Rolling Out the Year

Milton Keynes Roller Dance Club attended the last competition of the year last weekend.  The event was the National Solo Dance Competition organised by the Federation of Artistic Roller Skating and this year it was held in St Ives.  With clubs attending from around the country, competition was as stiff as anywhere but all the club dancers achieved success.

Abigail Ashton–Brown won the senior compulsory dance contest with Jennifer Wallace in third place and Gemma Frith fourth.  Becky Evans won the junior category.  Hannah Davies collected the silver medal in the most competitive novice category.  This is her highest national placing.

Jennifer Wallace stepped up the rostrum to take the silver medal in the senior original set pattern (OSP) dance event with her own choreographed routine and Gemma Frith maintained her fourth place.  Adana Roberts was second in the junior OSP category, skating against older and more experienced skaters.

Abigail Ashton–Brown, Gemma Frith and Jennifer Wallace teamed up to top the senior dance contest.

Sue O’Connor was first in the classic dance contest and Graham Harvey was fourth.  Sue was second in the inaugural Esprit dance contest with her own costumes and interpretations where the performance, novelty and audience appreciation were additional factors in the judging.

Maiden Win in Maidstone

Milton Keynes Roller Dance Club had one of its smallest squads travel to the annual Maidstone competition in Kent.  Despite there being only two skaters, the quality stood out in some hard contests.

Graham Harvey won his first ever solo dance event in the adult category.  Sue O’Connor joined him on the rostrum in third place.Together, Sue O’Connor and Graham Harvey took on skaters of all ages in the duo novelty free competition and finished up with bronze medals.

Rolling in Sardinia

Milton Keynes Roller Dance Club had two of it’s most talented skaters performing performing under the Union Jack at the Cup of Europe competition held in September in Sardinia, Italy.  The two club dancers had been selected by the Federation of Artistic Roller Skating (FARS) to represent Great Britain after their top performances at the British Championships in July.

Becky Evans (14) competed in the Cadet event for age group, dancing two compulsory dances and her own original set pattern dance.  In her first international appearance, Becky met strong competition and finished a creditable seventh place.

Jennifer Wallace (17) moved up to the Junior contest in her fourth year of international competition.  New for this year, Jenny had to perform a solo free dance choreographed for her as well as two compulsory dances.  She met some of the top roller dancers in Europe and finished in a promising eighth place.

Northern Lights

Milton Keynes Roller Dance Club had its furthest journey of the year to Newton Aycliffe, County Durham for a weekend long competition.  The Tyne Tees Tournament is a club favourite before the summer break.  All the skaters did well and returned home with medals galore.

Becky Evans topped the medal haul.  She won both the junior solo original set pattern (OSP) and creative dance contests with her uniquely choreographed programmes.  She collected the bronze medal in the junior solo dance event.

Adana Roberts won the preliminary solo OSP competition with her programme while Louise Matthews finished third.  Louise took another bronze medal in the preliminary solo dance event.

Jennifer Wallace had a tough weekend competing against two of the top senior dancers in the country.  In each of the senior solo compulsory, OSP, creative and Latin events she finished third.

Becky Evans and Jennifer Wallace combined in the senior duo dance contest to take third place.  David Briggs and Graham Stiles were similarly third in the adult duo dance event with Christine Briggs and Anne Kiss fourth.

Christine and David Briggs performed in the junior couples dance event to lift the trophy for first place.  Anne Kiss and Graham Stiles were placed third in the adult couples contest.

Becky Evans, Louise Matthews and Jennifer Wallace were third in the senior dance team competition.  David Briggs, Anne Kiss and Graham Stiles collected silver medals in the adult dance team category.  Adana Roberts helped the Stalham club fill a team place and finished with a bronze medal.

Glorious Rollers

Milton Keynes Roller Dance Club had its top skaters contesting the British Championships of the Federation of Artistic Roller Skating (FARS) last weekend.  The talented roller dancers competed across different age levels with varying success.  The journey was short for the long weekend at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Aylesbury.

