Jan 2007 (except Christmas Day) 

For the ninth year Edinburgh 's 

Winter Festival hosts one of Britain 

's largest outdoor ice rinks, Winter 

Wonderland. Set beneath the 

dramatic Edinburgh skyline of the 

castle in East Princes Street 

Gardens. As well as the stunning ice 

rink, Winter Wonderland includes 

gentle fairground rides for younger 

children. Don't miss the spectacular 

opening gala on Thursday 23 Nov 

2006. Including amazing ice 

dancing from some of United 

Kingdom's best ice skating talent. 

Tel: 0131 622 6552 

SOUTHEND 

Nov 18th - end Feb 2007 

Hundreds of Southend families are 

expected to flock to the 26m by 

18m rink, which opens in Nov in 

time for the Christmas lights switch 

at Victoria Circus, and continues 

until end of Feb next year. Tickets 

available from 

www.ticketmaster.co.uk 

ENFIELD 

From 9th Dec 2006 - 7th Jan 2007 

Forty Hall Courtyard real Ice Rink 

Set in truly wonderful surroundings, 

you can enjoy some festive skating 

with friends and family and there is 

plenty of room to carve skilfully 

through the ice and perfect your 

triple axle, or just try and stay 

standing! Phone 020 8363 8196 

OXFORD 

20 Nov 2006 - 13 Feb 2007 

COME AND ENJOY THE FESTIVE 

SEASON AT OXFORD CASTLE REAL 

ICE RINK - pre-booking 

recommended - booking fees 

apply - family tickets available 

NORWICH 

Opens at 10am on 11 Nov 2006 

The EDF Energy Ice Rink will open at 

10am on Saturday 11 Nov. This is 

the fourth successive year that the 

popular rink will be installed in 

front of The Forum forming the 

focal point for Norwich's Christmas 

activities. More than 100,000 

skaters have got their skates on at 

the stunning 432m2 outdoor ice 

rink over the past three years. 

SOUTHAMPTON Guildhall Square 

15 Dec to 21 Jan 2007 

Southampton City Council invites 

you to get your skates on and be 

seen at the coolest place in the 

City! For further information 

telephone 023 8083 3333. 

Contact email: 

tourist.information@southampton.g 

ov.uk 

EASTLEIGH 

Sat 25th - Sun 26th Nov 2006 

A winter wonderland will be 

created in Eastleigh to launch this 

year's festive season. On Saturday 

25th Nov parts of the town's park, 

Leigh Road Recreation Ground, will 

be converted to a paddock for 

reindeer as well as providing the 

setting for a floodlit ice rink. 

CHESTER ZOO 

1st Dec 2006 to 4th Feb 2007 

Believed to be the only one of its 

kind in Cheshire this winter, the 

20m ice rink will be at the hub of 

Chester Zoo's Frost Fair 

extravaganza. The ice rink will be 

available for corporate and private 

events. It is hoped that the zoo will 

attract 100,000 visitors during the 

Frost Fair. 

Events Office Telephone: 01244 

650 209 or 

www.chesterzoo.org/frostfair 

TAUNTON 

from 7th Dec 2006 to 2nd Jan 

2007 

Taunton is to open a REAL ice 

skating rink for a second year. For 

2006, the rink is twice the size of 

last year, holding 120 skaters at any 

time and located next to The 

Brewhouse Theatre in Taunton. 

Ice skating sessions will be 

bookable online at 

www.iceattaunton.com or by 

telephoning 0845 130 2773 . 

TUNBRIDGE WELLS 

Friday 1, Saturday 2 & Sunday 3 

Dec 

Christmas on the Pantiles, Ice Rink 

for all the family, Reindeer to pet 

and feed, Beautiful Christmas lights, 

EDEN PROJECT CORNWALL 

10th Nov to 8th Feb 2007 

Over 100,000 people skated at 

Eden (St Austell) last winter, and 

The Eden Project's ice rink returns 

even bigger and better than last 

year! Not only this, but it also 

features a stunning island where 

skaters can chill out. 

A bigger skating area designed 

around a giant crystal, a snow 

machine, and discos on ice are 

among the dazzling new features. 

The rink - now in its third year - has 

been reshaped to enable skaters 

to flow around it more easily. Set 

against the stunning backdrop of 

the project's world-famous Biomes, 

it will bring in the winter season 

with a blizzard of fun and 

festivities. 

