Judge 12th At Road To 26 Trophy Olympic Test Event

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Dillon Judge (Co. Down) has finished 12th at the Road to 26 Trophy, the figure skating test event for next year’s Milano Cortina Olympic Games, in Milan, Italy.

Judge opened the men’s event in the short programme yesterday evening with a triple Lutz that he unfortunately stepped out of the landing. He landed a triple Salchow-double toe loop combination and performed a Level 3 change foot camel spin and a Level 3 change foot combination spin. He came unstuck on a double Axel having to put a hand down to save the landing. He closed out the routine with a Level 4 flying sit spin and a Level 2 step sequence. He scored 46.37 points which put him in 12th place overnight.

The 2023 Irish champion was back this evening to take on the free skating inside the Unipol Forum. He got off to an excellent start nailing a triple flip and a triple Lutz with both receiving postive grades of execution from the judging panel. He popped a second triple Lutz into a single before completing a Level 3 flying sit spin and  clean triple Salchow. The programme then began to unravel for him after that and he had issues on all three of his final jumping passes. He ended with a Level 3 change foot combination spin. He earned 79.98 points for his free which gave him a combined total of 126.35 points.

Judge 14th; Tkacheva 23rd At Merano Ice Trophy

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Figure skaters in two different categories represented Ireland at this weekend’s Merano Ice Trophy in Merano, Italy.

This was Dillon Judge’s 2025 debut and he took on the Senior Men’s short programme yesterday afternoon. He fell on an opening triple Lutz at the start of his routine to “Northern Attitude” by Noah Kahan and Gabe Simon. He was just about able to eke out the landing of the first part of a triple flip-double toe loop combination and then was given a base level for his change foot camel spin. He was awarded Level 3 for a subsequent change foot combination spin. He had to put a hand down to save a double Axel and closed out with a Level 2 flying sit spin and a Level 2 step sequence. He scored 40.50 points and was in 15th place overnight.

Earlier today the Irish champion was back for the free skating portion of the event. He started his programme to “My Homeland” by HAVASI and Peter Pejtsik with a fall on a triple flip. He hung on to the landings of both a triple Lutz-double toe loop combination and a solo triple Lutz. He achieved Level 3 on a flying sit spin and nailed a triple Salchow. A change foot camel spin was just as in the short adjudicated to be base level and he ended with elements that included a triple Salchow-double toe loop combination, a Level 2 step sequence and a Level 3 change foot combination spin. He came 14th in the free with a score of 85.44 points to finish with a total of 125.94 points in 14th place overall.

It was an early start for Sophia Tkacheva as she was entered in the Junior Women’s event. In her short programme, she put a hand down on a double Axel and fell out of a planned triple Salchow jump combination. She was earned a Level 4 for a layback spin and got Level 2 for a flying camel spin. She also landed on a double flip and picked up a Level 3 for her step sequence. She concluded with a Level 3 change foot combination spin. Her score of 31.88 points put her in 22nd overnight.

Tkacheva began her free skating this morning with an attempted double Axel-Euler-double Salchow jump sequence. She fell on a triple Salchow, but settled down with a double Lutz-double toe loop combination. She performed a Level 3 flying change foot sit spin, a double loop. She had a blip when she fell on a double Axel. She rounded out her programme with a Level 2 layback spin and a Level 3 change foot combination spin. With a score of 52.46 points she took 24th place in the free and was 23rd overall with a total of 84.34 points.

Peterson 19th At European Youth Olympic Festival

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Allie Peterson (Co. Galway) has finished 19th in the Junior Girls’ event at the 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Bakuriani, Georgia.

The Irish Junior champion opened her competition yesterday in the short programme. Skating to “Right Now” by The Pussycat Dolls (NBA Version), she began with a double flip and hung on to the landing of a double Axel. She next executed a Level 3 sit spin and a Level 2 step sequence. The first part of her triple Salchow-double toe loop jump combination was deemed to be under rotated by the technical panel. She closed out her routine with a Level 3 flying camel spin and a Level 3 change foot combination spin. Her score of 39.87 points left her in 22nd place overnight.

