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alexandra palace ice skating championBracknell Ice Skating Club is celebrating the achievements of two of its ice dance skaters after Ursha Chavda and Jordan Brown were crowned 2009 British Ice Dance champions.
The club entered 18 skaters in the British Solo Ice Dance Championships in Sheffield earlier this month and along with the club’s two champions, three other members won silver medals.
Ursha Chavda, 19, won the Senior Ladies Solo Ice Dance after she came second in the compulsory dance and first in both original dance and free dance.
This was enough to earn her the title ahead of 12 other skaters, a terrific improvement on last year’s fourth-place finish.
Chavda has been skating since the age of four, previously training at both Slough and Alexandra Palace, but has recently moved with her coach Phillip Poole to train for 15 hours a week at Bracknell ice rink.
Her skating levels in ice dance are NISA level 9 compulsory, level 10 original dance and level 9 free dance and she will be taking level 10 (the highest level) free dance test later this month.
She was thrilled to have competed in the highest section for solo dance and is now focusing on finding a partner to follow her dreams of being able to compete internationally in the future European and World Championships.
Woodley teenager Brown, who won the Junior Mens Solo Ice Dance title in 2008 was delighted to become the Intermediate Mens Solo Dance champion this year when he achieved a clean sweep of the three disciplines.
Jordan, who learned to skate at Bracknell, has been competing in ice dance for 3½ years and in that time has achieved level seven, nine and 20 in compulsory, original dance and free dance respectively.
He now hopes to skate in the European and World Championships and, maybe one day, the Olympics.
Jordan is coached by Natasha Moody with help from Phillip Poole, and is keen to find a committed partner to start working towards his goals of international competition, although he still continues to impress in free skating.
Bracknell also took second place in the Intermediate Mens as Paul Dredge who has worked extremely hard to improve on his fourth position in the Junior Mens last year, grabbed silver.
Dredge, 17, started skating six years ago and is enjoying a fine season under the coaching of David Phillips and Lucine Chakmakjian.
He trains five mornings a week before school and also assists with coaching courses held at Bracknell rink .
Fouteen-year-old Olivia Clarke achieved a well-deserved silver medal in the Junior Ladies Solo Dance Championship, as she competed in a huge field of 22.
Olivia who is both a free and dance skater has had an amazing season this year, achieving podium positions a record breaking 16 times with four first, six second and six third place finishes.
This result was her best at the championships on her fourth attempt, much to the satisfaction of coaches David Phillips, Lucine Chakmakjian and Charlotta Issakson.
Bracknell’s James Batchelor, who aged 10 was the youngest Bracknell medallist this year, achieved second place in the Novice Mens Ice Dance.
As a Level two skater, he was competing in his first British championships and did exceptionally well as James, who is coached by Natasha Moody, only started skating just over two years ago.
His collection of medals for last year included two club golds, one bronze and four silver medals at national level.
Full results for Bracknell Ice Skating Club: Novice Ladies: 16th Bethany Armitage, 18th Yasmin Territt. Novice Men: 2nd James Batchelor. Primary Ladies: 10th Franchesca Stevens, 11th Felicity Jukes, 18th Sarah Wakefield. Primary Men: Adam Batchelor 4th; Junior Ladies: 2nd Olivia Clarke, 11th Laura Kerr, 15th Holly Jordan, 16th Amy McAree, 17th Ella Jenkin, 20th Daisy Washington, 21st Kaya Dewulf. Intermediate Men: 1st Jordan Brown, 2nd Paul Dredge. Senior Ladies: 1st Ursha Davda, 4th Fiona Piggott.
alexandra palace ice skating girlEllie Taylor, aged 10, was the only figure skater from the United Kingdom to travel to Vienna, Austria, to take part in an international figure skating competition. The Helmutt Siebt Memorial Competition was held between 6th and 10th February 2008.
Out of 51 entrants in the ‘Springs' category, only 36 skaters from 12 different countries eventually skated and Ellie was placed 28th. Ellie skated her 2 ½ minute programme well, landing her double salchow and axel jumps, and performing spins with change of foot and position. However, the standard was extremely high, as unlike NISA competitions, where there are required elements and certain elements are not allowed, skaters could include any jump or spin they wanted to, with most skaters having 5 or 6 double jumps. In the UK, Ellie will be competing at NISA Level 3 for the first time in March.
