British National Championships

[antmanb]

The British Nationals started yesterday. Opening with the Dance events so that the Kerrs can be done earlier to save themselves for Europeans!

NISA are updating the results with their usual speed (i.e. not very fast!).

Here are some of the results:

Novice Dance: http://www.johnds.org/British_08-09/CAT007RS.HTM

Junior Dance: http://www.johnds.org/British_08-09/CAT008RS.HTM

Senior Dance: http://www.johnds.org/British_08-09/CAT009RS.HTM The Kerrs are in front my something like over 16 points. Hanretty& Chitwood have not had the competition they wanted and are in fourth going into the free (though they have been selected by NISA as the second entrants for Europeans and Worlds).

Senior Men SP: http://www.johnds.org/British_08-09/CAT005RS.HTM Richardson leads (i wonder if he tried the triple axel) Hilton is les than a point away and hot on their heels is Parr. Paulson is down in 8th apparently popped all his jumps.

Senior Pairs should be up as it was before the ODs but the results aren't up.

Ant

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Was it Hilton who finished last in 2004 Worlds but got an ovation from audience? That guy, who he was, was a beautiful skater.

 

[C_T_T_]

Was it Hilton who finished last in 2004 Worlds but got an ovation from audience? That guy, who he was, was a beautiful skater.

No that was probably Neil Wilson.

 

[antmanb]

Was it Hilton who finished last in 2004 Worlds but got an ovation from audience? That guy, who he was, was a beautiful skater.

No that was probably Neil Wilson.

It was indeed Neil Wilson. He had very smooth skating with beautiful lines - reminiscent of John Curry. He had amazingly fast spins as well. Spent the tail end of his career training in Canada. I've seen his face pop up in the Kiss and Cry a couple of times over the GP so i believe he's coaching some (one?) skater(s) who has been on the GP circuit this year.

Ant

 

[C_T_T_]

It was indeed Neil Wilson. He had very smooth skating with beautiful lines - reminiscent of John Curry. He had amazingly fast spins as well. Spent the tail end of his career training in Canada. I've seen his face pop up in the Kiss and Cry a couple of times over the GP so i believe he's coaching some (one?) skater(s) who has been on the GP circuit this year.

Ant

Yes he's coaching Jeremy Ten at 8-rinks in Vancouver.

 

[samba]

What happened to Christy& Mark? Did they make any mistakes? I can't believe it, they were so good . Since they were not on the podium, they stil will go to Worlds?

 

[antmanb]

What happened to Christy& Mark? Did they make any mistakes? I can't believe it, they were so good . Since they were not on the podium, they stil will go to Worlds?

I don't know but looking at the results of the FD they had 2 point deductions (did they fall) and the Kerrs had one also. Would be bizarre for such a small group of skaters to have so many falls.

I don't think NISA could really go back having named them to both the European and World team. With all the random changing of criteria and in some cases just naming skaters to the team without criteria, NISA might come under a lot of criticism if they suddenly said - axe them and replace them with T-G/P.

Also what happened to Tameron Drake and Edward Alton in Junior Pairs - they were listed to compete and on the results page they don't even have WD.

Ant

 

[lcd]

The TIMING of this competition is simply so... puzzling. The week before Europeans? How could the results NOT generate controversy. I'm happy for Chrissy and Mark and wish them all the best with the exciting opportunities they have, but scheduling Nationals with this kind of timing seems like it only handcuffed normal selection procedures. WHO does the planning??:scratch:

 

[antmanb]

The TIMING of this competition is simply so... puzzling. The week before Europeans? How could the results NOT generate controversy. I'm happy for Chrissy and Mark and wish them all the best with the exciting opportunities they have, but scheduling Nationals with this kind of timing seems like it only handcuffed normal selection procedures. WHO does the planning??:scratch:

I think that the powers that be probably looked to the US model for nationals. yuo may recall some issue a few seasons back where the Kerrs GP assignment to (i think) NHK clashed with nationals. They had to swap GPs in order to still manage to skate at Nationals.

I guess it's a fine line - You have to have an eye to the future and hope that your best skaters will compete in the GP and hopefully the GP final, so you have to schedule nationals to fit in accordingly. I agree that so close to Europeans in ridiculous though.

Perhaps they could schedule nationals for the week before Christmas? I have heard that nationals is moving back to december this year.

Ant