2020-21 British & Irish Figure Skating
- Thread starter DSQ
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2012
It took a long time, but the skaters from our group of rocks in the North Atlantic are starting to get back to competitive action.
After finishing as runners-up in the Nebelhorn Trophy, Sasha Fear / George Waddell will be in action again at next week's Budapest Trophy (Sub-Forum). There will also be an Irish contingent going. Conor Stakelum and Sam McAllister were originally down to compete in Senior Men, but have both since withdrawn. However, Elizabeth Golding and Sophia Tkacheva are still on the roster for Junior Ladies.
I've already said this in the competition thread, but I'm really looking forward to seeing them up against each other. I've never actually seen Sophia skating before, but I have been hearing good things about her for quite a few years. So, it'll be good to finally see what she is actually like.
In case anybody is wondering, Elizabeth was born in Moscow to a Russian mother and an Irish father; while Sophia was born in Dublin to a Belorussian mother and a Russian father.
To be honest, I expected all the British and Irish skaters to be withdrawals, given that Hungary is not on any of the green lists in operation in these islands. After all, you wouldn't imagine that many skaters would want to do a competition if it meant that they were going to have to stay at home self-isolating for 2 weeks afterwards. Yes, getting competition practice is good, especially in a stop-start season like this. But not if it means that you will not be able to do normal training for a prolonged period afterwards.
I don't know about Conor, but I do know that this was not the reason that Sam withdrew. Here is what I posted in the competition thread when I went investigating after Harriet told us that he had withdrawn:
The British and Irish skaters will all be doing their short programmes on Friday evening. The Junior Ladies SP is due to run from 17:19 - 18:35 BST (18:19 - 19:35 CEST), followed shortly afterwards by the Senior Short Dance from 18:50 - 19:39 BST (19:50 - 20:39 CEST).
On Saturday, they top and tail the day. The Junior Ladies FS kicks things off from 14:00 - 15:26 BST (15:00 - 16:26 CEST), while the Senior Free Dance closes the action from 19:47 - 20:26 BST (20:47 - 21:26 CEST).
ALL THE BEST TO SASHA, GEORGE, ELIZABETH AND SOPHIA!!!
CaroLiza_fan
After finishing as runners-up in the Nebelhorn Trophy, Sasha Fear / George Waddell will be in action again at next week's Budapest Trophy (Sub-Forum). There will also be an Irish contingent going. Conor Stakelum and Sam McAllister were originally down to compete in Senior Men, but have both since withdrawn. However, Elizabeth Golding and Sophia Tkacheva are still on the roster for Junior Ladies.
I've already said this in the competition thread, but I'm really looking forward to seeing them up against each other. I've never actually seen Sophia skating before, but I have been hearing good things about her for quite a few years. So, it'll be good to finally see what she is actually like.
In case anybody is wondering, Elizabeth was born in Moscow to a Russian mother and an Irish father; while Sophia was born in Dublin to a Belorussian mother and a Russian father.
To be honest, I expected all the British and Irish skaters to be withdrawals, given that Hungary is not on any of the green lists in operation in these islands. After all, you wouldn't imagine that many skaters would want to do a competition if it meant that they were going to have to stay at home self-isolating for 2 weeks afterwards. Yes, getting competition practice is good, especially in a stop-start season like this. But not if it means that you will not be able to do normal training for a prolonged period afterwards.
I don't know about Conor, but I do know that this was not the reason that Sam withdrew. Here is what I posted in the competition thread when I went investigating after Harriet told us that he had withdrawn:
Just checked Sam's Instagram, and found out what happened. He was in a car crash. He's put up an explanation of what happened, along with some photos:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFxFdbVpMLf/
Looks pretty nasty. Thank goodness he is OK. He was a very lucky boy.
Rest up Sam. There'll be other competitions in the future.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFxFdbVpMLf/
Looks pretty nasty. Thank goodness he is OK. He was a very lucky boy.
Rest up Sam. There'll be other competitions in the future.
The British and Irish skaters will all be doing their short programmes on Friday evening. The Junior Ladies SP is due to run from 17:19 - 18:35 BST (18:19 - 19:35 CEST), followed shortly afterwards by the Senior Short Dance from 18:50 - 19:39 BST (19:50 - 20:39 CEST).