The new features aren't just for 

skaters. For those wanting to soak 

up the atmosphere without taking 

to the ice, the spectator area this 

year will be bigger and filled with a 

selection of aromatic winter plants. 

To book, please go to 

www.edenbookings.com or call 

01726 811972. 

NEWSCASTLE CENTRE FOR LIFE 

11th Nov 2006 - 11th Feb 2007 

The popular open air Ice Rink 

returns and there's no better way 

to enjoy a Winter's day or night than 

skating in Times Square! 

Perfect for a family day out, a skate 

with your mates or a festive party 

for the young and young-at-heart, 

there's loads of ways to make the 

most of the North East's biggest 

and most popular ice rink. 


THE ICE CUBE LEEDS 

13th Jan - 4th March 2007 

The Ice Cube, Leeds is the UK's 

largest temporary outdoor ice 

skating rink with over 1200 square 

meters of real ice! Due to poular 

demand, the Ice Cube will return to 

Leeds city centre mid-Jan 2007 for 

an amazing seventh consecutive 

season! 

The 40m x 30m ice rink and 

adjoining nursery rink will be open 

for public skating every day 

(weather permitting) from 10am 

until 9.30pm (7.30pm on Sundays), 

so come in your lunch hour, bring 

the kids for a weekend treat or 

skate the night away under the 

stars! 

Sad News 

Sadly, Ken Bailey has passed 

away following major surgery on 

6th October 2006. Ken was MD 

of Altrincham from its opening in 

1960 until 1987. He was 

chairman of the Ice Rink 

Managers Assoc from 1954- 

1989, President of the 

Altrincham Chamber of 

Commerce (1972) and of the 

Rotary Club (1975-76). As a 

youth he played ice hockey, and 

was captain of Brighton Tigers 

and Wembley Lions. As an ice 

entertainer, under the name the 

"Silver Phantom, jumping on ice 

over barrels and his girlfriend 

Betty - he only cut her once!! 

In 1952 he married Betty. He 

has helped many skaters 

become champions, and put 

Altincham and Altrincham 

skaters well and truly on the 

international map. A remarkable 

man, he will be missed by many. 

(Report thanks to Joan Slater)


Congratulations 

to the following NISA members who passed tests during October 2006 

Basingstoke Ice Rink 

Level One Elements Anna Duggan; Harriet Inglis; Level Two 

Elements Peter Rees; Level Five Elements Jemma Mcleod; 

Level Seven Elements Rachel Jackson; Level Eight Elements 

Elizabeth Hall; Sophie Murgatroyd; Level One Free Anna 

Duggan; Harriet Inglis; Emily Lowden; Peter Rees; Level Seven 

Free Rachel Blake; Elizabeth Hall; Novice FM Marnie Bliss; 

Hannah Larden; Prelim FM Emma Herbert; Mehsati Lally; Emily 

Lowden; Gemma Sanders; Inter Bronze FM Peter Rees; 

Jonathan Strachan; Inter Silver FM Ria Purser; Level Six CD 

Hazel Pilcher; Level Five Solo CD Ria Purser; Level Six Solo CD 

Amy Sanders; Level Seven Solo CD Amy Sanders; Level Three 

Free Dance Hazel Pilcher; Level Four Free Dance Hazel Pilcher; 

Level One Solo Var Ria Purser; Level Two Solo Var Ria Purser; 

Novice Synchronized Ice Skating Test Sophie Bye; Ellen 

Children; Charlie Dodd; India Gill; Rebecca Lavender; Lorna 

Mills; Preliminary Synchronized Ice Skating Test Marnie Bliss; 

Mehsati Lally; Emily Lowden; Rebecca Tincey; Sarah Watkins; 

Bronze Synchronized Ice Skating Test Rebecca Elkington; 

Clare Hall; Sarah Horne; Claire Nicoll; Joanne Pender; Molly 

Piper-Harris; Inter Silver Synchronized Ice Skating Test Emma 

Gorman; Elizabeth Harris; Imogen Martin; Rachael Powell 

Billingham Forum 

Level Two Elements Kathryn Armitage; Rachael Kelly; Level 

Three Elements Sarah Parker; Level Two Free Kathryn 

Armitage; Rachael Kelly; Level Three Free Sarah Parker; Novice 

FM Kate Lattimer; Prelim FM Kathryn Armitage; Kate Lattimer; 

