2025-26 British and Irish figure skating

[CaroLiza_fan]

Yes, I know that it has happened before. I was always deeply uncomfortable with a certain skater (now retired) who, in his 30s, was reappearing with a new 16-17 year old partner almost every season. Yes, he gave them opportunities to go to Euros, Worlds and the Olympics, which they probably would not have had otherwise, but it seemed like the girls were just disposable commodities for promoting the country and his career. I am not saying that he was abusive towards those girls, but the whole dynamic did seem odd and none of the partnerships lasted.

When I started reading your post, I immediately thought of a particular skater. But as I read on, I realised it was not who I was thinking of because, although he had much younger partners after his long-term partner retired, there were not as many of them and he stayed with each of them for quite a few years. But I will bring him into the conversaation because, according to the DOB on her ISU Bio, the first of these younger partners had only just turned 15 when they partnered up (I word it that way because I have long had suspicions that she is actually a few years younger than what her ISU Bio says. But that is another matter). She was around half his age when they started out!

Anyway, I then realised who it was that you were talking about. And I have to admit, although the fact that he was going through so many partners after his long-term partner retired did come up on my radar, I didn't actually pay much attention to them. So I didn't notice that all these short term partners were so young. But I did think the same as you, that it made it look like Pairs girls were disposible and could be replaced at the drop of a hat. And that is not fair, because being a Pairs girl is a highly skilled, and risky, role.

I agree. The fact that the parents think this is fine doesn't actually make it fine if the younger family members have no or little say in who they're partnered with. I don't know them personally, but British relatives who do have opinions that run the gamut from "Oh, they're just an unconventional family" to "Their idea of what's acceptable makes me really uneasy for the kids."

I wonder if the "unconventional family" viewpoint could be due to the fact that the Zoe is so much older than Chris. Because you don't tend to see many relationships consisting of an older woman and a younger man. When there is an age difference, it is usually the other way around.

Generally speaking, regardless of how the people involved behave, society does tend to be suspicious about age difference couples. As this whole discussion shows.

In some cases, we are right to be suspicious. But in other cases, it is totally innocent. The problem is identifying which is which.

When I was in my mid-forties, I skated for two seasons with a young recent competitor in his mid-twenties. He was training to be accredited as a pairs coach, but with a male mentor, and wanted a steady, experienced female partner to practise on before he tried teaching lifts, twist, throws et al to young beginners. He was strong and reliable as a partner, with the right protective instincts, a bit inhibited as a performer but sound technically. We got along well on the ice, but it was a working relationship only. We had no contact with each other away from the rink. My husband and kids teased a bit about me "going babysitting today at the arena?", but otherwise no eyebrows were raised.

I know this is getting away from the point that is being discussed, but I am so impressed that this guy was so serious about wanting to teach things the right way that he went to the effort of training with a more experienced partner to make sure he got everything absolutely right. That is totally the right attitude for a prospective coach to have. I hope he went on to have a successful coaching career.

And I did laugh at the way your family teased you about it.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[Diana Delafield]

When I started reading your post, I immediately thought of a particular skater. But as I read on, I realised it was not who I was thinking of because, although he had much younger partners after his long-term partner retired, there were not as many of them and he stayed with each of them for quite a few years. But I will bring him into the conversaation because, according to the DOB on her ISU Bio, the first of these younger partners had only just turned 15 when they partnered up (I word it that way because I have long had suspicions that she is actually a few years younger than what her ISU Bio says. But that is another matter). She was around half his age when they started out!

Anyway, I then realised who it was that you were talking about. And I have to admit, although the fact that he was going through so many partners after his long-term partner retired did come up on my radar, I didn't actually pay much attention to them. So I didn't notice that all these short term partners were so young. But I did think the same as you, that it made it look like Pairs girls were disposible and could be replaced at the drop of a hat. And that is not fair, because being a Pairs girl is a highly skilled, and risky, role.