Ellie started skating when she lived on the Isle of Wight and has been skating seriously for about 2 ½ years. She has skated at various open competitions in the UK, starting in April 2006 at beginner level when still just 8 years old. However this was her first experience of an international competition. She enjoyed the opportunity to skate abroad, and hopes to return to Vienna next year.
Ellie is a member of Milton Keynes Ice Skating club. She is coached at Planet Ice in Milton Keynes by the International School of Skating.
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alexandra palace ice skating visitorAbout Alexandra Palace
Set in 196 acres of parkland with stunning views across London, Alexandra Palace offers a superb day or evening out. The magnificent Victorian building houses an ice-rink, with two skating sessions each day, as well as evening discos. Visitors can relax in the Phoenix Bar, which has tables in the vast Palm Court, looking much as it did over 100 years ago and an outdoor terrace. There is pitch and putt, a boating lake and regular farmer’s market to enjoy in the grounds. ‘Ally Pally’ hosts a wide range of public events – from exhibitions to concerts. Visit www.alexandrapalace.com for details.
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alexandra palace ice skating singapore team77 talented skaters, the youngest just aged seven, took part in the recent 7th Fuji Ice Palace Singapore National Figure Skating Championships on February 2 and 3, 2008.
The competition kicked off with a first, an event called Future Stars designed for the beginner-level skater. This category saw 13 competitors aged between 7 and 10 years of age in the Ladies A event. It is admirable how the youngest skaters in this competition – Claire Casey of Chatsworth International School, Jermaine Seah of Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus Primary School (Toa Payoh), Nadja Chong of United World College SEA and from the Future Stars Men event Dylan Jellinek of St Joseph Primary School (Australia) – all aged seven, overcame their nerves and delivered their programs with zest and determination in front of a packed audience of cheering parents and supporters.
Another first this year was the opening of the national championship to foreign competitors. How do local skaters feel about this change from the previously all-Singaporean and Singaporean permanent residents competition?
"The Novice Ladies event was probably one of the most anticipated event throughout the competition,” said 14-year-old Novice category competitor Alexandria Wong of Methodist Girls' School. “Besides the already stiff competition from Skye Casey, Anja Chong and Sarah Afiqah Rodgers, there were also Leong Kai Jing from Canada, Ching Siau Chian and Kimberly Wan both from Malaysia. My initial reaction was ‘Oops! Time to get out of complacency mode.’ I learnt that I was up against competitors from overseas just after I passed my International Skating Union (ISU) grading test at novice level on 28 December 2007, exactly one month before the competition. As I got accustomed to the idea, I decided that it was a good thing for all of us. It exposes us to the reality of competition, competing not just among familiar skater friends, but out of comfort zone against competitors who bring skills and talent from across the miles."
And close competition it was indeed! For the four categories – Pre-novice Ladies, Pre-novice Men, Novice Ladies and Junior Ladies – competitors had to skate a short program on day one of the competition and a long program on day two. The points received for the short program was added to the long/free program, and the highest combined points total made up the final score.
Asked how Alexandria felt having emerged the National Champion of the Novice Ladies category, Alexandria enlightened that she was effectively ranking second with a total final score of 77.22 points. The highest total score of 89.15 in this category was chalked by Canadian competitor Leong Kai Jing who executed her programs with high technical skills. However, since it was the national competition of Singapore, the Singaporean who attained the highest score in the event assumes the national champion title.
‘That was why Kai Jing and I stood on the podium together and I thank her for sharing that moment with me,” said Alexandria. “Over the two days of competition, I got to know my overseas competitor friends from Canada and Malaysia and thoroughly enjoyed the encouragement and cheering on of each other. It was a great pity that Skye Casey and Sarah Rodgers could not make it to the competition due to illness. The gelling of athletes who train in different parts of the globe when they come together is truly magical!"
Alexandria is one of four skaters who has started on a trainee judges program. She had hands-on experience during the two-day competition shadow-judging events from Future Stars to Juvenile levels. "Learning to be a judge will for now help me trouble-shoot my own skating. In time to come, I would be able to contribute to the sport as a judge," Alexandria enthused.
