2025 Bolero Cup | Sep 5-6

[La Rhumba]

The new couple in last place, Daniel Kaye & Dana Sabatini Speciale are coached by Barbara Fusar-Poli, but they got a 2.00 deduction for music violation. Serious error of coaching.

Tomorrow's coverage begins at 1pm UK time, with Free Dances all the way, from Novice to Senior. Should be fun to watch!

It was nice seeing so many international coaches in the Kiss & Cry. We're used to seeing Romain Haguenauer, but not Greg Zuerlin, Kristin Fraser-Lukanin, Sarah Hurtado, Mateo........surname escapes me.

 

[Ruthypegs]

Absolutely. Technical glitches happen all the time at Sheffield. And why Sheffield again?! What was the point of renovating Lee Valley into a Twin Pad Olympic sized rink with extra facilities and seating if it's not going to be used for any competitions? I would've hoped for at least some of these smaller events and a JGP by now, but BIS is ensconced in Sheffield and will not budge. Tickets for Bolero Cup only £5 they say, pay at the door, come along. Yeah, if you live locally! Add on hotel and travel costs if not. Yet every time I ask BIS why they can't rotate competitions, I am completely ignored, with not even a reply. Shameful behaviour from our Association.

Anyway, looking forward to today, and it really IS an International event, with a Panel of International Judges, the only British Judge being Sundeep Pandya, a former Journalist from Kent, who in the past became Manager of Margarita Drobiazko & Povilas Vanagas, and knows Jayne Torvill well, so appropriate he should be Judging the inaugural Bolero Cup!

Good Luck to all and enjoy everyone who's going.

Just wanted to add: So pleased Lily Mathias has a new partner, and is back competing and looking at the score, doing very well. So many British Singles Boys/Men are now turning to Ice Dance if they reach a point of stagnation with their Jumps. Not everyone can do 3A and Quads, but if you're a good skater with a feeling for music, why not? It certainly means there are a lot more available partners for girls now, which is great news!

Fortunately, no music glitches today - it all appeared to go smoothly. Hopefully the same for tomorrow.

I agree with you and think it would be fairer to rotate the events around the country, (even though I feel incredibly fortunate that they are all held in my city). I wish BIS would do more to market their events, though - there's no publicity - and even at IceSheffield, there's no information about the competitions happening in the rink - a missed opportunity when we have 1,000+ people learning to skate here.

 

[Ruthypegs]

Some thoughts from rink-side from today's competitions:
Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Karen Barber and Robin Cousins were all spectators - I'm guessing that Jayne and Chris will be awarding the medals.
Seniors: Lilah and Lewis - lots to enjoy even this early in the season. However, the music cuts and the newness of the programme made it lack a solid, coherent feel. I think it will be great though.
Reed/Ambulevicius - look very good already, very enjoyable. Hope they get their Olympic spot in a couple of weeks.
Harris/Chan - great costumes, and again look very good already - I also hope they succeed in gaining their Olympic spot. This team have improved such a lot since I last saw them skating live.
Cui/Rodgers - really enjoyed their rhythm dance - where have this team been hiding? - look forward to seeing them more often.
Karnes/Leggott - well done - good first outing for them - I liked their energy

Juniors: Ashlie and Louis - very impressive skate - especially given how new he is to ice dance and how new they are as a team.
Mimi and Joseph - really like this team - they look good together - very enjoyable skate.

Advanced Novice: both teams very impressive for this level and their age - loads of potential. I especially liked the skating of the brother and sister team Katherine Li and James Zhu (coached by Nick Buckland).

 

[La Rhumba]

Advanced Novice: both teams very impressive for this level and their age - loads of potential. I especially liked the skating of the brother and sister team Katherine Li and James Zhu (coached by Nick Buckland).

I asked Nick on X a Q, as I thought I recognised the dress.

"Did Katherine wear @PennyCoomes 2013-14 season Quickstep RD dress? @N_Buckland Looks similar! "

Nick replied:
"Yes that’s Penny’s dress! Couldn’t lend it out to more lovely kids "

 

[ramurphy2005]

Cui/Rodgers - really enjoyed their rhythm dance - where have this team been hiding? - look forward to seeing them more often.

They teamed up last season, and were 13th at Nationals.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

I just looked at the Sportity page, and saw that there has been a new PDF released with a revised schedule for tomorrow:

https://app-cdn.sportity.com/c66ebb...Bolero Cup 2025 - Saturday - TT - Updated.pdf

But, never fear, all the competitions are still starting at the same time as in the previous revision. It is just the finishing time of the Senior Free Dance and the start time for the Podium Ceremonies that has changed, because two partnerships (including my kids ) withdrew from Seniors today.

Hope this helps

CaroLiza_fan

 

[La Rhumba]

Cui/Rodgers - really enjoyed their rhythm dance - where have this team been hiding? - look forward to seeing them more often.

This is their Free Dance last season at Graz.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

 

[La Rhumba]

I just looked at the Sportity page, and saw that there has been a new PDF released with a revised schedule for tomorrow:

https://app-cdn.sportity.com/c66ebbb7-2f63-4cf2-a753-1cde4ae1b287/6e4e302c-9c26-48c0-a1a0-73dd0710bb97_Bolero Cup 2025 - Saturday - TT - Updated.pdf

But, never fear, all the competitions are still starting at the same time as in the previous revision. It is just the finishing time of the Senior Free Dance and the start time for the Podium Ceremonies that has changed, because two partnerships (including my kids ) withdrew from Seniors today.