I wonder if the "unconventional family" viewpoint could be due to the fact that the Zoe is so much older than Chris. Because you don't tend to see many relationships consisting of an older woman and a younger man. When there is an age difference, it is usually the other way around.

Generally speaking, regardless of how the people involved behave, society does tend to be suspicious about age difference couples. As this whole discussion shows.

In some cases, we are right to be suspicious. But in other cases, it is totally innocent. The problem is identifying which is which.



I know this is getting away from the point that is being discussed, but I am so impressed that this guy was so serious about wanting to teach things the right way that he went to the effort of training with a more experienced partner to make sure he got everything absolutely right. That is totally the right attitude for a prospective coach to have. I hope he went on to have a successful coaching career.

And I did laugh at the way your family teased you about it.

CaroLiza_fan

His mentor was a friend of mine, someone I'd competed against in years past, and it was his idea to team us up. The kid would try out different ways to explain how moves were done as if I were a beginner, and I'd try to react in different ways to set up situations he might run into. I don't think he knew I was giving his mentor regular appraisals of his progress as a coach. He did become fairly successful, building his career on teaching solid basics when he realized choreography and performance were just not his thing. Eventually his wife objected to the erratic hours coaches keep, so he retrained in arena maintenance and became a hero to his sons and their friends as a Zamboni driver .

 

[Ruthypegs]

A new British ice dance team - Layla Karnes and Freddie Leggott (debuting at the September British championship qualifiers).

 

[Ruthypegs]

Provisional entries for senior ice dance at the September British Championship qualifiers:

Dana Sabatini-Speciale and Daniel Kaye
Eleanor Hirst and Anthony Currie
Kiah Whieldon and Jamie Hammond
Layla Karnes and Freddie Leggott
Lily Matthias and Henry Privett-Mendoza
Molly Hairsine and Alessio Surenkov - Gultchev
Sophia Bushell and Antonio Pena

No sign of Lilah and Lewis, nor Phoebe and James yet, (which is a pity, as they normally come to Sheffield for the August/September qualifiers). Maybe they will be added to the list later - and/or, it would be great if they compete at the Bolero Cup, which is happening on the same date in the same venue.

 

[FlossieH]

A new British ice dance team - Layla Karnes and Freddie Leggott (debuting at the September British championship qualifiers).

Interesting....

 

[FlossieH]

Has anyone been able to track down entries for the August qualifier? I have been going round on the BIS website without getting anywhere....

 

[Ruthypegs]

Has anyone been able to track down entries for the August qualifier? I have been going round on the BIS website without getting anywhere....

Entries are out for the singles and pairs qualifier in August (starting 18th August - https://webapp.sportity.com/channel/BIS_AUG_2025) Looks like they might be trying to tie this with the Robin Cousins cup later that week.

The qualifier for ice dance looks to be in September rather than August (the provisional entries are here https://app-cdn.sportity.com/ca8f6fb8-f88e-4c71-b5ee-e567a8428bf8/8a12cf54-a34c-4d96-b20f-15697a07885f_Provisional Skater List - Sept Qual.pdf )

It looks like they might be trying to have this qualifier close to the new Bolero Cup (perhaps to boost the number of participants).

 

[FlossieH]

JGP Varese entries are out. Just the one for us - Annabel Mann/Jack Hammond in ice dance. There are still no Irish entries this year. I thought there might be a couple of girls again at some point e.g. Saoirse O'Sullivan and Allie Peterson.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

JGP Varese entries are out. Just the one for us - Annabel Mann/Jack Hammond in ice dance. There are still no Irish entries this year. I thought there might be a couple of girls again at some point e.g. Saoirse O'Sullivan and Allie Peterson.

Looking at the Junior GP Series Announcement PDF, for each category, Ireland has been allocated 1 entry in 2 events. These are Round 1 in Latvia (where the entry list already been announced), and Round 6 in Poland (where the entry lists will be announced in about a month from now).

Neither Saoirse nor Allie competed at Nationals in June.