Jennifer Wallace (16) won the Junior Solo Dance Championship in her first year in the age group.  She led throughout in the compulsory dances and in her own free dance.  Jennifer continues to be the top dancer in her age group, she was the Youth Champion last year.

Becky Evans (14) collected the bronze medal in the Cadet Solo Dance Championship improving significantly on her position from last year.

Abigail Ashton-Brown (18) last year’s Junior Champion moved up to the hotly contested Senior Solo Dance Championship and staked her claim for the future with a seventh place.

Gemma Frith (16) competed in the Youth Solo Dance Championship and improved from last year to finish in fifth place.

Anne Kiss and Graham Stiles appeared in their first Classic Dance Championships and skated off with bronze medals.  Sue O’Connor was placed fifth in the Classic Solo Dance Championships just ahead of Graham Harvey in sixth place.

Carina Storkey skated in the Senior Dance Couples competition with her partner Nicolas Loader from the Meridian club.  Together they were runner’s up to last year’s Champions.  Carina and Nicolas have been selected to represent Britain at both the European and World Championships later this year.

Jennifer and Becky have been invited to skate for Britain at the Cup of Europe for solo dancers.  This year the Cup will be held in Sardinia, Italy at the end of September.  This will be the third year that Jennifer will have been selected.  Both of them will be looking for sources of sponsorship to assist with the training and travel costs for the event.

Classic Success

Milton Keynes Roller Dance Club continued its appearances at National events with the Classic Dance Competition on the 30^th May.  The competition was held by the Federation of Artistic Roller Skating at the upcoming Championship venue at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Aylesbury.

Graham Harvey finished in a personal best of third place in the solo dance contest for the older skaters.  Graham now looks forward to the Classic Dance Championships, which will be held over the first weekend in July.

Rolling to the Moon

Milton Keynes Roller Dance Club travelled to Newbury for the Moonrakers Summer Competition.  The level of competition was high and medal places were hard fought.

Jennifer Wallace won the senior solo dance contest, beating some of the top skaters in the country.  Sue O’Connor collected the gold medal in the adult solo event with Maureen Tompkins taking the bronze and Graham Harvey in fourth place.  Louise Matthews was second in the preliminary solo dance competition.  Adana Roberts was fourth in the elementary contest continuing from her recent appearance at the National Elementary Championships.

Louise Matthews, Nikki Taylor and Jennifer Wallace combined to win the super team contest where Jenny performed a solo dance, Louise and Nikki performed a duo dance and then the three together danced a third in formation.  Hannah and Olivia Davies with Nikki Taylor collected the silver medals for their novice team dance performances with their individual dances.

Becky Evans and Jennifer Wallace danced as a couple to their third place in the senior dance couples event.

Roller Dance Examination Results

Milton Keynes Roller Dance Club take great pleasure in reporting the results of examinations taken by two of its most talented skaters. The two took a day off school to travelled down to the rink at Colchester for the test session organised by the Federation of Artistic Roller Skating (FARS). There were some of the most senior judges from FARS present to assess all the skaters from around the country. The majority of the skaters were there to obtain the necessary qualifications to enter the Championships later this year. The two club skaters had already obtained the necessary standard and were enhancing their position.
Jennifer Wallace (16) was attempting the Inter-Gold Solo Dance test. The test consisted of four compulsory dances and an original dance (OSP) of her own. Her performance satisfied the judges who awarded her a pass. This elevates her to one of the highest standard skaters in the country and currently the youngest at this elite level. Jennifer will compete in the Junior Solo Dance Championships in July.
Gemma Frith (15) was entered for the Silver Solo Dance test. Similar to the test for Jennifer, this consisted of four compulsory dances and an OSP. Unperturbed by a slip on her OSP, Gemma moved the judges who awarded her a pass. Gemma will contest the Youth Solo Dance Championships in July.

The FARS British Roller Skating Championships will be held at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Aylesbury at the beginning of July.

