British and Irish Figure skating 2021-2022

[DSQ]

Fortunately, my ESP Player subscription runs until after the Olympics finish. So, I don't have to worry for a while yet. But, I have no idea what happens when it does run out. One of the Dutch members told us in the Skate America TV thread that her ESP Player subscription runs out next Tuesday, so she has promised to tell us what they do with her.

If it’s anything like me it shows you a link to discovery plus when you try to watch something.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

I still haven't found the Eurosport player link for the RD @CaroLiza_fan thank gawd my vpn on Opera finally fired up and I could watch on YT the following day.

Thank goodness we are able to have that route as a backup. Because, that was just not good enough from Eurosport.

Anyway, to cheer us all up I got a little gift today. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/jkJLhtGNsqo

WOW!!! Can't believe how much they have both grown since the last time I saw them before the pandemic. Of course, it is most obvious in Atl, who looks all grown up now. But, Ashlie is also visibly taller.

I have to say, I really like Atl's long hair. It suits him. And, although I realise that it is a side-effect of the lockdowns, I love the way it ties in with the theme of the programme.

I just love the whole idea of the programme. I love the Peruvian music with the panpipes. The only thing I was disappointed with was that the costumes didn't fit in with the theme as well. They would have really looked their part in traditional Inca dress. But, with how quickly they are growing, I can totally understand why this route was not taken.

As for the skating, you would not think they had been off the ice for 2 weeks never mind the guts of 2 years! It just shows how good they are! OK, so there were a couple of issues. In the first half, there was a moment where Ashlie had to adjust what she was doing to avoid colliding with Atl. And in the ending sequence, there was one point where I wasn't sure if Atl had lost his balance or whether it was part of the choreography. But, on the whole, they were remarkably good!

It's such a shame that they pulled out of the NRW Trophy. But, totally understandable, as they wouldn't have gained any knowledge from it of where they are at, due to there being no other entries. Hopefully they will be able to find an alternative international event (with other participants!) to take part in before Nationals.

Looking forward to seing how they develop this season.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[La Rhumba]

@CaroLiza_fan Thanks for your wonderful review of Ashlie & Atl. Because there are no other AdvNov couples currently in Britain, they will be skating alone at the British Championships in December, but hopefully going to Torun in January.

Also thanks for the info re infrontsports. It would explain why a couple of years ago, long established youtube accounts with skating videos were suddenly deleted. Fans were very upset, and it was obviously a new policy. I checked the email youtube sent and this is what was said of the Gala recorded from ISU channel.

Hi La Rhumba,

A copyright owner using Content ID has claimed some material in your video.

As a result, your video has been blocked, and can no longer be played on YouTube.

This is not a copyright strike. This claim does not affect your account status.

Video title: Lilah Fear / Lewis Gibson GBR Exhibition SCI21
Copyrighted content: [CID ISU - FS] Exhibition Gala | Skate Canada International 2021
Claimed by: infrontsports

So I tried recording from Eurosport Player coverage fully expecting to be blocked again but no, just this:

Hi La Rhumba,

A copyright owner using Content ID has claimed some material in your video.

As a result, your video has been blocked in some countries. This means that your video is still up on YouTube, but people in some countries may not be able to watch it.

This is not a copyright strike. This claim does not affect your account status.

Video title: Lilah Fear / Lewis Gibson GBR Exhibition Gala SCI21
Copyrighted content: Показательные выступления. Ванкувер. Гран-при по фигурному катанию 2021/22
Claimed by: XMD1TV
Blocked countries: Russia

I do know that having videos on YouTube encourages interest in Figure Skating. Most folk who enjoy watching if it's on TV have no clue how to find it, it's so complicated. And who can blame them? I fear we will remain a minority sport in most countries.

 

[La Rhumba]

If it’s anything like me it shows you a link to discovery plus when you try to watch something.

I just checked my account and it says this:

Billing
Last Payment
£19.99
Mon 30 Nov 2020
Next Payment
£39.99
Tue 30 Nov 2021

I assume unless I cancel the money will be taken from my account on that day. But it's alot to pay when we don't know what we're getting in advance re FS?

 

[La Rhumba]

Kristen Spours' winning performance at Tirnavia Cup on Sunday (109.64 points in the FS with a 59.64 TES. 158.59 total score)

- YouTube

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

www.youtube.com

Thank you sooooooo much for posting! I completely missed this. Go Kristen

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Just a wee reminder that the first day of the Tayside Trophy will be starting in about an hour from now.

