Soucisse And Firus 19th At Sheffield Euros

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Irish ice dancers Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus have finished in 19th place at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships earlier this evening in Sheffield.

In yesterday’s Rhythm Dance, Soucisse and Firus had a mishap on their opening sequential twizzle sequence that saw them on 62.71 points, just under six points off their season best for the segment qualifying 18th out of 20 teams that advanced. The duo performed third in the Free Dance and from the first strains of Bill Whelan’s iconic “Riverdance” score they had the Utilita Arena in the palm of their hands. After executing most of their difficult technical elements, Soucisse tumbled at the beginning of the choreographic step sequence. The couple closed out the routine to rapturous applause. They received a free dance score of 88.28 points for a total of 150.99 points and dropped one place to finish 19th overall.

“Up until the last 45 seconds, it felt great,” Soucisse said. “It’s not a mistake we make often. I feel better telling myself this happened because I gave it all. I gave everything I had. The crowd were amazing.”

“They were with us from the beginning,” Firus said. “It definitely helped us get all the way till the end. Maybe we let it envelop us too much towards the end, but we had a really good time and really enjoyed it.”

Soucisse And Firus Steel Themselves For Sheffield Europeans

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Carolane Soucisse (30) and Shane Firus (31) make their third consecutive ISU European Figure Skating Championships appearance this week in Sheffield, United Kingdom (14-18 January).

The Irish ice dancers finished 18th at last year’s championships in Tallinn, Estonia and will be aiming to improve on that ranking this time round. This will be the fifth competition of what has been a hectic season which has included a silver medal at International Ice Dance Dordrecht in the Netherlands in August and representing Ireland at the ISU Skate to Milano Figure Skating Qualifier in Beijing, China back in September. The three-time Irish national champions train in Toronto, Canada with their coaches Carol Lane and Juris Razgulajevs.

Soucisse and Firus take to competition ice for the 1990s themed rhythm dance starting at 12:30pm (Irish time) on Friday, 16 January. The Irish duo will skate to a New Kids On The Block medley. Thirty teams from 21 nations will battle for the 20 spots available in the free dance on Saturday, 17 January where Soucisse and Firus hope to showcase their routine to music from “Riverdance” that evening.

“We are super excited to perform in Sheffield this week,” Soucisse said. “We really enjoy performing both our programmes this season and we hope we can bring the crowd in and give them a great show!”

“We are really looking forward to this event and want to take in the whole experience,” Firus said. “We made some small changes since our last competitions and are excited to showcase them here!”

Europeans are the oldest ISU championship event having first been contested in 1891. Ireland made its debut at the championships in 2009 when Clara Peters skated in the women’s event. Peters also participated in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 editions (the latter also in Sheffield). In 2018, Conor Stakelum became the first Irish male figure skater to perform at the championships and he subsequently made appearances in 2019, 2020 and 2022. Sam McAllister represented Ireland at the 2023 Europeans. In 2024 Soucisse and Firus became the first ice dance team from Ireland to compete at Europeans.

In order to earn entry to the championships, eligible skaters must attain a combined minimum technical element score of both their programmes during the current or preceding season. The championships are held annually and this is the second time Sheffield plays host.

The ISU European Figure Skating Championships will be broadcast on the Skating ISU YouTube channel. Geographical restrictions may apply. The results of the championships can be followed on the event results page and on social media via the #EuroFigure and #FigureSkating hashtags.

2025 A Year To Remember For Irish Ice Skating

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2025 got under way with two major ISU events for Team Ireland in January. Sean McAnuff representing Ireland at his fifth European Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Dresden, Germany with his best finish a 24th place in the 1500 metres. Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus took on their second European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia where they ended up in 18th overall.

February saw our Irish skaters get an opportunity to try out 2026 Olympic ice in Milan. Prior to arriving in the Italian city, Irish Wolfhounds Sean McAnuff and Liam O’Brien competed at the fifth stage of the inaugural ISU Short Track World Tour in Tilburg, The Netherlands. McAnuff advanced to the 500 metres quarterfinals where he dipped under 42 seconds to set a new Irish record. The following week the Irish Wolfhounds got a taste of the Olympic atmosphere at the test event at the Unipol Forum to close out the Short Track World Tour. The following week Dillon Judge was in the same venue for the Road To 26 Trophy figure skating Olympic test event where he placed 12th in the men’s category. It was a busy period for Olympic related competitions as Allie Peterson was in Bakuriani, Georgia where she became only the second Irish skater to participate in a European Youth Olympic Festival coming 19th. Judge and Sophia Tkacheva also took part in the Merano Ice Trophy placing 14th and 23rd in their respective disciplines.

The World was a stage for our athletes in March. Sean McAnuff travelled to Beijing, China for the Short Track World Championships and he broke his own 500 metre Irish record twice during the course of the event. Later on in the month, Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus were in Boston, United States of America for the World Figure Skating Championships finishing in 28th place.

