Four Titles Claimed At Irish Figure Skating Championships

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This weekend saw the 2025 Irish National Figure Skating Championships take place in Dundee, Scotland with titles decided in four categories.

Appearing in their third Irish Championships, Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus (Co. Wexford) got the event under way in the Senior Ice Dance rhythm dance. Performing to a James Brown medley, the duo began with a midline step sequence garnering a Level 3 for Soucisse and a Level 2 for Firus. They followed with Level 4 sequential twizzles for Soucisse and Level 3 for Firus. Their pattern type step sequence earned a Level 3 and they closed out their routine with choreographic rhythm sequence and a Level 4 rotational lift. They were awarded a score of 66.80 points.

Soucisse and Firus were back out on the ice a few hours later for their free dance. The husband and wife team opted to debut their newly choreographed programme to music from “Riverdance” by Bill Whelan. They commenced with a Level 3 dance spin and a choreographic slide. They next executed a Level 2 one foot turn sequence and achieved Level 4 for their synchronised twizzles. Their lift combination comprised a Level 3 straight line lift and a Level 4 rotational lift. A serpentine step sequence was deemed to be Level 2 and a stationary lift Level 3 by the technical panel. They rounded out the performance with a choreographic step sequence and a choreographic assisted jump. A score of 100.88 gave them a total of 167.68 and a third consecutive Irish national title.

“This was a special Irish Championships for us because it was our first three-peat,” Firus said. “We got to debut our new free to ‘Riverdance’. Growing up my mom was adamant that I learn Irish dancing. This led to Irish dance competitions across North America and it’s been fun bringing back some of those memories and moves for this programme.”

“We are very happy and proud to have won our third national title this year,” Soucisse said. “We always leave Dundee with lots of great memories and this year is even better because we got to debut our new free dance to ‘Riverdance’, one that we are extremely excited to show off. We feel truly grateful to the ISAI for every opportunity that was given to us and this free dance is a special thank you for their support.”

After missing out on last year’s championships through injury, Dillon Judge (Co. Antrim) returned this year seeking a second national title in the Senior Men’s competition. He started solidly by landing a triple Lutz-double toe loop jump combination, but fell on a subsequent triple flip. He registered Level 2 for a change foot camel spin and Level 3 for a change foot combination spin. He popped a planned double Axel into a single which meant he received no points for that element. He concluded his routine with a Level 3 flying sit spin and a Level 3 step sequence. He received a score of 44.99 points.

Judge returned for the free skating later this afternoon and set out his stall from the start with a triple flip. He landed an excellent solo triple Lutz, but came undone on a second one immediately after that was supposed to be in combination. After a Level 3 flying sit spin, he fell on a popped double Salchow. He did rally and succeeded in landing a triple Salchow on the second go round. He fought hard towards the end of the routine and came away with a free skating score of 79.39 points. This left him with a total of 124.38 points and a second senior title.

“I really enjoyed being back at Nationals this year after suffering from an injury last season leaving me unable to compete,” Judge said. “I’m happy I got to show my new free programme albeit there’s further improvements to be made on it. The atmosphere was great getting to see some familiar faces again and some new ones.”

The Junior Women’s category was contested between two skaters making their Irish Championship debut.

Julianna Farrell (Co. Cork) landed a triple Salchow-double toe loop jump combination for a strong start to her short programme and backed that up with a double flip and a Level 2 sit spin. She nailed a double Axel and reeled off a Level 2 flying camel spin, a Level 3 step sequence and a Level 2 change foot combination spin. She garnered a score of 42.11 points that put her in first place overnight.

Eeva O’Brien (Co. Wicklow) began her short with a double Axel that was called short on rotation by the technical panel. She included a double Lutz-double toe loop as a jump combination which was followed by a Level 3 flying camel spin. She executed a double flip and finished with a Level 1 change foot combination spin, a Level 3 step sequence and a Level 3 layback spin. Her score of 33.77 points put her in second place at the midway point of the competition.

Farrell made a solid start to her free skating with a triple Salchow-double toe loop combination, a double flip and a triple loop-single Axel sequence with all elements receiving a positive grade of execution. However, she did struggle in the middle part of her routine with falls on a solo triple Salchow and triple loop. She battled back with a double Axel on its own, a double Axel-double Salchow sequence and a Level 4 change foot combination spin. With a free score of 72.43 points and a combined total of 114.54 points she became the first skater representing Cork to win an Irish title.

“I had a great experience at the competition,” Farrell said. “Everyone was super nice and welcoming. The team dinner was also super fun!”

O’Brien was first up in the free skating and she began with a double loop and a double Lutz-double toe loop for which she earned positive grades of execution. She had difficulty with both of her double Axel attempts, but rebounded with a Level 3 layback spin and a double flip. She negotiated the second half of her programme well with double Lutz-Euler-double Salchow jump sequence, a Level 2 flying change foot combination spin, a double flip-double toe loop combination and a Level 4 flying sit spin to end. Her free score of 62.77 points gave her a final total of 96.54 points and the silver medal.