Each day will be streamed live on Dundee Ice Sports' YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7Cvkkcy39Q4sK3KlYK14ag

Here is the link for the Day 1 livestream:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYqyc2j5Qk4

I'll post more details in the event thread once the stream comes on air:

https://www.goldenskate.com/forum/threads/89086

Hope this helps

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

The Irish contingent includes Justina Tkacheva too in the Intermediate Novice in the interclub, younger sister of Sophia.

Unfortunately, Justina didn't have a great skate.

She finished in 15th position out of 15, with a score of 20.58. She was 4.27 points behind the girl in front of her.

I actually thought she had 2 falls, but the results page says she only had half a point in deductions. So, she mustn't have actually had enough of herself touching the ice for one of them for it to be classed as a fall.

It was heartbreaking afterwards. You could hear her crying even before they reached the sofa.

I was welling up just from seeing how upset she was. I just wanted to go and give her a big hug.

This was my first time seeing Justina. And, although there were a lot of things going wrong, you could see that there is a quality there. So, I have no doubt that this was just one of those days, and that it will go better next time.

---

Anyway, Day 2 starts in an hour from now.

Here is the link for the Day 2 livestream:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7dDVq5OuWA

We finished last night with Intermediate Novice skaters, and we start today with more Intermediate Novice skaters.

But, please note that today is when we have the SP's for the non-ISU Advanced Novice, Junior and Senior competitions.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[La Rhumba]

I see Romain Haguenauer is in Italy for the GP with PapCiz. Yes, he is their original coach and took them to Montreal, but it just shows you the problem of having so many couples at IAM. He is also Lilah & Lewis's main Coach and Choreographer and after a disastrous GP I'd hoped they would knuckle down to serious hard work to get back on track, as they've done in the past, but with whom? Yesterday there was a insta story of them doing a run through at 8am with Sam Chouinard the very loud hip hop Choreographer at IAM. How is he going to help with technical flaws on the Twizzles and making any adjustments? They have another GP at NHK next week, so not much time to prepare and get competition sharp and rebuild confidence.

 

[moonvine]

Is PJ entered at Tayside?

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Is PJ entered at Tayside?

Yes. He'll be the third to start in the Short Programme.

The ISU Senior Men's SP is due to start at 17:35 GMT on Saturday evening. But, every day so far has ended up running behind schedule by the time we get to the evening segments. So, it may turn out to be a bit later than that.

Golding is entered in the Senior SP of the interclub competition too along with Foster.

As it turned out, Elizabeth withdrew.

Have to be honest, I wasn't completely surprised. She is based overseas, and it seemed a bit strange that she would come all the way over to Scotland just to compete in the Interclub section, and not to compete in the ISU section as well.

And as for Robyn, oh dear. It's a real pity she had the three falls, because it looked good otherwise.

The results page hasn't updated yet, but I suspect that she is too far back to be able to climb up places in the FS tomorrow.

But, at least she'll have another chance to redeem herself, as she is competing in the ISU section as well at the weekend. (I assume it will be the same programmes, even though it'll be Junior level rather than the Senior level she was in today).

ALL THE BEST ROBYN!!!

---

Anyway, Day 3 starts in an hour from now.

Here is the link for the Day 3 livestream:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i9qSYXuG-s

This morning we have all four of the Beginner Ladies segments. And then, after the dinner break, it is the Free Skates for the Advanced Novice, Junior and Senior competitions.

The bad news is that yesterday's stream has a copyright claim from Warner Music Group on it. So, there goes my plans for watching the Junior Men's SP and Junior Ladies SP before the bikes start. (They are in Portugal, so everything is an hour later than normal).

CaroLiza_fan

 

[La Rhumba]

@CaroLiza_fan You're an early riser! I didn't record the AdvNov Pair from yesterday evening, but now the archive video has been deleted, here's some pics and a report (I don't know how else to post pics unless I link to a tweet).

https://twitter.com/Huriye/status/1456360206376521730?t=kJa3a341HoHr_NQBZOda7g&s=19

 

[WednesdayMarch]

I see Romain Haguenauer is in Italy for the GP with PapCiz. Yes, he is their original coach and took them to Montreal, but it just shows you the problem of having so many couples at IAM. He is also Lilah & Lewis's main Coach and Choreographer and after a disastrous GP I'd hoped they would knuckle down to serious hard work to get back on track, as they've done in the past, but with whom? Yesterday there was a insta story of them doing a run through at 8am with Sam Chouinard the very loud hip hop Choreographer at IAM. How is he going to help with technical flaws on the Twizzles and making any adjustments? They have another GP at NHK next week, so not much time to prepare and get competition sharp and rebuild confidence.