In May Sean McAnuff and Liam O’Brien attended an Olympic Federation of Ireland Milano Cortina Camp in Dublin for athletes targeting qualification for the 2o26 Olympics.

For the fourth consecutive year the Irish Figure Skating Championships were held at the Dundee Ice Arena with medals contested in four categories.

Ryan McAnuff, the first speed skater to represent Ireland at Europeans and Worlds, announced his retirement from elite competition in July.

Newly crowned Irish Junior Women’s champion Juliana Farrell opened the 2025-2026 season in August for the national team with 18th at the Cranberry Cup International in Norwood, United States of America. Later on in the month Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus bagged a silver medal at International Ice Dance Dordrecht in the Netherlands.

Dillon Judge and Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus made their way to Beijing, China in September for the ISU Skate To Milano Olympic Qualifier. Judge finished 24th and Soucisse and Firus ninth at the event and were outside the quota places for figure skating at the 2026 Olympics.

Juliana Farrell was the sole representative for Ireland on this season’s ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating and she came 32nd at the Solidarity Cup in Gdansk, Poland in October. Sean McAnuff and Liam O’Brien got their quest for Olympic quota places started at back-to-back ISU Short Track World Tour events in Montreal, Canada. Dillon Judge placed 11th at the Tayside Trophy in Dundee, Scotland.

It was a hectic November for Dillon Judge as he competed at the Denkova-Staviski Cup in Sofia, Bulgaria, the Cup of Innsbruck in Austria and the Bosphorus Cup in Istanbul, Turkey. He placed 9th, 8th and 7th respectively. Sean McAnuff and Liam O’Brien concluded this season’s ISU Short Track World Tour with events in Gdansk, Poland and Dordrecht, The Netherlands that saw the Irish Wolfhounds fall short on obtaining quota places in short track speed skating at the 2026 Olympics. Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus took on two ISU Challenger Series events in a row finishing 10th at Warsaw Cup in Poland and eighth at Tallinn Trophy in Estonia.

December began with Dillon Judge placing 22nd at the ISU Challenger Series Golden Spin of Zagreb in Croatia. Long track speed skater Thomas Steele made his international debut for Ireland at the European Youth Countrymatch in Heerenveen, The Netherlands setting a new Irish Junior record for the 1500 metres.

Here’s hoping for an even more spectacular year for Irish ice skating in 2026!

 

Judge 22nd At Golden Spin of Zagreb

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Dillon Judge has finished 22nd in the Senior Men’s event at the ISU Challenger Series Golden Spin of Zagreb in Croatia this weekend.

Judge opened his short programme with a clean triple Lutz-double toe loop combination. He stepped out of a double Axel and received Level 2 for a flying camel spin. He then hung on to the landing of a triple Salchow. He concluded with a Level 3 change foot combination spin, a Level 1 step sequence and a Level 4 change foot sit spin. He scored 47.91 points and was in 22nd place overnight.

The two-time Irish champion was back this evening for the free skating. He began with a double flip and then landed triple Lutz-double toe loop combination. He then attempted a triple Lutz and followed with  a Level 2 change foot sit spin and a rotated triple toe loop. Next came a Level 2 flying camel spin before he nailed a triple Salchow. He fell out of another triple Salchow subsequently. He wound up his routine with a Level 3 step sequence and a Level 2 change foot combination spin. He posted a score of 80.40 points for the free which gave him a total of 128.31 points.

Soucisse And Firus Eighth At Tallinn Trophy

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Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus (Co. Wexford) have secured an eighth place finish at this weekend’s Tallinn Trophy.

The three-time Irish champions began the event at the Tondiraba Ice Hall with their New Kids On The Block rhythm dance. Their sequential twizzles were graded Level 3 for Soucisse and Level 4 for Firus. Their pattern type step sequence was called Level 1. A minor wobble by Soucisse during the midline step sequence saw her receive Level 1 for the element as opposed to the Level 2 for Firus. They rounded things out with a Level 4 rotational lift and a choreographic rhythm sequence. They scored 64.56 points for eighth place at the midway stage of the competition.

This afternoon Soucisse and Firus skated their “Riverdance” free dance. They started with a Level 4 dance spin from which they moved seamlessly into a choreographic sliding movement. Their one foot turns earned them a Level 2, while Soucisse received Level 4 for her synchronised twizzles with Firus awarded Level 2. Their straight line and rotational lifts were each a Level 4. Soucisse was judged to be  Level 1 for their serpentine step sequence and Firus Level 2. They completed the routine with a Level 4 stationary lift and two choreographic elements. A score of 102.99 points left them with a total of 167.55 points.

Judge Seventh At Bosphorus Cup

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Dillon Judge has come seventh in the Senior Men’s event at the Bosphorus Cup in Istanbul, Türkiye this weekend.