On Saturday, they top and tail the day. The Junior Ladies FS kicks things off from 14:00 - 15:26 BST (15:00 - 16:26 CEST), while the Senior Free Dance closes the action from 19:47 - 20:26 BST (20:47 - 21:26 CEST).
ALL THE BEST TO SASHA, GEORGE, ELIZABETH AND SOPHIA!!! CaroLiza_fan
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2018
It took a long time, but the skaters from our group of rocks in the North Atlantic are starting to get back to competitive action.
After finishing as runners-up in the Nebelhorn Trophy, Sasha Fear / George Waddell will be in action again at next week's Budapest Trophy (Sub-Forum). There will also be an Irish contingent going. Conor Stakelum and Sam McAllister were originally down to compete in Senior Men, but have both since withdrawn. However, Elizabeth Golding and Sophia Tkacheva are still on the roster for Junior Ladies.
I've already said this in the competition thread, but I'm really looking forward to seeing them up against each other. I've never actually seen Sophia skating before, but I have been hearing good things about her for quite a few years. So, it'll be good to finally see what she is actually like.
In case anybody is wondering, Elizabeth was born in Moscow to a Russian mother and an Irish father; while Sophia was born in Dublin to a Belorussian mother and a Russian father.
To be honest, I expected all the British and Irish skaters to be withdrawals, given that Hungary is not on any of the green lists in operation in these islands. After all, you wouldn't imagine that many skaters would want to do a competition if it meant that they were going to have to stay at home self-isolating for 2 weeks afterwards. Yes, getting competition practice is good, especially in a stop-start season like this. But not if it means that you will not be able to do normal training for a prolonged period afterwards.
I don't know about Conor, but I do know that this was not the reason that Sam withdrew. Here is what I posted in the competition thread when I went investigating after Harriet told us that he had withdrawn:
Just checked Sam's Instagram, and found out what happened. He was in a car crash. He's put up an explanation of what happened, along with some photos:Looks pretty nasty. Thank goodness he is OK. He was a very lucky boy.Rest up Sam. There'll be other competitions in the future.
The British and Irish skaters will all be doing their short programmes on Friday evening. The Junior Ladies SP is due to run from 17:19 - 18:35 BST (18:19 - 19:35 CEST), followed shortly afterwards by the Senior Short Dance from 18:50 - 19:39 BST (19:50 - 20:39 CEST).
On Saturday, they top and tail the day. The Junior Ladies FS kicks things off from 14:00 - 15:26 BST (15:00 - 16:26 CEST), while the Senior Free Dance closes the action from 19:47 - 20:26 BST (20:47 - 21:26 CEST).
CaroLiza_fan
Oh my goodness poor Sam! I hope he gets well soon.
Me too. However now that the rinks are open I’m seeing this as a training year for most.
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2019
I hope I'm allowed to post this here: https://www.change.org/p/scottish-g...eld-ice-rink-from-closing-it-s-doors-for-good
This is the rink that Sinead and John Kerr grew up on. Nowadays Dundee may be the major training base for elite figure skating in Scotland, but Murrayfield has its place in skating history, not to mention having probably the biggest and largest ice sheet in the Lothians. If Edinburgh loses its rink then that doesn't bode well for grassroots development of figure skating - kids just starting out won't be prepared to travel far outside the city to train.
Murrayfield was my home rink for several years, I'd hate to see it close permanently
Not many good alternatives within an hour's drive... Kirkcaldy maybe, Sterling's a bit small (and remote - a lot of skaters I knew didn't have ready access to cars). The higher-level skaters in particular need larger ice to develop speed and power.
This is the rink that Sinead and John Kerr grew up on. Nowadays Dundee may be the major training base for elite figure skating in Scotland, but Murrayfield has its place in skating history, not to mention having probably the biggest and largest ice sheet in the Lothians. If Edinburgh loses its rink then that doesn't bode well for grassroots development of figure skating - kids just starting out won't be prepared to travel far outside the city to train.
Murrayfield was my home rink for several years, I'd hate to see it close permanently
Not many good alternatives within an hour's drive... Kirkcaldy maybe, Sterling's a bit small (and remote - a lot of skaters I knew didn't have ready access to cars). The higher-level skaters in particular need larger ice to develop speed and power.