Hope this helps

CaroLiza_fan

Thank you!

I hope we get a good view of Torvill and Dean as they award the medals.

 

[Jeanie19]

The new couple in last place, Daniel Kaye & Dana Sabatini Speciale are coached by Barbara Fusar-Poli, but they got a 2.00 deduction for music violation. Serious error of coaching.

Tomorrow's coverage begins at 1pm UK time, with Free Dances all the way, from Novice to Senior. Should be fun to watch!

It was nice seeing so many international coaches in the Kiss & Cry. We're used to seeing Romain Haguenauer, but not Greg Zuerlin, Kristin Fraser-Lukanin, Sarah Hurtado, Mateo........surname escapes me.

What is the music violation?

 

[Ruthypegs]

This is their Free Dance last season at Graz.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

thanks for sharing - I really enjoyed that - beautifully done

 

[La Rhumba]

What is the music violation?

I can only assume because it started off slow when the request is for high energy 90s, and as 6 of 7 Judges gave a music violation, it got a 2.00 deduction.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

We now reach the final day of our second visit to Sheffield this season. It's Free Dance Saturday!

Livestream now on air.

Here is the link for today's stream:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leP6YopoH2g

Unfortunately, I won't be able to watch because there is so much on this weekend. But, I hope all goes well for the Ice Dancers.

Hope this helps.

ALL THE BEST EVERYBODY!!!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[La Rhumba]

LOL! Don't mess with Announcer Jenny Bill! Someone threw a baby octopus toy onto the ice for Katherine & James, after their Dr Who themed Advanced Novice Free Dance, and no flower girls or boys to pick it up, she asked twice! Eventually James himself came back onto the ice to collect it, and Katherine waved it right in front of the camera so we could see what it was!

The 2nd placed couple skated to Wicked, the daughter of Kristen Fraser & Igor Lukanin.

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean and Robin Cousins all there again today.

There were some embarrassing technical glitches to start. The sound and vision cut out, Jenny Bill's mic keeps cutting out continuing from yesterday, and the first couple's music didn't start. Again! Hopefully these issues now ironed out.

 

[La Rhumba]

Junior Free Dance was eventful! Final Results, the top 2 switched after the Free Dance, but both couples did Torvill & Dean proud watching in the audience. I loved the classic Hollywood style of both routines, but Mimi & Joe were better technically today and Ashlie & Gregory have done wonders in only 2 comps together. The Czechs in 3rd had a nice lyrical style FD.

Earlier the other Czechs skating to Grease had to stop after the Referee blew the whistle, something on her boot, presumably laces, came undone and she had to tape it up. They had to restart but the music took an eternity, and the audience did their best to cheer them on.

Ice resurfacing now then Senior FD to follow.

 

[crystalspin]

Junior Free Dance was eventful! Final Results, the top 2 switched after the Free Dance, but both couples did Torvill & Dean proud watching in the audience. I loved the classic Hollywood style of both routines, but Mimi & Joe were better technically today and Ashlie & Gregory have done wonders in only 2 comps together.

Completely agree! Really enjoyed the final two GBR couples. It's crazy that its only Ashlie and Louis 2nd comp together and less than a year for him in Ice Dance.

 

[4everchan]

Oh .... I just noticed this event... and I thought, what ? There is a bolero cup now ? But it's all forgiven because it is located in the UK.

 

[La Rhumba]

Livescores here

3A Result - Bolero Cup 2025

3A Result, detailed live results for figure skating competitions.

bolero-cup.3a-result.com

Just click on a skater's name for their detailed scores.

 

[La Rhumba]

I absolutely love Lilah & Lewis's new Free Dance!

Lewis had a couple of stumbles and they were given L2 each for twizzles, and L1 for the curve lift. Why? I couldn't see, so they lost TES to the Lithuanians whose new FD is very good, techno beats. But the British team still won Overall.

Videos uploading, including presentation of medals.

My final words on BIS. They are in their little enclave Sheffield, empty arena, well done to those who were there and created an atmosphere, can't even provide a stable livestream. During Lilah & Lewis's FD the sound cut off as it did several times today and the picture jumped forward. The Announcer's mic frequently didn't work. They need to do a whole lot better. This was a fabulous competition of International skaters but who knew outside of diehard fans it was even happening? So disheartening seeing empty seats every time. No promotion, no press, where is the coverage of our sport? Shameful!

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

LOL! Don't mess with Announcer Jenny Bill! Someone threw a baby octopus toy onto the ice for Katherine & James, after their Dr Who themed Advanced Novice Free Dance, and no flower girls or boys to pick it up, she asked twice! Eventually James himself came back onto the ice to collect it, and Katherine waved it right in front of the camera so we could see what it was!

She was taking no nonsense at the Robin Cousins Cup either.

After introducing the Judges for the Junior Pairs FS, she noticed that one of the gates was open. So she came back on and asked Alex Lapsky to go and close the gate. Don't know why she picked him in particular to do it, but she did.

When he came onto the ice, the audience started cheering him on. And it was so funny, because he milked it for all that it was worth!

The sound wasn't coming through great on the stream, and although I did think it sounded a bit like Jenny, I wasn't entirely sure it was actually her. But by the time of the Podium Ceremonies, I was sure.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[La Rhumba]

I also forgot to mention in my previous comments today was the Braemar Gathering Highland Games in Balmoral! So the perfect day to debut Lilah & Lewis's Free Dance.