Judge opened his short programme with a clean triple Lutz-double toe loop combination. He fell on a triple flip and received Level 1 for a flying camel spin. He then had another fall on a double Axel. He ended with a Level 2 change foot combination spin, a Level 1 step sequence and a Level 3 change foot sit spin. He scored 45.29 points and was in eighth place overnight.

The two-time Irish champion was back out on the ice earlier today for the free skating. He began by falling on a triple flip and then doubled a planned triple Lutz. He then fell on a triple Lutz before executing a Level 3 change foot sit spin and cleanly landed a triple toe loop. He followed with a Level 1 flying camel spin and fell on a triple Salchow-double toe loop combination. He recorded another fall on a double Salchow-single Axel-double Axel sequence. He completed his routine with a Level 1 step sequence and a Level 3 change foot combination spin. He posted a score of 63.11 points for the free which gave him a total of 108.40 points.

Soucisse and Firus 10th At Warsaw Cup

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Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus (Co. Wexford) have finished in 10th place in the Warsaw Cup ice dance event earlier this evening.

The three-time Irish champions began the competition in Poland’s capital yesterday with their New Kids On The Block rhythm dance. They put down Level 3 sequential twizzles and a Level 2 pattern type step sequence to get themselves under way. Their midline step sequence was graded Level 2 and they closed out with a Level 4 rotational lift and an engaging choreographic rhythm sequence. They earned a new season best score of 68.46 points to put themselves in eighth place overnight.

This evening Soucisse and Firus performed in the free dance to a selection of music from “Riverdance” by Bill Whelan. They commenced with a Level 4 dance spin which flowed into a choreographic sliding movement. Their one foot turns were both credited with a Level 1, while Soucisse garnered Level 4 for her synchronised twizzles with Firus getting Level 2. Their combination of straight line and rotational lifts came in at Level 4 for both elements while Soucisse was awarded Level 1 for their serpentine step sequence and Firus Level 2. They wound the routine up with a Level 4 stationary lift and two choreographic movements. They picked up an ISU season best score of 103.45 points and a total of 171.91 points.

Judge 8th At Cup of Innsbruck

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Dillon Judge has come eighth in the Senior Men’s event at the Cup of Innsbruck in Innsbruck, Austria this weekend.

Judge had a better showing in his short programme compared to last week’s Denkova-Staviski Cup. He overrotated a triple Lutz, but was able to tack on a double toe loop to make the combination count. He struggled with the landing of a triple flip. He earned positive grade of execution on a Level 2 flying camel spin, but then stumbled out of a double Axel. He ended with a Level 2 change foot combination spin, a Level 1 step sequence and a scheduled change foot sit spin, the latter of which received no value due to not meeting the requirements. He scored 41.45 points and was in seventh place overnight.

The two-time Irish champion was back out on the ice at the TIWAG Arena for the free skating. He began by doubling a planned triple flip and then eked out a triple Lutz. He then tried a double Lutz-double Axel-double Axel sequence falling on the third jump. He got through a Level 3 change foot sit spin and hung on to the landing of a triple toe loop. He followed with a Level 2 flying camel spin and showed resilence by nailing a triple Salchow. He completed his routine with a Level 2 step sequence and a Level 2 change foot combination spin. He posted a score of 78.68 points for the free which gave him a total of 120.13 points.

Judge 9th At Denkova-Staviski Cup

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Dillon Judge has come ninth in the Senior Men’s event at the Denkova-Staviski Cup in Sofia, Bulgaria this weekend.

Judge had a challenging time in his short programme. He fell on an opening triple Lutz and then also struggled with a triple flip that he was unable to put into combination. He garnered positive grade of execution on a Level 2 flying camel spin, but then stumbled on a double Axel. He closed out with a Level 2 change foot combination spin, a Level 1 step sequence and a scheduled change foot sit spin, the latter of which received no value due to not meeting the requirements. He scored 37.59 points and was in eighth place overnight.

The two-time Irish champion was back out on the ice at the Winter Sports Palace for the free skating. Once more he fought hard on certain elements. He bailed out of a triple flip landing and then popped a planned triple Lutz to a double. He tried the triple Lutz again which he rotated albeit with a step out. He did receive credit this time for a Level 2 change foot sit spin and cleanly landed a triple toe loop. He once more earned positive marks from the judging panel for his Level 2 flying camel spin. His only fall came on the second part of a double Lutz-double Axel jump sequence. He rounded things out with a Level 3 step sequence and a Level 2 change foot combination spin. He posted 80.61 points for the free which gave him a total of 118.20 points.

Annual General Meeting 2025

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The Ice Skating Association of Ireland (ISAI) will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 5 November 2025 in person in Dublin. Current members will have received a notice via e-mail with the AGM Agenda attached.