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2018
^
Thanks for posting the link. Murryfield was my home rink as well and where myself and my granny learned to skate.
In other news Fear & Gibson and Sam McAllister and Conor Stakelum have entered the Tyrol Cup 2020 on the 25th of November. Graham Newberry has entered the Warsaw Cup in the 12th of November.
Thanks for posting the link. Murryfield was my home rink as well and where myself and my granny learned to skate.
In other news Fear & Gibson and Sam McAllister and Conor Stakelum have entered the Tyrol Cup 2020 on the 25th of November. Graham Newberry has entered the Warsaw Cup in the 12th of November.
Great that Harry's still skating - he's a very fun and charismatic skater. Just spotted this about the new team: https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/...hopefuls-practise-promenade-blackpool-2925819
Ireland has got a new short track speed skater. Australian born, South Korean based but with Irish born parents. His name is Liam O’Brien and is the younger brother of Olympic Ice Dancer Danielle O’Brien. I never realised she had any Irish connections.
www.rte.ie
It‘d be nice for Ireland to get an entry to an skating event in the Olympics, even if isn’t Figure Skating. Best of luck to him
The South Korea-based Australian skating for Ireland
Liam O'Brien will represent Ireland at next month's World Championships. Here the short track speed skater explains to Gerald Mulreaney the sacrifices he has made for the sport and why he is so proud to be representing Ireland.
It‘d be nice for Ireland to get an entry to an skating event in the Olympics, even if isn’t Figure Skating. Best of luck to him
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2012
Ireland has got a new short track speed skater. Australian born, South Korean based but with Irish born parents. His name is Liam O’Brien and is the younger brother of Olympic Ice Dancer Danielle O’Brien. I never realised she had any Irish connections.
The South Korea-based Australian skating for Ireland
Liam O'Brien will represent Ireland at next month's World Championships. Here the short track speed skater explains to Gerald Mulreaney the sacrifices he has made for the sport and why he is so proud to be representing Ireland.
It‘d be nice for Ireland to get an entry to an skating event in the Olympics, even if isn’t Figure Skating. Best of luck to him
Thank you so much for letting us know, @3T3T .
With a name like "Danielle O'Brien", I kinda guessed she had Irish heritage somewhere along the line. But, I didn't realise it was as recent as her parents!
Knowing this now, it's a pity we didn't make an approach on her and Greg years ago. Because I would love to see Ireland diversify into Pairs Skating and Ice Dance. Look at Cyprus. Having concentrated on Singles Skating ever since they got accredited, they acquired some young Ice Dancers from Russia a few years ago. And one of those partnerships, Kudriavtseva / Karankevich, are bringing a lot of success to the CSF.
But, rather than diversify into Pairs or Ice Dance, the ISAI has instead diversified into Speed Skating. And from what I have seen over the past few years, they seem to be really pushing it to to the forefront. Even over Singles Skating.
Maybe I am mistaken. But, the McAnuff brothers do seem to get posted about more often on the website and social media pages than the figure skaters.
Nevertheless, I do wish Liam all the best. Hopefully he, Ryan and Sean will push each other forward, and make Ireland a competitive force in at least one form of Winter Sport!
WELCOME TO THE TEAM, LIAM!!! ALL THE BEST!!! CaroLiza_fan
I've checked the new TES stats page (covers the past 2 seasons and Video evaluation) and it looks like Vaipan-Law/Digby missed the minimums for both SP and FS.
Hopefully we get to see them in competition soon! I wonder how much they have been able to train with limited ice time.
So we might get to see Zoe and Christopher at worlds? According to the same page they've already reached the 27 and 44 scores at the 2020 Bavarian Open.
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2012
I am afraid that I am the bearer of sad news. Janet Sawbridge, the four time British Ice Dance Champion and multiple podium finisher at Europeans and Worlds, died last Friday at the age of 74.
Obituary: https://www.iceskating.org.uk/post/in-memoriam-janet-anne-sawbridge-mbe-1947-2021
I didn't realise this but, before concentrating on Ice Dance, Janet was also successful in Singles Skating, finishing on the podium in the British Championships at both Junior and Senior level.
But, Ice Dance was undoubtedly where Janet thrived. She won the British Championships twice with her first partner, David Hickinbottom, and twice more with her third partner, Peter Dalby. She also had a string of podium finishes with her second partner, Jon Lane. She was on the podium at Europeans with all three partners, and at Worlds with Hickinbottom and Lane.