Bronze FM Charlotte Watson 

Blackpool Ice Drome 

Level One Elements Oliver Dent; Stephanie Hickman; Thierry 

Long; Mairead Lucas; Level Two Elements Kathryn Bradley; 

Charlotte Knight; Lydia Smart; Level Three Elements Jennifer 

Simpkin; Level Four Elements Peter Erskine; Level Six 

Elements Jodie Adderley; Kate Kippa-Davis; Level One Free 

Jordan Dean; Oliver Dent; Stephanie Hickman; Charlotte 

Knight; Thierry Long; Mairead Lucas; Level Two Free Kathryn 

Bradley; Jennifer Simpkin; Lydia Smart; Level Three Free 

Jennifer Simpkin; Level Four Free Peter Erskine; Chloe 

Demetriou; Novice FM Daniel Curran; Oliver Dent; Molly 

Shelley; Prelim FM Kathryn Bradley; Genevieve Ferguson; Inter 

Silver FM Peter Erskine 

Bristol Ice Rink 

Level One Elements Chloe Beaven-smith; Lorna Billinghurst; 

Marie Longhurst; Jack Saliba; Level Eight Elements Jodie 

Elliott; Level One Free Chloe Beaven-Smith; Marie Longhurst; 

Novice FM Chloe Beaven-Smith; Lorna Billinghurst; Martha 

Lipman; Chloe Saliba; Inter Bronze FM Amy Cammann; Bronze 

FM Abigail Slee; Sarah Toogood; Level Three Solo CD Jodie 

Elliott; Sylvia Foote; Level Six Solo CD Rosemary Hood; Level 

Six Solo Original Dance Rosemary Hood 

Deeside Leisure Centre 

Level One CD Gillian Wood; Level Two CD Gillian Wood; Level 

Four CD Ellen Williams; Level One Solo CD Emily Gregory; 

Thomas Gregory; Naomi Haime; Level Two Solo CD Emily 

Gregory; Naomi Haime; Level Three Solo CD Cathryn Varley; 

Ellen Williams; Level Five Solo CD Naomi Oldfield; Katie Quinn; 

Level Eight Part 1 Solo CD Rebecca Calthorpe; Level One 

Free Dance Christopher Marsh; Level Two Free Dance 

Christopher Marsh; Level One Solo Free Dance James Moran; 

Katie Quinn; Level Two Solo Free Dance James Moran; Katie 

Quinn; Level Three Solo Free Dance James Moran; Katie 

Quinn; Level Four Solo Free Dance James Moran; Katie Quinn; 

Level Five Solo Free Dance Matthew Barlow; James Moran; 

Katie Quinn; Level Seven Solo Free Dance Lauren Bithell; 

Lauren Hughes; Level Eight Solo Free Dance Rebecca 

Calthorpe; Level Nine Solo Free Dance Jennifer Barnfield; 

Level Ten Solo Free Dance Jennifer Barnfield; Level One DM 

Emily Gregory; Level Two DM Cathryn Varley; Level Five DM 

James Moran; Katie Quinn; Level Seven DM Peaches Buttress; 

Level One Var Christopher Marsh; Level One Solo Var Lauren 

Colley; Naomi Haime; Carys Williams; Ellen Williams; Level Two 

Solo Var Melanie Davies 

East Kilbride Ice Bowl 

Level One Elements Mirren Kelly; Charlie O'Neill; Level Three 

Elements Aimee Goldie; Level Four Elements Lana Bagen; 

Catherine Dorans; Alana Strong; Level One Free Mirren Kelly; 

Charlie O'Neill; Level Three Free Aimee Goldie; Level Four 

Free Lana Bagen; Catherine Dorans; Alana Strong; Novice FM 

Trevyn Ronald; Inter Bronze FM Natalie Hughes; Emma Kelly; 

Beth Leung 

Galleon Centre Kilmarnock 

Level Two Elements Jessica Murphy; Stephanie Symington; 

Level Three Elements Aynsleigh Gilmour; Ashleigh Johnstone; 