“I really enjoyed the competition and getting to know everyone,” O’Brien said. “It was my first time at Irish Nationals and it was a great event.”

Lexie Graham (Co. Carlow) was the sole entrant in the Advanced Novice Girls category. She opened her short programme with a Level 2 change foot combination spin and went on to cleanly land a double loop, a double flip-double toe loop combination and a single Axel. She wrapped her performance up with a Level 3 sit spin and a Level 2 step sequence and received a score of 27.28 points.

As in her short, Graham also started her free skating with a change foot combination spin. This time it was a higher Level 3. She then landed two double Lutz jumps on their own in quick succession and then completed a double loop-single Axel-single Axel jump sequence. She attempted two solo double flips later on in her routine as well as a double loop-single toe loop combination with a Level 3 flying change foot camel spin thrown in amidst those latter elements. A free score of 51.42 points gave her a final total 78.70 points.

“I was very proud to represent Carlow this weekend,” Graham said. “I was really happy with how I skated and I enjoyed watching and meeting the other Irish skaters. It has given me motivation to work hard and to come back next year. I feel very welcomed into the Irish skating community.”

Irish Figure Skaters Set To Close Out Season At Nationals

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The top figure skating talent from Ireland take to the ice this weekend (7-8 June) for the Irish National Figure Skating Championships which will be held at the Dundee Ice Arena. A total of seven skaters compete at the championships across four separate categories.

Dillon Judge (Co. Antrim) is the 2023 Senior Men’s champion. He was unable to compete at last year’s championships due to injury. This season he finished third at the Lõunakeskus Trophy in Tartu, Estonia. He is coached by Barbara Luoni at Ice Lab in Bergamo, Italy, an ISU Centre of Excellence.

Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus (Co. Wexford) are two-time Irish ice dance champions. The team picked up a bronze medal at Edusport Trophy in Otopeni, Romania back in December. They represented Ireland at both the 2025 European and World Championships earlier this year. The husband and wife duo train in Toronto, Canada with Carol Lane, Jon Lane, Juris Razgulajevs and Marc Andre Servant.

Julianna Farrell (Co. Cork) makes her Irish Championships debut this year in the Junior Women’s category. Born in the United States of America to a north County Cork born father, she remains close with her relatives in Cork, Limerick and Mayo. She is coached by Alex Zahradnicek at IceWorks Skating Club in Aston. Pennsylvania and Irina Romanova at the Skating Club of Wilmington, Delaware.

Eeva O’Brien (Co. Wicklow) is also appearing in the Junior Women’s event at her first ever Irish Championships. She was born in Switzerland to a Finnish mother and an Irish father from Glenealy, Wicklow. She moved from Switzerland in 2022 to the United States of America and now trains in Montclair, New Jersey with coaches Alex Beletsky and Igor Lukanin. She is a member of the Skating Club of New York.

Lexie Graham (Co. Carlow) skates in the Advanced Novice Girls event in her first ever Nationals. Born in Albertville, France to an Irish father with family in Borris and Dublin, she works with Laëtitia Hubert and Laëtitia Gaiddon at the Olympic Glace Club Albertville (OGCA).

Regular updates from the Irish National Figure Skating Championships will be posted on the Ice Skating Association of Ireland’s social media accounts.

Starting Order/Results Page

McAnuff And O’Brien Attend OFI Milano Cortina Camp

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This week Team Ireland short track speed skaters Sean McAnuff and Liam O’Brien touched down in Dublin to participate in a Milano Cortina Olympic Games team camp hosted by the Olympic Federation of Ireland for athletes targeting qualification for the Games that will take place from 6-22 February 2026.

Ireland first competed at the Winter Olympics at Albertville 1992 and since then 33 athletes have proudly flown the Irish flag on the world stage. However, no Irish athlete in any ice skating discipline has yet qualified or competed at a Winter Olympics and our skaters will be gunning to make history this time round for Milano Cortina.

Over the course of the two-day camp, athletes took part in a range of sessions including Games planning, psychology and performance support, and media training. They also heard from two-time Olympic boxing champion Kellie Harrington, who delivered an inspiring talk on managing the pressures of elite competition, drawing on her own Olympic experiences.

The camp also included a special event attended by the OFI President, Lochlann Walsh, OFI CEO Peter Sherrard, Italian Ambassador to Ireland Nicola Faganello, Sport Ireland CEO Dr. Una May, and OFI sponsors and partners.

Team Ireland Chef de Mission for the Milano Cortina Olympics, Nancy Chillingworth, said,

“This was a hugely valuable team-building camp. We rarely get the chance to bring our winter athletes together, as they’re usually competing across the globe. Over the past two days, we were delighted that six of the Milano Cortina potential athletes were able to attend the camp in person. They made the most of their time here, taking full advantage of the world-class facilities at the Sport Ireland Institute, who ran a range of workshops covering everything from anti-doping and performance management to psychology and a boxing-based team-building session. They also attended a storytelling workshop, which was followed by a media day.