Shortly before retiring from amateur competition, she was awarded an MBE in recognition of her achievements in figure skating.
In her post competitive career, she is most famous for being the coach that brought together two young skaters called Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean.
All in all, not a bad career to have!
My thoughts go out to her family, friends, students and fans.
CaroLiza_fan
Obituary: https://www.iceskating.org.uk/post/in-memoriam-janet-anne-sawbridge-mbe-1947-2021
I didn't realise this but, before concentrating on Ice Dance, Janet was also successful in Singles Skating, finishing on the podium in the British Championships at both Junior and Senior level.
But, Ice Dance was undoubtedly where Janet thrived. She won the British Championships twice with her first partner, David Hickinbottom, and twice more with her third partner, Peter Dalby. She also had a string of podium finishes with her second partner, Jon Lane. She was on the podium at Europeans with all three partners, and at Worlds with Hickinbottom and Lane.
Shortly before retiring from amateur competition, she was awarded an MBE in recognition of her achievements in figure skating.
In her post competitive career, she is most famous for being the coach that brought together two young skaters called Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean.
All in all, not a bad career to have!
My thoughts go out to her family, friends, students and fans.
CaroLiza_fan
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2018
I spotted this thread on twitter celebrating St. Patricks Day by introducing several members of the Irish skating team with short highlight clips from their programs: https://twitter.com/kostobot/status/1372135049034919940
I previously knew of Conor and Samuel, but I had not heard of the ladies. The clip of Elizabeth's program was really lovely, I hope to see her on the JGP this year!
I previously knew of Conor and Samuel, but I had not heard of the ladies. The clip of Elizabeth's program was really lovely, I hope to see her on the JGP this year!
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2012
Elizabeth was born in Moscow to a Russian Mum and an Irish Dad. She has been competing internationally at Junior level for the past few years. The first time I saw Elizabeth was when she did 2 Junior GP's in 2019 (Riga and Egna), and I was impressed with what I saw. She has started doing the odd Senior competition in the past year, so I'm not sure if we will see her in Junior GP's again.
Sophia was born in Dublin to a Belorussian Mum and a Russian Dad. Although she is young, I have been hearing good stories about her for quite a few years. However, the first time I actually saw her in action was this season. And she looks promising too! Sophia is in the strange position of having competed at Novice, Junior and Senior level in 2020. So, it's anybody's guess as to what level she will concentrate on next season.
Turning to the boys, and Ruth that posted that thread mentioned that Samuel is coached by Margaret O'Neill. For those that don't realise, that's his Mum! Mags has been the driving force of figure skating on this island for many years. She is a Belfast woman, and was Jenna McCorkell's original coach.
Like Sam, Dillon is from up here in Northern Ireland. And, again like Sam, he used to represent Great Britain until a few years ago. He hasn't had a lot of international experience (only 1 international competition that I know of), so not many people know about him. But I have plans to make a Fan Fest for him during the summer, to try to help raise his profile.
Just a wee caveat. There are no rinks in Southern Ireland, but there are 2 rinks in Northern Ireland. Well, 2 in the greater Belfast area. There is an Olympic sized rinkon the outskirts of the city at Dundonald, and an ice hockey rink nearer the city centre at the Odyssey Arena. There used to be a rink in the North-West of NI at Coleraine (Jenna McCorkell's home town), but it closed about 15 years ago.
In normal times, those skaters that are based on the island travel back and forth to Belfast to train. Which is not ideal for the skaters that live quite far down the island. For example, the Tkacheva sisters, who live in County Wexford, in the far south-east of the island. Their hometown is 175 miles from Dundonald!
There was talk a year or so ago that Dundalk Ice Dome (exactly halfway between Belfast and Dublin) might be re-opening, but I haven't heard anything since.
I really hope they do get some ice Down South. Because it is not fair on the skaters.
HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!!! CaroLiza_fan
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2018
Chris Boyadji is posting footage of all the British skaters on his Instagram story: https://instagram.com/chris_boyadji?igshid=1slwtg8668wsw
I think there is only five hours left if you want to watch them.
I think there is only five hours left if you want to watch them.
