Bracknell Ice Skating Club Newsletter - February 2005
Fusion Fizzes in France Following Lift Fiasco
Members of BISC’s junior synchro team, Fusion, are entitled to
hold their heads high after their performance in a top international
in France on February 4-5.
The drama started even before the team had left the hotel in Rouen
for the short technical programme section of the French Cup.
“We were waiting in the foyer for all the skaters to come from their
rooms when three of them got stuck in the lift. The fire brigade had
to be called to free them but they were trapped in there for 25-30
minutes,” said team manager, Sacha Hartley.
“It
meant we were late getting to the rink and only had half the
allotted time for practice. Although the skaters were quite shaken
by the experience, they were still full of high spirits when they
got out of the lift but unfortunately one of them fell in the short
programme and damaged her wrist.”
Despite the fall, the team got respectable marks - including 3.5
from the Russian judge - for the technical part of the programme,
skated to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Variations, and was delighted to
score up to 4.1 for presentation. The marks were especially good
considering Fusion was one of only three teams to have just 16
skaters - the other 11 teams all had 20. The Finnish, Russian and
British judges placed the British team 13th but the other six judges
placed it 14th.
Fortunately the team got to the rink without any problems next day
for the long programme skated to a Queen medley. Fusion had been
drawn to skate third in the first group of four and was hoping to
beat the French team to finish 13th. But despite an excellent skate,
Fusion again came 14th although the Canadian and British judges
placed it 13th and there was only 0.1 difference in the technical
mark given by the British judge to Fusion and the two teams above
it.
Fusion was thrilled to have been given the chance to compete in the
event – one of the most prestigious internationals in Europe and a
qualifier for the World Junior Challenge Cup - after finishing
second behind Nottingham in the British Junior Synchro Championships
in Sheffield 10 days earlier.
“We left Rouen with heads held high,” Sacha added. “The standard of
the competition was very impressive and it was a privilege and
honour to be skating among some of the best teams in the world. It
was a great eye opener for the team, the majority of whom had never
been to an international competition before, let alone one as
prestigious as this.” Fusion’s skaters, aged 12-19, had to finish in
the top 10 in Rouen to qualify for the world cup.
Despite not qualifying, everyone connected with the team, including
its coaches, David Phillips and Lucine Chakmakjian, is thrilled with
the team’s performance. Skating for Fusion in France were: Kasia
Bielska, Alix Carter, Kirsty Clarkson (short programme), Gemma Cross
(vice captain), Sian Grimsey, Laura Hartley, Lucy Heap, Rachel Heap,
Becky Highcock, Laura Highcock, Sara Holroyd (captain), Charlotte
King, Alison Ryder, Jo Simms (vice captain), Alex Smith (long
programme), Kirsten Smith and Lyndsey Steere with Steph Francis,
Helen Ingram and Susie Race as alternates. Rebecca Fraser was
injured.
* The club wishes all the best to its novice team, Ice Precise,
which is to compete in an ISU international at Nottingham on Sunday,
March 6.
The team’s official practice is the previous day when spectators
will be able to see the Canadian, USA and Russian teams in action:
“They will see some spectacular skating if they go on the Saturday
and they could support us at the same time. The Russians are superb
and well worth the trip,” Sacha said.
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