Yes, it was
I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!
OK, so it was obvious that it was somebody from Northern Ireland from the accent. But we did have a good size of a contingent over, so it could well have been somebody else. However, I recognised the voice as being Teddy's from the TV reports.
Agata (who DID return to Latvia earlier in the week)
Thank you for confirming my suspicions that Agata had returned home early. When she was finished on Wednesday, it would have been a long wait until Friday for a kid that age if she had stayed. Standing on the top of a podium is nice, but I'm sure spending what is left of the school holidays back home with family and friends is more appealing.
Ted came second to Agata in ladies novice pre-skate level 3. And second to Agata (who DID return to Latvia earlier in the week) as novice ladies free skate champion. Teddy won novice ladies free dance level 1 gold, pattern dance (canasta tango) gold, and over all novice dance champion. She also won ladies compulsory elements L3, and she and Vilma won gold for level 2 synchro
Thank you for confirming Teddy's results. That is quite a medal haul!
This is one thing I liked about Inclusive Skating. That the skaters get the opportunity to compete in a variety of different categories. So, they get a wider skills base than those that specialise in one category, as happens in elite level skating. Most of the skaters were doing both Singles Skating and Solo Dance. Quite a few (such as Teddy) were also competing as part of a Synchro partnership (something which I had never seen before, but which I took a liking to!) or a Synchro team. And then you had Jennifer Lee and Callum Mills, who were competing in basically everything that was going - Singles Skating, Solo Dance, Ice Dance, and Pairs Skating!
For years, I have believed that, although it is not the most thrilling thing to watch, skaters need to do Compulsory Figures / Compulsory Elements to improve their skatecraft. And watching Inclusive Skating has re-affirmed that belief for me. But now, after watching Inclusive Skating, I also believe that it would be beneficial for Singles Skaters to also train in Solo Dance, to improve their skatecraft. The only elite level Singles Skater I can think of off-hand that does Solo Dance as well is Alana Pang. And I am sure it has helped her.
Watching Inclusive Skating has opened my eyes and given me a whole new outlook on the sport. And if it hadn't have been for watching those reports about your daughter, that may not have happened.
Thank you Teddy!
And all the best to Margarita and the team at Inclusive Skating. They are doing things right, and I wish them every success in the years to come!
CaroLiza_fan