Peterson took to the ice earlier today for her free skating and skated last in Warm-Up Group Two. She started with a double Lutz and then stepped out on the landing of a triple Salchow. She fell on a double Axel that was downgraded. She fought back with a Level 4 flying change foot combination spin and put down a triple toe loop, but was only able to tack on a single toe loop in combination. She also went for a triple Salchow-double toe loop combination and a solo triple toe loop, falling on the latter. She earned a free score of 68.85 points which gave her a final total of 108.72 points and moved up to 19th place.

“It was not my best performance today, jump wise, but I think the overall performance was pretty strong,” Peterson said about her free. “I think I definitely have improved from my competitions in the beginning of the season, so I’m pretty happy overall.

“I really want to thank the Olympic Federation of Ireland, the Irish Skating Association of Ireland for supporting me. And also my coaches in Colorado, Tammy Gambill and her team, and of course my mom, for being here with me and supporting me.”

“Despite some obvious mistakes in today’s free programme, she maintained her presence of mind, fighting through each element and delivering a strong performance to the end,” EYOF Figure Skating Team Leader Andrew Smith said. “That resilience is a testament to her team in Colorado, who have prepared her well for these events and conditions.”

Peterson Embarks On European Youth Olympic Festival Journey

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Allie Peterson (Co. Galway) becomes only the second figure skater to represent Ireland at a European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) as she takes to the ice later this week at the 2025 edition hosted by Bakuriani, Georgia. The ice skating events will take place in the Black Sea coastal resort of Batumi.

Peterson’s competition begins on Wednesday, 12 February with the short programme. The free skating will be held the following day on Thursday, 13 February. The 15-year-old, whose maternal grandparents are from Galway, was born outside Boston, and relocated in 2021 to Colorado Springs to train with Olympic and World coach Tammy Gambill and her team.

“Being selected to represent Ireland at the EYOF is an incredible honour and a dream come true,” Peterson said. “It is the result of hard work, dedication and the support of my family and coaches. Wearing the Ireland jacket on an international stage is a privilege and I am excited to compete against some of the best young athletes in Europe. I hope to make my country proud and gain invaluable experience that will help me grow as an athlete.”

The EYOF is a multi-sport competition that takes place every two years. Run by the European Olympic Committees (EOC), it is an important step in the development of athletes who may be targeting senior events. This year’s competition will bring together 865 athletes from across Europe to compete in 37 events. In addition to Peterson, Ireland will be represented by three other athletes in Alpine skiing.

EYOF Bakuriani 2025  will be streamed by the EOC on https://eoctv.org/live/ with updates on the Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) social media channels.

Competition Schedule (Figure Skating)

12 February – Girls Short Programme (Peterson)

13 February – Girls Free Skating (Peterson)

Soucisse and Firus 18th at European Championships

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Carolane Soucisse (29) and Shane Firus (30) have finished in 18th place for Ireland at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia this afternoon.

In the rhythm dance, the pressure was on for the two-time Irish national champions and they faced a battle in a deep field to secure one of precious berths in the final round. There was a dicey moment when it looked like their advancement was in question.

Soucisse and Firus began their routine to music by James Brown and Betty Davis with a confident Level 2 midline step sequence. However, in the sequential twizzle sequence that followed Soucisse put a foot down to steady herself and the duo received a negative grade of execution for the element. To their credit, they did not let the error affect the rest of their programme and earned a Level 1 for their pattern type step sequence, strong grade of execution scores for their choreographic rhythmic sequence and a powerful Level 4 rotational lift to close. Their score of 61.56 points was well down on their season best, but they were philosophical about it after they ended.

“There were definitely some highs and some lows,” Firus said. “There was a mistake on the twizzles so that was disappointing. We’re happy that we didn’t let it affect the rest of the programme and made it through to the free so that was good.”

“I think everything else went great,” Soucisse said. “If there is something to be happy about, it’s that we didn’t let go and we got in all the points that we could. That saved us to go through to the free.”