Level Two Free Jessica Murphy; Stephanie Symington; Level 

Three Free Aynsleigh Gilmour; Ashleigh Johnstone; Prelim FM 

Jessica Murphy; Stephanie Symington; Inter Bronze FM 

Aynsleigh Gilmour; Ashleigh Johnstone 

Guildford Spectrum 

Level One Elements Linda Barns; Kristiana Becker; Amy 

Lancaster-Carpenter; Annabel Sharpe; Imogen Shepperdson; 

Level Two Elements Carly Humphreys; Chelsea Maddison; 

Nicola Wong; Level Four Elements Alessandra Boisvert; 

Michelle Toms; Level Five Elements Madeleine Carter; Emily 

Penfold; Level Six Elements Madeleine Carter; Kelsey Nolan; 

Level Seven Elements Anthony Goff; Frances Howell; Level 

Eight Elements Anthony Goff; Alice Gribble; Level One Free 

Kristiana Becker; Amy Lancaster-Carpenter; Joseph Romeu; 

Annabel Sharpe; Level Two Free Chelsea Maddison; Level Four 

Free Michelle Toms; Level Five Free Madeleine Carter; Emily 

Penfold; Level Six Free Kelsey Nolan; Level Seven Free 

Tameron Drake; Anthony Goff; Frances Howell; Novice FM 

Amy Lancaster-Carpenter; Annabel Sharpe; Imogen 

Shepperdson; Prelim FM Ishbel Alderman; Kristiana Becker; 

Chelsea Maddison; Inter Bronze FM Ellen Doggett; Deborah 

Toms; Bronze FM Jan Alderman; Alessandra Boisvert; Michelle 

Toms; Charlotte Wheeler; Inter Silver FM Claire Fieldus; Joseph 

Galway; Anthony Goff; Level One CD Gabriella Cooper; Level 

Two CD Henry Aiken; Sarah Watkins; Level Three CD Sarah 

Watkins; Level Two Solo CD Emily Penfold; Level Five Solo CD 

Emily Anderson; Level Six Solo CD Charlotte Aiken; Level 

Seven Solo CD Charlotte Aiken; Rachael Powell; Level Eight 

Part One Solo CD Charlotte Aiken; Victoria Heath-Smith; Level 

Five Solo Free Dance Rachael Powell; Level Six Solo Free 

Dance Charlotte Aiken; Rachael Powell; Level Seven Solo Free 

Dance Charlotte Aiken; Rachael Powell; Level Eight Solo Free 

Dance Charlotte Aiken; Victoria Heath-Smith; Rachael Powell; 

Level Two DM Zoeanna Battershill; Level Three DM Zoeanna 

Battershill; Danielle Bennett; Level Four DM Zoeanna Battershill; 

Danielle Bennett; Level Five DM Zoeanna Battershill; Danielle 

Bennett; Level Six DM Zoeanna Battershill; Danielle Bennett; 

Level One Var Gabriella Cooper; Level Two Var Sarah Watkins; 

Level Four Solo Original Dance Zoeanna Battershill; Level Five 

Solo Original Dance Zoeanna Battershill; Level Six Solo 

Original Dance Zoeanna Battershill 

Hull Ice Arena 

Level Two Elements Eve Rouse; Level Three Elements Connor 

Wilkinson; Mikyla Young; Level Three Free Connor Wilkinson; 

Mikyla Young; Level Four Free Jennifer Hirst; Novice FM Chloe 

Laverack; Inter Bronze FM Stevie Mould 

Link Centre Swindon 

Level Eight Free Jessica Hobday 

Oxford Ice Rink 

Level One Solo CD Callum Williams; Level Two Solo CD David 

Van Der Linden; Callum Williams; Level Six Solo CD Josh 

Whidborne; Level One DM Caitlin Barclay; David Van Der 

Linden; Callum Williams; Level Two DM Caitlin Barclay; Katie 

Richardson; Level Three DM Katie Richardson; Laura Smith; 

Level One Var Caitlin Barclay; Level Two Var Caitlin Barclay; 

Level Three Var Katie Richardson; Laura Smith; Level One Solo 

Var Callum Williams; Level Two Solo Var Holly Lay; David Van 

Der Linden; Level Three Solo Var Helen Wray; Level Seven 

Solo Original Dance Josh Whidborne 

Ryde Arena 

Level One Elements ; Yelena Brown; Daisy Cohen; Nicole 

Hinton; Level Two Elements Sarah Close; Sabrina Danzig; 