I've been wondering that for a while. Seems to me that IAM are spreading their coaching talent too thinly in some areas, which is to be expected with the large number of couples they have now.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

@CaroLiza_fan You're an early riser!

I was actually up for 2 hours before posting that.

I've always been an "early to bed, early to rise" sort of person. On top of that, I am one of those people that, once they are awake, that's it. I can't go back to sleep. So, if I'm not stupid, I just get up and do something useful.

The problem is when the clocks change, because it takes me ages to adjust.

I didn't record the AdvNov Pair from yesterday evening, but now the archive video has been deleted, here's some pics and a report (I don't know how else to post pics unless I link to a tweet).

https://twitter.com/Huriye/status/1456360206376521730?t=kJa3a341HoHr_NQBZOda7g&s=19

And the bad news is, the same has happened to yesterday's stream. But, this time it's Sony Music Entertainment that have put in the copyright claim.

I did get a chance to watch Robyn Foster LIVe last night, and since I pasted my post about her SP into this thread, I'll complete the theme by pasting my post about her FS in as well.



That is what Robyn needs.

She had 3 falls yesterday, and unfortunately she had another 3 today. When she was sitting on the ice after the second fall, you could see she had given up and just wanted it to end. But she did get up and carried on. And then when the third fall happened, she didn't want to get up again.

When she came off the ice, it was like Justina on Wednesday in that you could hear Robyn crying before she even entered the camera shot. But, this time was even worse. Robyn was totally distraught. She kept saying that she can't do anything. And her coach was having a hard job trying to reassure her.

I'll be honest, after seeing that reaction, I can't see Robyn staying on for the ISU competition. I don't think she will have recovered from her upset in time for the Junior Ladies SP tomorrow afternoon.

Robyn, I realise that this was not the Senior debut that you would have wanted. But, just try to forget that you were ever at this event, and concentrate on preparing for your next competition.

Looking forward to better things to come from you in the future.

---

Anyway, we have a much later start today for the ISU section of the event.

Day 4 starts in an hour from now.

Here is the link for the Day 4 livestream:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnTcC8qSjBU

And it is an easy to follow running order - Advanced Novices, followed by Juniors, followed by Seniors.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[La Rhumba]

Why can't Sony etc just request their tracks are muted and leave the rest of the archive up! Honestly having to take down a whole day's skating. In my opinion, as someone who doesn't listen to music radio much or follow the charts anymore, skating can introduce me to pop music I haven't heard before.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Why can't Sony etc just request their tracks are muted and leave the rest of the archive up! Honestly having to take down a whole day's skating.

While watching the Free Practice 3 sessions for the bikes this morning, I went back to update the livestream links in the reminder posts I put up for the Victor Petrenko and Trophée de Nice events last month. And it was so frustrating the number of times that I found that a whole day's stream had been blocked because of copyright claims.

You know, I don't like all day streams, for that very reason. I would prefer to have a new stream for each segment. Or, at least, have a new stream starting when we have a resurfacing between segments. That way, if any copyright claims are put in, you don't lose the whole day for the sake of maybe one or two songs.

But, I've never streamed anything, so I don't know how difficult it is to set up a stream.

In my opinion, as someone who doesn't listen to music radio much or follow the charts anymore, skating can introduce me to pop music I haven't heard before.

I'm in the same boat. I don't listen to modern music radio stations either, and so I have discovered so much music through watching skating competitions (that does not necessarily man I like all of it, though! )

But, you're right. The record companies should be embracing something that gives people the chance to discover their music.

There's no doubt about it, YouTube is the most user-friendly site for livestreams. But, the copyright claims on YouTube are killing the ability for people to follow the sport.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[La Rhumba]

Lilah interviews Lewis!

Lewis Gibson: Ice Dance Dynamo & My Partner in Crime

Podcast Episode · The Lilah Jo Show · 6 November 2021 · 1hr 30min

podcasts.apple.com

 

[La Rhumba]

The updated Entries for the British Championships are interesting.

Billy's Mother did say Christopher Dean choreo'd their programs with next season in mind, as they are not taking part in the Junior Dance, but going to America to train till their British Coaches are available again after Dancing on Ice. So both Junior & Senior Dance results predictable.

However not Pairs! Or Men or Women.