Soucisse and Firus skated second in the free dance portion of the event out of the twenty teams that qualified from the rhythm dance. Performing to music from the “When Harry Met Sally” soundtrack, the husband and wife duo produced a Level 4 stationary and rotational lift combination to open and continued with Level 2 one foot turns for Soucisse and Level 1 for Firus. They next included a choreographic step sequence and a Level 4 dance spin. Their serpentine steps were Level 2 and they next reeled off Level 4 synchronised twizzles. They ended with a choreographic assisted jump, a Level 4 straight line lift and a choreographic dance lift. Their score of 100.20 was the 17th highest score of the event and it gave them a final total of 161.76 points.

“It felt very good,” Soucisse said of their performance. “Overall, we’re really happy with how the programme turned out. It’s been really solid for us this season so we just kind of wanted to keep that train going and get a bit more feedback on certain elements that we changed. It was a little bit tough out there. It was a bit dry, but other than that it was good.

“We had a lot of fun,” Firus added. “The crowd really got behind us and there were lots of Irish flags. We really felt the support and that was great.”

Soucisse And Firus Set For Second Euros Appearance

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Carolane Soucisse (29) and Shane Firus (30) fly the flag for Ireland again this year at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships which are being held this week (29 January to 2 February) in Tallinn, Estonia.

This will be the second outing for the ice dance duo at Europeans. Last year in Kaunas, Lithuania, they finished 13th and will be looking to maintain or improve on that ranking this time round. The husband and wife team have had a busy season with this being their fifth competition on European ice. The two-time Irish national champions train in Toronto, Canada with their coaches Carol Lane, Jon Lane, Juris Rasgulajevs and Marc-Andre Servant.

Soucisse and Firus get their journey at this Europeans under way in the rhythm dance which begins at 10:30 (Irish time) on Friday, 31 January. Thirty teams from 23 nations will fight for the 20 spots available in the free dance on Saturday, 1 February.

“We really want to showcase all the hard work and improvements we have to the programmes, especially compared to the first half of the season,” Firus said.

“We want to show two strong and confident performances and get off the ice feeling accomplished,” Soucisse added. “In terms of results, the field is very strong, but we hope to be able to place in the top 15.”

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. 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. Last year Soucisse and Firus became the first ice dance team from Ireland to compete at Europeans. Ireland has had entries each of the previous two times (2010 and 2022) Europeans has been hosted in Tallinn.

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 third time they take place in Tallinn.

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.

Milestones And Memories Abundant For Irish Ice Skating In 2024

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2024 started with a bang back in January when Ireland was represented at not one, but two European Championships early on in the month. Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus become the first ice dancers to compete on behalf of Ireland in the history the European Figure Skating Championships in Kaunas, Lithuania. They finished in 13th place, the best ever finish for Irish skaters at the event. In addition, Margery Hilko became the first Irish judge to officiate at a European Figure Skating Championships. She was also a judge at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Shanghai, China a few weeks later. Liam O’Brien lined up for his third European Short Track Speed Skating Championships, all of which have taken place in Gdansk, Poland. The highlight of the weekend of racing was advancing to the 1000m quarterfinals. Outside of the month’s championships, Dillon Judge got the year off to a start with a seventh place at the Volvo Open Cup in Riga, Latvia.

After their successful debut at Europeans, Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus kept the momentum up in February by winning Irish ice dance’s first international medal, a bronze at the Egna Trophy in Italy. Dillon Judge had a hectic month competing at both the Dragon Trophy in Ljublana, Slovenia and Challenge Cup in Tilburg, The Netherlands.

March is always a special month for the Irish and this year was no exception. Dillon Judge and Sophia Tkacheva flew the flag at the inaugural Sonia Henie Trophy in Oslo, Norway. Liam O’Brien closed his season on a positive note at the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Rotterdam, The Netherlands where he notched up new Irish records in both the 500m and 1000m distances, the latter appropriately enough on St Patrick’s Day. Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus made history once again as they became the first ice dancers to represent Ireland at the World Figure Skating Championships when this year’s edition was held in Montreal, Canada. They qualified for the free dance and claimed 20th place in the final standings.