I haven't heard anything about Saoirse. She doesn't seem to use social media much. She might be injured, or concentrating on her education. I just don't know.

As for Allie, to be honest, I am starting to wonder if she is just the latest in an increasingly long line of American skaters that have represented Ireland briefly, and then disappeared.

Mind you, she did put up a post on Sunday saying goodbye to Colorado, and a reply from Elyce Lin-Gracey gave the impression that Allie has moved back home to Massachusettes. So, that could explain why she wasn't at Nationals. And if the ISAI are planning to send Allie to a Junior GP, it would make sense to leave it until Poland to let her bed in with her new coaching setup.

On the subject of American skaters representing Ireland, the new girl that became Junior Ladies champion in June, Julianna FARRELL, ages out of Juniors after this season! So, if she wants to do a Junior GP, this is her only chance.

With this in mind, I am amazed that Julianna wasn't on the Entry List for Latvia.

Being realistic, I don't think the girl that finished second in Nationals, Eeva O'BRIEN, will be in the running for an assignment this season. But, hopefully she will stick around and be in the mix next season. (I'm not actually sure what age Eeva is, but big sister Milla was born on the exact same day as Julianna. So, from that we can deduce that Eeva has at least one more season in Juniors after this one).

We'll just have to wait and see what transpires.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[FlossieH]

Thanks @CaroLiza_fan that's the information I wanted! It's a shame that no-one is being sent to Riga.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Thanks @CaroLiza_fan that's the information I wanted! It's a shame that no-one is being sent to Riga.

I'm still holding out hope that we might still see somebody (most likely Julianna) in Riga. We've already seen Cyprus missing from the initial Entry List, and then added when it was updated a week later. So, you never know, we might see the same happen with Ireland.

But, with us now being another week closer to it kicking off, it is looking less likely.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Oh, I forgot to say. I have been checking the Sportity page for the Robin Cousins Cup umpteen times a day, and there is still no sign of any Entry List or Schedules re-appearing.

What is making things even more confusing is that everything is still up on the Sportity page for the August Qualifier. (By the way, I have added the relevant links for the August Qualifier to the OP of the Robin Cousins Cup thread, so that the whole week's skating can be discussed in that thread).

While on the August Qualifier's Sportity page, I noticed a link for buying tickets. The page it went to said that tickets can be bought for £5 either in advance online or on the day at the door. I assuming that is £5 per day, but it doesn't actually make this clear.

I take it that this is an indication that there will be tickets sold for the Robin Cousins Cup too. Put it like this, it would be very strange if they charged for the domestic part of the event and not for the International part of the event. I'm not begrudging them selling tickets - it makes sense to do it, so that they can use it as a practice run for Europeans in January. And it will help re-coup the extra costs brought about by the new format of having separate events for Singles / Pairs and for Ice Dance.

But, it would be helpful to know how much the tickets will be for Thursday and Friday. Will they be the same price as Monday to Wednesday? Will they be more?

Given the number of skaters in the Provisional Entry List that has now disappeared, I really hope that the prices aren't a practice run for Europeans too!

I'm still waiting to see the updated Entry Lists for the Robin Cousins Cup to decide whether to go or not. (If I do go, it would just be for the international). I've looked into prices of flights and accomodation, and the variations in the price of each depending on when I come home is really putting me off going at all.

If I leave on Saturday, the accomodation bill for the trip would be quite reasonable, but the flight on that day is VERY expensive. The flights on Sunday or Monday are far cheaper, but the price of the accomodation on those days is a LOT more expensive than the days before, presumably because of it being a bank holiday weekend.

You can't win!

And then there is the prospect of having to get from Manchester Airport to Sheffield. Most of the railway network in Northern Ireland, including in my part of the province, closed in the 1950's. The last time I was on a train was over 20 years ago on the London Underground! I wouldn't know what to do!

This is reminding me a lot of the last time I priced going to Sheffield, for Europeans in 2012. There were so many of my fovourites competing. But it was just far too expensive to get there, and then to stay there. And that was before you even got to the price of the tickets.