Competitor list for British Figure Championships published

The final competitor list for the British Figure Skating Championships has been released.

www.iceskating.org.uk

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Plus it'll make the British Junior Championships alot more interesting! I could've easily predicted the results before. No doubt Christopher Dean being based back here has added some attraction and gravitas to the UK icedance scene.

The very fact that Dean and Hanretty have come aboard as coaches says a lot. From following Katarina on Instagram, and watching her performances as a young singles skater, and with her former ice dance partners, I believe she's a very vibrant performer, with star-making qualities. Plus from what I've seen of Billy Wilson-French, he has a great deal of flair and performance value on the ice. Billy's former ice dance partner (based on the YouTube videos I've seen, was slightly too tall for them to make a great impact in ice dance internationally). But Billy seems to now have a partner in Katarina, who can match his talent and his dramatic flair. Certainly, the promotional photo of them posted on Kat's Instagram, in dramatic 'Swan Lake' flavored costume, is quite striking.

Apparently, Billy is a trained dancer, off-the-ice. Regarding Katarina, I think she is still developing her ice dance skills, but she's quite lovely, and very gifted generally. She also has an engaging personality, in addition to her good looks, and her flexibility (due to her yoga practice). She doesn't have a Wiki bio yet. Her former partner, Ian Somerville, is on Wiki, because he was quite successful in U.S. novice & junior ice dance with long-term partner, Elliana Gropman, before they split. Ian then partnered with Katarina, for about two years. Ian and Kat were very striking together and they seemed to enjoy an 'excellent adventure,' so I wonder why they decided to split. Possibly, they could see winds shifting in terms of their U.S. junior placements and their growth potential, because the depth in U.S. ice dance is tremendous. I believe Ian may have had one more season of junior eligibility, whereas Kat has two more seasons available to her in juniors. Since Ian was the more skilled partner, perhaps he was eager to move on to seniors, but Kat needed more opportunity to develop as a junior. She should have a wonderful chance to do just that with Billy, representing Great Britain, and being coached by two wonderful ice dance veterans.

Hopefully, the Kat/Ian partnership split was amicable and mutual, as Kat's Instagram posts showed that she and Ian have been very close friends off-the-ice.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

And yet again, yesterday's stream has been blocked. This time by Warner Music Group.

Since I have been posting comments about how most of the Irish skaters have been getting on, a couple of comments from yesterday.

Firstly, Robyn Foster did take part in the Junior Ladies SP, finishing 8th out of 11. Although she had another fall, on the whole, it went a lot better than her programmes earlier in the week. She was still disappointed, but at least she wasn't crying.

But, there is going to be some battle in the FS, because she is just 0.01 points behind Irish team-mate Sophia Tkacheva! And Sophia in turn is only 0.46 points behind Abigail Liew of Malaysia (via Nottingham) in 6th.

When posting about the Senior Men before I went to have my tea, I forgot that Conor Stakelum was in it. Fortunately, I came across him when I was looking for Sam, and I am glad I did. I loved his Short Programme! And with this in mind, I thought Simon Briggs was a bit harsh when they were waiting for the results, saying that Conor could have done better. But, looking at his past scores, it is actually true.

Conor is currently sitting in 9th position on 49.05 points. I'm not sure whether he can improve on that with the FS because, in reality, he is in no man's land. Conor is 5.23 points behind a tight group of 3 skaters, which includes British skaters PJ Hallam and Elliott Thomson. And he is 2.54 points ahead of another tight group of 3 skaters, which includes Irish team-mate Sam McAllister.

---

Right, this is your 1 hour warning for the start of the final day of the 2021 Tayside Trophy. Slightly earlier than yesterday, but still a lot later than the first few days.

Here is the link for the Day 5 livestream:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEnd9j_VDQs

Same running order as yesterday.

Hope this helps

CaroLiza_fan

 

[La Rhumba]

@BlissfulSynergy wrote:

Apparently, Billy is a trained dancer, off-the-ice.

Yes, he has been attending a Dance Performance College, and had tremendous offers to attend various prestigious Dance Schools at degree level. I was surprised he didn't take any of them up as I saw his future as a dancer on stage, in a company like Matthew Bourne's, touring all over the world. He was a British Champion Solo Ice Dancer at all levels, which was his forte, as he struggled with 3 Jumps in Free Skating, even though coached by Yebin Mok. But the Family took their time and found a great physical match for him in Katarina. Hopefully we'll see them in the JGP next season. Meantime if you hear any news of their training in America, please let us know. Kat was training with Matthew Gates before.