In April, Deirdre Costello was appointed the ISAI National Child Officer. Dillon Judge rounded out his international season at Triglav Trophy in Jesenice, Slovenia where he picked up a bronze medal.

June signalled the end of the 2023/2024 season. ISAI delegates were involved in the important work of the 59th ISU Congress in Las Vegas, United Stated of America. The Irish Figure Skating Championships were held at the Dundee Ice Arena for the third consecutive year with titles decided in three categories.

2024 Irish Junior Women’s champion Allie Peterson had a busy August making her international debut at the Cranberry Cup in Norwood, United States of America, before participating in her first ISU Junior Grand Prix event in Riga, Latvia.

Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus got the 2024/2025 season off to a cracking start with a fifth place at Lombardia Trophy in Bergamo, Italy. The ISAI’s Annual General Meeting took place on 25 September in Dublin where members were informed of a new club affiliation process and a realignment of the membership year among other topics. Saoirse O’Sullivan made her ISU Junior Grand Prix debut in Gdansk, Poland.

October was mostly all about short track! Sean McAnuff and Liam O’Brien got their seasons under way respectively at the Dutch Open in Heerenveen, The Netherlands and Shanghai Trophy in Shanghai, China. Ryan McAnuff joined the aforementioned two skaters in Montreal, Canada at the end of the month for the inaugural ISU Short Track World Tour and the first racing under the exciting new Irish Wolfhounds team identity. Saoirse O’Sullivan was the sole figure skating national team member in action over the course of month when she competed at Tayside Trophy in Dundee, United Kingdom.

The Irish Wolfhounds completed a second ISU Short Track World Tour event in Montreal, Canada on the first weekend of November, while at home the Emerald Skate Learn to Skate lessons began at Dundrum On Ice. Dillon Judge, Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus, Saoirse O’Sullivan and Sophia Tkacheva formed the Irish contingent at the Denkova-Staviski Cup in Sofia, Bulgaria. Soucisse and Firus were in action a second week in a row at Tallinn Trophy in Tallinn, Estonia. Judge garnered a bronze medal at the Lounakeskus Trophy in Tartu, Estonia.

Sean McAnuff and Liam O’Brien began the Asian leg of the ISU Short Track World Tour in Beijing, China before moving onto Seoul, South Korea the following weekend where McAnuff set a new Irish 500m record. At the Edusport Trophy in Otopeni, Romania, Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus wrapped up 2024 with a bronze medal, fittingly enough on World Ice Skating Day.

We look forward to an even brighter year in 2025 for Irish ice skating!

 

Bronze For Soucisse/Firus Among Highlights For Team Ireland At Edusport Trophy

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A total of four figure skaters represented Ireland at this weekend’s Edusport Trophy in Otopeni, Romania competing in three different categories.

In the Senior Ice dance rhythm dance, Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus (Co. Wexford) commenced their James Brown routine with a midline step sequence garnering Level 3 and Level 2 respectively. Soucisse had a wobble on the sequential which led to Level 1 for her on the element and Level 4 for Firus. Their pattern type step sequence was awarded Level 2. They closed out with a choreographic rhythm step sequence and a Level 4 rotational lift. They sat in fourth place on 57.06 points after the segment.

The two-time Irish champions had their eyes on the podium as started their “When Harry Met Sally” free dance. They produced a Level 4 stationary and rotational lift combination to open and continued with Level 2 one foot turns. They next included a choreographic step sequence and a Level 4 dance spin. Their serpentine steps were Level 3 for Soucisse and Level 2 for Firus, while there were no issues with their Level 4 synchronised twizzles. They ended with a choreographic assisted jump, a Level 4 straight line lift and a choreographic dance lift. A free score of 93.51 was enough to move them up to third overall with a total of 150.57.