For those who had missed the glitter and excitement of this competition, here are the results of the two-day competition held at Fuji Ice Palace.
Name – Nation – Points – FS
Future Stars Ladies 10 yrs and under – A
Joelle Bavaud – SIN – 23.91 – 1
Caire Casey – SIN – 18.88 – 2
Charmaine Kum – SIN – 16.59 – 3
Future Stars Ladies 11 yrs and over – B
Natalie Goh – SIN – 20.62 – 1
Jolyn Tan – SIN – 18.21 – 2
Elizabeth Fonseca – SIN – 18.09 – 3
Future Stars Men
Chadwick Wang – SIN – 2085 – 1
Chong Kai En – SIN – 19.86 – 2
Ron Joe Ng – SIN – 13.32 – 3
Pre-preliminary Ladies 10 yrs and under – A
Chloe Koh – SIN – 26.02 – 1
Vanessa Leung – SIN – 22.94 – 2
Linda Von Atzigen – SIN – 21.27 – 3
Pre-prelimiary Ladies 17 yrs and under – B
Alexandra Martin-SIN-23.03-1
Charissa Goh-SIN-19.53-2
Naomi Ng-SIN-19.20-3
Preliminary Ladies 12 yrs and under – A
Claudia Krogmeier-SIN-30.54-1
Julia Von Atzigen-SIN-29.50-2
Gazel Lee-SIN-27.11-3
Preliminary Ladies 17 yrs and under – B
Wong Jo-Yi-MAL-28.01-1
Audrey Tan-SIN-24.08-2
Pang Xi Xian-SIN-22.70-3
Saadiah Noor Hussin-MAL-21.84-4
Pang Xin Xian-SIN-20.75-5
Preliminary Men 12 yrs and under – A
Wong De-vin-MAL-29.82-1
Pre-juvenile Ladies 13 yrs and under – A
Bramina Braet-SIN-34.02-1
Debbie Stuart-SIN-31.30-2
Michelle Lee-SIN-28.68-3
Pre-juvenile Ladies 17 yrs and under – B
Casatrina LEE SIN 23.52 1
Elishea HIDAJAT SIN 22.49 2
Juvenile Ladies 14 yrs and under – A
Phoebe Wang-SIN-48.09-1
Jasmine Mehaffey-SIN-43.74-2
Celine Bavaud-SIN-40.31-3
Juvenile Ladies 17 yrs and under – B
Nana Tanamoto-SIN-25.39-1
Juvenile Men 14 yrs and under – A
Chai Yen Rong-MAL-32.08-1
Max Ko-SIN-30.90-2
Name-Nation-Points-SP-FS
Pre-novice Mens
Maxel Lee-SIN-56.13-1-1
Novice Ladies
Leong Kai Jing-CAN-89.15-1-1
Alexandria Wong-SIN-77.22-4-2
Kimberly Wan-MAL-75.84-3-3
Anja Chong-SIN-75.61-2-4
Siau Chian Ching-Mal-65.02-5-5
Junior Ladies
Sarah Paw-SIN-84.51-1-2
Brittany Lau-SIN-82.52-2-1
Rachel Ng-MAL-72.02-3-4
Tasha Benfield-SIN-68.15-4-3
Adult Bronze Ladies
Kam Chun Yi-SIN-6.61-1
Adult Silver Ladies
Noor Hidayah Sabrina Hassan-SIN-12.86-1
Clara Teo-SIN-12.39-2
Adult Gold Ladies
Isabelle Tan-SIN-15.67-1
Surayu Dato Ismail-MAL-14.87-2
Adult Masters Men
Ricardo Lachika-SIN-35.75-1
alexandra palace ice skating
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Jessica Miller and Ian Moram of Canada performs during a Pairs Short skating session for the the International Skating Union (ISU) in Goyang City, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images AsiaPac)
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Rena Inoue and John Baldwin of USA performs during a Pairs Free skating session for the the International Skating Union (ISU) in Goyang City, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images AsiaPac) Day Three
Kimberly Navarro and Brent Bommentre of USA pose for photographers on the medals podium after winning third place of the Ice Dancing Free Dance skating for the the International Skating Union (ISU) in Goyang City, South Korea.
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