Alexandrina Roman; Phoena Wilmott Bayer; Level Three 

Elements Archie Bicknell; Gemma Fishel; Level Four Elements 

Isabelle Coeshott; Level Six Elements Gemma Marsh; Level 

One Free ; Yelena Brown; Daisy Cohen; Nicole Hinton; Level 

Two Free Sarah Close; Sabrina Danzig; Alexandrina Roman; 

Phoena Wilmott Bayer; Level Three Free Archie Bicknell; 

Gemma Fishel; Level Four Free Isabelle Coeshott; Level Six 

Free Gemma Marsh; Novice FM Naomi Hunter; Prelim FM Daisy 

Cohen; Inter Bronze FM Phoena Wilmott Bayer 

Telford Ice Rink 

Level Two Solo CD Jessica Randle; Level Four Solo CD 

Rebecca Thorneycroft; Level Six Solo CD Claire Warrilow; 

Level Two Solo Free Dance Alexander Baker Williams; Level 

Three Solo Free Dance Alexander Baker Williams; Level Six 

Solo Free Dance Louise Allington; Level Seven Solo Free 

Dance Louise Allington; Level Nine Solo Free Dance Danielle 

Ferriday; Level Three DM Charlotte Baker Williams; Level Seven 

DM Alexander Baker Williams; Level Six Solo Original Dance 

Louise Allington 

Plushenko to star with Chris de Burgh 

in Sheffield Art on Ice spectacular 

Skating and music fans alike are set to enjoy an unprecedented treat with the very best of 

ice skating's legends performing to one of the world's most renowned singers and 

musicians - Chris de Burgh. Art on Ice is scheduled for Sheffield's 10,000 seater Hallam FM 

Arena on February 10th & 11th 2007, the perfect idea for your Valentines Day gift! 

Internationally acclaimed music stars performing their greatest 

hits live, the very best ice skaters in the world and a 

spectacular light show - this combination of superlatives is 

enough to melt the ice. Year after year, millions of viewers, 

whether live in the stadium or at home in front of the TV, are 

enchanted by the enthusiasm and emotions displayed by the 

Art on Ice artistes. 

With up to 60% of the music performed by Chris de Burgh, 

experience his songs being interpreted in dance form by elite 

ice skaters. 

This is the first time Art on Ice has appeared in the UK and to 

mark the debut they are bringing some of the finest skaters in 

the world. 

Apart from romantics and Chris de Burgh fans, Art on Ice will delight all ice-skating 

enthusiasts. For the first time in the UK, Evgeny Plushenko - 34 gold medals, 

European Champion 2001, 2003, 2005, World Champion 2001, 2003, 2004 will be 

skating alongside Olympic Medallist Philippe Candeloro, and skating pair Tatiana 

Totmianina & Maxim Marinin, World and Olympic Champions. 

People wanting to know more about the event can go online at 

www.artonice.co.uk. 

Evgeny Plushenko 

Cowling's 

Column 

Well, she may be in her twilight years as a 

skater, but Michelle Kwan, 26, has found a 

new way to represent the US on the 

international stage. The US Secretary of State, 

Condoleezza Rice, has appointed the fives times 

World Champion as a public diplomatic envoy. It's 

a part of a programme to help improve America's 

image abroad. 

******** 

Now has she or hasn't she retired? Over the past 

couple of weeks there's been conflicting reports 

as to weather former World Champion and 2006 

Olympic bronze medallist, Irina Slutskaya of 

Russia, has finished competitive skating. First she 

announced that she had had enough saying, "I'm 

not sure what I'm going to do in the next 

five minutes but one thing is certain -- 

I'm done with competitive skating." The 

27-year-old Russian said she wanted to 

become a television talk show host. 

Then her mother denied it. Then she 

denied it. The seven times European Champion 

said, "It's not true. My coach and my relatives will 

be first to know if I decide to quit." She said that 

she's still considering her options. Watch this 

space. 

******** 

Now, willl they or won't they retire and get 

married. It's been reported in the Chinese press 

that the two times Olympic pairs bronze 

medallists, Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo, will 

retire after the World Championships in Japan next 

March. Then came the denial on both counts. 