This marked the third competition for Dillon Judge (Co. Down) this season appearing in the Senior Men’s event. In the short programme, he began with a triple Lutz. He then landed a triple flip-double toe loop jump combination. A change foot camel spin was graded Level 2 as was a Level 2 change foot combination spin. He went on to nail a double Axel and a Level 4 flying sit spin before closing with a Level 2 step sequence to score 49.08 points. He was in fourth place overnight.

Judge opened his free skating with a triple flip. He then performed a solo triple Lutz, but singled a consecutive triple Lutz attempt. He cleanly executed a Level 4 flying sit spin and a triple Salchow-double toe loop. A change foot camel spin received a Level 1 and a second triple Salchow proved troublesome. He came unstuck on the second part of a double Lutz-double Axel combination and rounded off his routine with a Level 3 step sequence, a double loop and a change foot combination spin. With a score of 80.81 points for his free he was left with a total of 129.89 points and 5th place overall.

Sophia Tkacheva (Co. Wexford) was the first Irish team member in action when she participated in the Junior Women’s event. In her short programme, she double footed the landing of a double Axel and fell on a planned triple Salchow jump combination. She was awarded a Level 4 for a layback spin and got Level 2 for a flying camel spin. She also fell on a double flip and earned Level 3 for her step sequence. She ended with a Level 3 change foot combination spin. Her score of 29.00 points put her in 33rd after the opening segment.

Tkacheva made an inauspicious start to her free and fell on her opening double Axel and triple Salchow. She also had difficulty with the landing of a double Lutz. She performed a Level 3 flying change foot sit spin, a double loop and a double loop-Euler-double Salchow. She rounded out her programme with a Level 4 layback spin and a Level 3 change foot combination spin. With a score of 53.o4 points she took 32nd place in the free and overall with a total of 82.04 points.

Judge Third At Lounakeskus Trophy

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Dillon Judge has won a bronze medal at the Lounakeskus Trophy in Tartu, Estonia this weekend.

In the short programme, his attempt at a triple Lutz resulted in a fall. He just about held on to the landing of a triple Salchow. Both his change foot camel spin and change foot combination spin were graded Level 2. After those elements, he fell on a double Axel. He closed with a Level 4 flying sit spin and a Level 2 step sequence to score 40.79 points putting himself in third place overnight.

Judge opened his free skating with a triple flip, a new jump for him to include in his routine. He then landed a double Lutz before falling on a triple Lutz. He got back up to perform a Level 3 flying sit spin, but had to step out of a triple Salchow. A change foot camel spin was recorded as Level 1 and he fell on a second triple Salchow. He recovered with a double Lutz and a Level 2 step sequence. A double loop-double Axel jump sequence resulted in another fall. He rounded his competition out with a Level 3 chang foot combination spin. His free skating score of 69.24 points gave him a total of 110.03 points and 3rd place overall.

 

Nominations Open For 2024 Volunteers In Sport Awards

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Nominations are now being accepted for the 2024 Volunteers in Sport Awards, a national celebration of the extraordinary individuals who contribute to the vibrant fabric of Irish sports.

Hosted by the Federation of Irish Sport and supported by the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships these prestigious awards recognise the selfless volunteers who dedicate their time, skills, and passion to support sports clubs and community organisations across Ireland.

The 2024 Volunteers in Sport Awards will bring together individuals from all 32 counties to celebrate their commitment to fostering participation and ensuring that sport, including ice skating, is accessible to all. Their contributions not only inspire communities but also enable clubs and organisations to thrive, supporting social cohesion and well-being across Ireland. Without their dedication, many sporting opportunities simply would not exist. The awards celebration will take place in Dublin in February 2025.

Nomination Process
Nominations for the 2024 Volunteers in Sport Awards are open from Tuesday, 12th November 2024, until Tuesday, 17th December 2024. Members of the public are encouraged to nominate deserving volunteers from their club or sporting organisation who have made a significant contribution or impact to their local club or community. For more information and to submit a nomination, visit www.volunteersinsport.ie