Soham March 2004

Medals All Round

Milton Keynes Roller Dance Club paid its annual trip to the competition at Soham, Cambridgeshire with as great success as ever. All the club dancers returned home with at least one medal each.

The best results were two excellent events each with a full rostrum for the club. Jennifer Wallace, Gemma Frith and Claire Donner were first, second and third respectively in the senior solo dance contest. Hannah Davies, Olivia Davies and Nikki Taylor repeated the rostrum topping with their one-two-three in the older age group of novice dancers. Adana Roberts collected a silver medal for her performance in the younger novice dancers event. Louise Matthews won the preliminary solo dance competition. Becky Evans was placed second in the junior solo dance category. Sue O’Connor won the adult solo contest and Graham Harvey was third.

Jennifer Wallace collected another gold medal in the original set pattern dance event and Becky Evans was awarded the bronze medal.

Gemma Frith and Jennifer Wallace combined to win the senior duo dance contest. Olivia Davies and Nikki Taylor were placed second in the novice duo dance event, Hannah Davies and Hannah Garrett were third and Michelle Taylor and Adana Roberts were fourth.

Graham Harvey, Sue O’Connor and Maureen Tompkins won the adult team competition and Christine Briggs, David Briggs and Anne Kiss were the silver medal team. David Courcoux, Hannah Davies and Louise Matthews were second in the teenage team contest. Becky Evans, Adana Roberts and Nikki Taylor collected silver medals in the youngest age team event and Olivia Davies, Hannah Garrett and Michelle Taylor took the bronze medals.

Anne Kiss and Graham Stiles were second in the adult couples event and Carole Hussain and Keith Parker were third.

Rounding off the day, Adana Roberts passed her solo dance test for the elementary standard faultlessly impressing the judges present.

National competition, Gillingham, Kent

Solo Dance Successes

Milton Keynes Roller Dance Club travelled to Gillingham, Kent for the first of the National competitions held by the Federation of Artistic Roller Skating. The skaters upheld the good record of the club in the country with some excellent results at the Spring Solo Dance Competitions.

Jennifer Wallace scored top honours with her personal Original Set Pattern (OSP) dance where she won the senior contest. Adana Roberts was pipped into second place in the novice OSP event. Becky Evans collected the bronze medal in the bronze standard OSP contest. Louise Matthews was just out of the medals in fourth place in the preliminary level OSP. In the solo dance competitions there were a set of bronze medals for the club skaters. Adana Roberts collected the bronze medal in the novice solo dance event. Becky Evans was third in the bronze standard contest. Lori Storkey was another third in the inter-silver standard competition. Sue O'Connor lifted the final of the bronze medals in the adult solo dance event. Jennifer Wallace was fourth in the closely contested senior competition.

Graham Harvey, Sue O'Connor and Maureen Tompkins were first in the bronze standard formation dance team contest. Gemma Frith, Lori Storkey and Jennifer Wallace came second in the senior formation dance team event.

Overall, the contributions of all the club skaters combined to give the club second place in the inter-club contest. This continues the high placing the club has had at this competition over the last years.

Newbury February 2004
 
Dancing into the New Year

Milton Keynes Roller Dance Club started the New Year with its annual trip to the competition at Newbury, Berks.  The results were good and show excellent prospects for the rest of the coming year.

Jennifer Wallace started her year with a win in the senior solo dance contest.  Becky Evans was third in the junior solo dance event.  Louise Matthews collected the other winner’s trophy for the club in the preliminary solo dance competition.  The novice solo dance competition was split into age groups.  Michelle Taylor took the bronze medal place in the youngest age group and Hannah Davies repeated this in the oldest age group.  Sue O’Connor was third in the adult solo dance event.

The club dance teams each finished in second place in their respective competition groups.  Hannah Davies, Louise Matthews and Adana Roberts were second in one section and Olivia Davies, Michelle and Nikki Taylor were second in the other.

Gemma Frith and Jennifer Wallace were the silver medallists in the senior duo dance event.  Olivia Davies and Nikki Taylor were placed in third position in the novice duo dance competition.