Shen Xue later said that the new season had just 

started and that they were not quitting anytime 

soon. On news reports that they were going to 

get married Shen said, "As I have clarified several 

times, we are lovers only on the ice." Zhao 

amusingly added that they were "really old." They 

James Cowling, Ice Link's 

independent sports journalist 

brings readers skating news from 

around the globe 

Bits Bits n' 

pieces pieces 

The joys of Synchro - 

why not give it a try? 

have been skating together since 1992. And 

again, watch this space. 

******** 

Sixteen year old Elene Gedevanishvili has left 

Russia for her homeland, Georgia. It's not that she 

wanted to either. It's all to do with Russia's 

crackdown on Georgians living in Russia. The 

young skater became a highly recognisable figure 

skater after her top ten finish at the Olympics in 

Turin earlier this year. Her mother was deported 

from Russia on a technicality. 

******** 

Two times Olympic bronze medallist pair skater 

from Canada Lloyd Eisler has been 

suspended from coaching in Canada for a 

year. Skate Canada has declined on legal 

advice to reveal the reasons behind the 

suspension. Eisler is living in the U.S. and is 

a member of the Los Angeles Figure Skating 

Club where he is presently coaching. The 

suspension has no automatic effect outside 

Canada. 

******** 

World Champion ice dancer Albena Denkova of 

Bulgaria has been elected chair of the Bulgarian 

Figure Skating Federation. Denkova and partner, 

Maxim Staviski, will retire from competitive skating 

after the Worlds in Japan. 

******** 

Silvio Smalun of Germany has announced his 

retirement from eligible skating. The two times 

German champion will be remembered for his 

unique artistic talent. 

******** 

James' thought for the day, 

"Accept that some days you are the pigeon and 

some days the Statue." 

What do you think about when considering Synchronized Skating? 

How many people have asked me - is it like Synchronized 

Swimming? As I know little of Synchronized Swimming I am not 

really qualified to make comparisons. However, I do know that 

Synchronized Skating is exciting and fun as well as extremely demanding 

both mentally and physically. 

Although synchro is a discipline for all ages, as 

our many adult teams have proved, where 

children are concerned it offers a very positive 

impact on their ability to work together and 

develop a team spirit. I have seen children and 

teenagers who were very much loners, join a 

synchro team and come out of their shell. The 

camaraderie can be amazing and the sense of 

belonging and pride is second to none. 

I have been given an opportunity to help to 

develop this discipline in the UK and knowing 

some of the 

complexities of 

taking teams 

away to 

competition, 

having 

developed 

synchro in 

Inverness, I look 

forward to the 

challenge. The 

programme 

and on ice 

work is 

demanding but 

fun and I really 

enjoyed 

watching 

programmes 

evolve. 

Working 

through all the rules and regulations, arranging all 

the costumes, make up, hair, accessories, travel, 

accommodation, fundraising etc is quite another 

matter. Parents, friends and officials who make 

all of this work are great and their reward and 

buzz is the seeing the enjoyment and buzz that 

the skaters experience when it all comes 

together. 

There is one thing of which I am certain, Synchro 

is firmly on the world stage and it is now in the 

UK to stay. It may continue to be gradual but it 

is growing and our competitions and 

NISA Synchro Director 

Judy Clinton wants to 

encourage more rinks to 

give this increasingly 

popular branch of 

skating a try 

championships in Ice 

Sheffield on March 19th 

2006 will demonstrate this 

with the inclusion of an Elementary Category for 

Beginner Teams and the possibility of twelve 

rinks fielding teams in various categories during 

the day. 

If synchro is something you are thinking about 

but not sure how to get started please don't 

hesitate to contact either myself, one of the 

synchro technical committee or a coach or 

skater already 

involved. The 

synchro 

community is 

so enthusiastic 

about this 

discipline the 

support and 

back up is 

brilliant. 

Check out the 

announcement 

for March 2007 

on the web 

site (and in 

"Official Stuff" 

this issue) - 

GB Senior Champions Team Storm from Basingstoke 

bring a team to 

Sheffield - join 

in the fun and 

help us to make this discipline grow. 

If you live near Dumfries or Ayr - both of these 

rinks are currently developing teams for the 

Elementary Category and they are recruiting 

now. Please contact Louisa Nairn or Philip Carter 

in Dumfries and Gail McKnight in Ayr if you are 

interested. 