To make up for the disappointment, I went looking into going to the the French round of the Senior GP Series a few months later. And soon decided that getting to see my three favourite skaters live (Carolina Kostner, who subsequently withdrew; Liza Tuktamysheva; and Jenna McCorkell) didn't justify the expense for it either.

This is what I hate about living on Ireland. It is so expensive and / or difficult to get off it!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[Ruthypegs]

Neamh Davison and Daniel Borisov are due to compete at the John Nicks Pairs Challenge in September. It will be interesting to see who can get the second spot for a British senior pairs team at Europeans.

 

[Ruthypegs]

Oh, I forgot to say. I have been checking the Sportity page for the Robin Cousins Cup umpteen times a day, and there is still no sign of any Entry List or Schedules re-appearing.

What is making things even more confusing is that everything is still up on the Sportity page for the August Qualifier. (By the way, I have added the relevant links for the August Qualifier to the OP of the Robin Cousins Cup thread, so that the whole week's skating can be discussed in that thread).

While on the August Qualifier's Sportity page, I noticed a link for buying tickets. The page it went to said that tickets can be bought for £5 either in advance online or on the day at the door. I assuming that is £5 per day, but it doesn't actually make this clear.

I take it that this is an indication that there will be tickets sold for the Robin Cousins Cup too. Put it like this, it would be very strange if they charged for the domestic part of the event and not for the International part of the event. I'm not begrudging them selling tickets - it makes sense to do it, so that they can use it as a practice run for Europeans in January. And it will help re-coup the extra costs brought about by the new format of having separate events for Singles / Pairs and for Ice Dance.

But, it would be helpful to know how much the tickets will be for Thursday and Friday. Will they be the same price as Monday to Wednesday? Will they be more?

Given the number of skaters in the Provisional Entry List that has now disappeared, I really hope that the prices aren't a practice run for Europeans too!

I'm still waiting to see the updated Entry Lists for the Robin Cousins Cup to decide whether to go or not. (If I do go, it would just be for the international). I've looked into prices of flights and accomodation, and the variations in the price of each depending on when I come home is really putting me off going at all.

If I leave on Saturday, the accomodation bill for the trip would be quite reasonable, but the flight on that day is VERY expensive. The flights on Sunday or Monday are far cheaper, but the price of the accomodation on those days is a LOT more expensive than the days before, presumably because of it being a bank holiday weekend.

You can't win!

And then there is the prospect of having to get from Manchester Airport to Sheffield. Most of the railway network in Northern Ireland, including in my part of the province, closed in the 1950's. The last time I was on a train was over 20 years ago on the London Underground! I wouldn't know what to do!

This is reminding me a lot of the last time I priced going to Sheffield, for Europeans in 2012. There were so many of my fovourites competing. But it was just far too expensive to get there, and then to stay there. And that was before you even got to the price of the tickets.

To make up for the disappointment, I went looking into going to the the French round of the Senior GP Series a few months later. And soon decided that getting to see my three favourite skaters live (Carolina Kostner, who subsequently withdrew; Liza Tuktamysheva; and Jenna McCorkell) didn't justify the expense for it either.

This is what I hate about living on Ireland. It is so expensive and / or difficult to get off it!

CaroLiza_fan

Hi Caroliza fan - in case it's useful, the train connection from Manchester airport to Sheffield is pretty straightforward - you change at Manchester Piccadilly but the change only involves walking a few yards from one side of the platform to the other.

The Ibis city centre hotel in Sheffield is usually fairly (relatively) inexpensive, and you can get a tram directly to the rink or the arena from a tram stop that's a minute away from the hotel.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Hi Caroliza fan - in case it's useful, the train connection from Manchester airport to Sheffield is pretty straightforward - you change at Manchester Piccadilly but the change only involves walking a few yards from one side of the platform to the other.

Thank you for that information. That is actually something that I was concerned about, having to change trains. So, your words are very reassuring.

The Ibis city centre hotel in Sheffield is usually fairly (relatively) inexpensive, and you can get a tram directly to the rink or the arena from a tram stop that's a minute away from the hotel.

It was the Ibis beside arena and the Premier Inn across the road that I was looking at, because I figured they would be the most convenient for somebody who just wants to watch the skating. And, curiously enough, when I looked there now, the city centre Ibis is actually a bit more expensive than the Ibis beside the arena. (Logical enough, I suppose, as the one at the arena would just be getting people going to the arena, whereas the one in the city centre would be getting a bigger range of people).

On that point, when I was looking at the announcement, I saw that the official hotel for the event is the Crowne Plaza, in the city centre. This surprised me because I would have thought that the organisers would have wanted somewhere nearer the arena, so that the officials could just fall out of bed and be there.

But, I suppose that the officials expect to be well looked after for providing their services.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[FlossieH]

On that point, when I was looking at the announcement, I saw that the official hotel for the event is the Crowne Plaza, in the city centre. This surprised me because I would have thought that the organisers would have wanted somewhere nearer the arena, so that the officials could just fall out of bed and be there.

But, I suppose that the officials expect to be well looked after for providing their services.

CaroLiza_fan

I think there is normally a shuttle bus from the official hotel to the rink for skaters, officials and other authorised persons (but not for visitors). I imagine the food options in the centre are a lot better than near the arena, which would be important for skaters as many of them follow special diets.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

I think there is normally a shuttle bus from the official hotel to the rink for skaters, officials and other authorised persons (but not for visitors).

I haven't really paid too much attention to these sorts of things, but I always imagined that the official hotel was where the officials stayed and where the off-ice business of the event was done, such as meetings, the draws, and the banquet (if there is one). And that the skaters and their teams were expected to make their own accomodation arrangements, where possible (because not everywhere that holds skating events has more than one hotel). But that a discounted rate would be on offer to them at the official hotel.

Of course, logistically it is better if everybody can stay at the same hotel. As you say, a shuttle bus can be laid on to transport participants to and from the arena. But, I have always felt uncomfortable with the idea of skaters and their teams staying at the same hotel as the officials. Because it makes it easier for those that are willing to bend the rules to have clandestine meetings and come to arrangements.

There is enough question marks about the scoring in this sport without making it easy for people to creep from one hotel room to another to plot things and give or recieve backhanders.

I'm not saying these sort of things do happen. I am just saying that staying in the same hotel makes it possible for them to happen.

I imagine the food options in the centre are a lot better than near the arena, which would be important for skaters as many of them follow special diets.

That is a very good point about the food. I would never have thought of that.

Hey, I just had a thought. It must be so complicated for a sportsperson to go on a date. Having to check everything they eat and drink to make sure that there is nothing in it that could lead to failing a doping test. I can imagine that would really spoil the mood.

So, if going on a date with a sportsperson, best not to take them out for a meal. Better going to the pictures, or some other form of entertainment.

How did we get to here from talking about hotel locations?!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Well, we're going to have to wait a bit longer to see Zinia Wood / Harry Mattick, because they are not on the updated Entry Lists for the Robin Cousins Cup. In fact, all of the Senior Pairs partnerships have disappeared.

The only other difference to the Provisional Entry Lists is that Edward Appleby has been replaced by Connor Bray in Senior Men.

More information in the event thread.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[Weetos]

The city centre Travelodge was very reasonably priced for January last time I looked.

Just seen this little sneak peak on Instagram:
Link because my phone won't insert media

 

[jersey1302]

Soucisse/Firus made a change to represent Ireland, I am assuming to get more GP events and world experience.. Here's the thing.. They haven't improved. When they first came out in the Canadian Championships and burst onto the scene I thought they were going to be really good. Then they became stale and never improved in skating quality. Why are they still with Carol Lane? IMO she obviously isnt jiving properly with them. Its beyond clear for years now that they need a coaching change. What is the hold up with this? They cant seriously be happy being in the bottom tier in world standings.