We are planning a major feature on Synchro in 

the next Ice Link - so thank you for all the 

information and photos which are coming in - 

keep them coming!

Advanced 

Dance 1 

Lisa Whitby & Mark Thompson 

Elementary 

Pairs 

1. Hana Connor & Brian Connor 

Lee Valley 

Ladies Intermediate 3 

1 Susan White Basingstoke 

Ladies Masters 1 

1. Linda Craig Dundee 2. Natasha Engleby 

Coventry 3. Keri-Louise Tett Basingstoke 

Solo Dance Adv 1 

NISA Adult Championships 2006 

Advanced 

Dance 2 

1. Daniel Munn Solihull 2. Katy Creek 

Guildford 3. Sarah Carter Solihull 

Solo Dance Elementary 1 

1. Gemma Wilkinson Whitley Bay 2. Teresa 

Krykant Slough 3. David Ward Whitley Bay 

Solo Dance Exhibition Event 

1 Vicky Mansfield Romford 2 Michelle Homer 

Coventry 3 Gemma Wilkinson Whitley Bay 

1 Mellony Fletcher & Neil Gilbert Slough 2 Donna 

Roberts & Andrew Hudson iceSheffield 3 

Catherine Kempt & Barrie Haigh Gillingham 

Intermediate 

Pairs 

1. Irene Stoddart & Jack 

Stoddart Murrayfield 


1. Amanda Knight Bradford 2. Elizabeth Parkes 

Telford 3. Melloney Fletcher Swindon 

Lee Valley Valley 

Sept 30 - October 1st 

1. Irene Stoddart & Jack Stoddart 

Murrayfield 2. Jan Straker & Eddie 

Loughran Streatham 3. Annabel 

Smyth & Robert Smyth Streatham 

Ladies Elementary 1 

1 Gemma Wilkinson Whitley Bay 2 Victoria Stanley 

A Palace 3 Heather La-Belle Riverside 

Ladies Masters 2 

1. Julia Kurzeja Guildford 2. Mandy Pullar 

Guildford 3. Edwina Lewis Solihull 

Solo Dance Adv 2 

1. Amanda Knight Bradford 2. Hana Connor 

Lee Valley 3. Denise Gerrard Queens 

Solo Dance Elementary 2 

1. Rachel Jarvis Bracknell 2. Caroline 

Lordan Oxford 3. Francis Fuchs Lee Valley 

Solo Dance Masters 2 

1. Penny 

Callaghan 

Oxford 

Photos courtesy 

Elementary 

Dance 2 


1. Robyn Pascoe Montem 2. Kirsty Tofts 

Chelmsford 3. Sylvia Foote Bristol 

Mens Elementary 1 

1. David Ward Whitley Bay 2.Tri Tat Sobell 

3. Jonathan Ellis Murrayfield 

Mens Masters 1 

1 Nicholas-Paul Milne Oxford 2 John Fisher 

Milton Keynes 

Solo Dance Intermediate 1 

1. Katherine Noble Queens 2. Jo Matten 

Chelmsford 

www.digitalphotoevents 

e-mail: taylorphoto@ntlworld.com 

Tel: 01472 885000 

Intermediate 

Dance 2 

1 Hana Connor & Brian Connor 

Lee Valley 


1= Lesley Hayward Deeside 1= Philippa 

Cooper-Lewis Milton Keynes 3 Nicky Wong 

Guildford 



Masters Dance 1 

1. Maggie Leigh & Vernon Leigh 

Oxford 

Masters Dance 2 

1. Karen Jervis & Stephen Hoare 

NIC Nottingham 

1. Dawn Howells Alexandra Palace 

2. Christine Pascoe Slough 

1 Perry Bradford 

iceSheffield 


1 Robert Smyth Streatham 2 Colin Hall 

Chelmsford 

Solo Dance Intermediate 2 

1. Fiona Brown Oxford 2. Jean Livingstone 

Dundee 3. Vivienne van Someren Al Palace 

Solo Dance Masters 1 

Photo album 


1 Diana Entwistle A Palace 2. Robyn Pascoe 

Montem 3. Jodie Takhar Slough


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Ice Link issue 69 (Page 3) - National Ice Skating Association

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