“A standout moment was the talk with Kellie, who generously shared her time, answered questions, and offered invaluable advice on handling the pressures of high-level performance.”

Having narrowly missed out on Beijing 2022 by one spot, the magnitude of the Olympics is not lost on O’Brien.

“Getting together here, at the Irish Olympic headquarters, has been very special. We got to get to know the other athletes but also, to see the Olympic rings here and the Irish crest on our jerseys, it really hits home to you that you are representing Ireland and are so proud to do it.”

McAnuff agreed that it was inspiring and motivating to come together with Irish athletes from other sports who are also pursuing their dreams to be part of Team Ireland at Milano Cortina 2026.

“I didn’t think this was even hyped up enough because I honestly didn’t think it was going to be this exciting or informative. It was also great to meet the other athletes. It’s a real eye opener to see how many other athletes are trying to achieve the same as me in Ireland in winter sports.”

 

ISAI Communication 13

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The Ice Skating Association of Ireland announces measures to ensure the eligibility of individuals applying for ISAI membership.

ISAI Communication 13

Soucisse and Firus 28th In World Rhythm Dance

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Carolane Soucisse (30) and Shane Firus (31) have finished in 28th place in the rhythm dance at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Boston, United States of America.

The two-time Irish national champions took to the ice in the home arena of the Boston Celtics as the first to skate in Warm-Up Group 4.  They began their James Brown medley programme with a Level 2 midline step sequence. For the sequential twizzle sequence Soucisse was given a Level 3 while Firus was Level 2. They earned a Level 1 for their pattern type step sequence, followed it with their choreographic rhythmic sequence and closed with a rousing Level 4 rotational lift. Their score of 58.68 points was not what they had hoped for coming into the event and was unfortunately not enough to advance to tomorrow’s free dance.

“We thought the energy was very good,” Firus said. “Obviously we had two small errors – an error on the twizzle and on the pattern type step sequence. Overall though we are very happy with how we attacked it. It was unfortunate that we did have the errors on those two elements. We couldn’t have been more prepared for this event, so we’ll just have to go back, go home and start working again and hop to it.”

“I think besides our own personal goal also a goal we have had since we started representing Ireland is to bring awareness of the sport and help the next generation to get a better shot,” Soucisse said.

 

Soucisse And Firus In Quest To Show Season Best At Worlds

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Carolane Soucisse (30) and Shane Firus (31) carry Ireland’s hopes in the ice dance event at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships which are being held this week (26 March to 30 March) in Boston, United States of America.

This will be the second time the ice dance duo represent Ireland at Worlds. Last year in Montreal, Canada, they finished 20th and will be aiming for an even better showing this time round. The two-time Irish national champions train in Toronto, Canada with their coaches Carol Lane, Jon Lane, Juris Razgulajevs and Marc-Andre Servant.

Soucisse and Firus get their competition under way in the rhythm dance which begins at 15:15 (Irish time) on Friday, 28 March. Thirty-six teams from 27 nations will fight for the 20 spots available in the free dance on Saturday, 29 March. This year’s Worlds carry a special significance in that 19 of the 23 quota places available for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina will be decided in Boston.

“We want to strongly represent Ireland and skate to the best of our abilities,” Firus said. “The Irish community is so present here in Boston that it feels like we are at a home Worlds.”

“Having our best showing of the season is the main goal here in Boston and we hope that if we accomplish that we can place ourselves in the top twenty and secure Ireland a spot for the upcoming Olympic Games,” Soucisse added.

The ISU World Figure Skating Championships were first held in 1896. 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.  Last year Soucisse and Firus became the first ice dance team from Ireland to compete at Worlds.

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 they take place in Boston.

The ISU World 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 #WorldFigure and #FigureSkating hashtags.

Irish National Figure Skating Championships 2025

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The Ice Skating Association of Ireland (ISAI) is pleased to announce that the Irish National Figure Skating Championships 2025 will take place between 7-8 June at the Dundee Ice Arena in Dundee, Scotland.

This will be the fourth time the Dundee Ice Arena has hosted the event. Entries are open to competitors in Advanced Novice singles and Junior and Senior singles and ice dance.

The Championship Announcement and Entry Form can be found on the dedicated event page. The entry deadline is 5pm, 2 May 2025.

McAnuff Wraps Up Season In Style At Short Track Worlds

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Sean McAnuff (27) concluded his season this weekend at the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Beijing, China

McAnuff got his Worlds under way in Heat 7 of the 1500m quarterfinals. He was in the hunt to advance right up until two laps to go when he found himself unable to go with the pace. He came home in a time of 2:25.402 for fifth place. In Heat 6 of the 500m preliminaries he continued his fine form in the distance with a new Irish record of 41.928 which him in fourth place. By the time Heat 10 of the 1000m preliminaries rolled around, he was firing on all cylinders. He placed third in a time of 1:29.737 and missed out by just one place going through to the Heats later in the day.

McAnuff began the second day of racing in Heat 4 of the 1500m repechage quarterfinals. He kept in contact with the leaders until the final few laps and crossed the line in seventh place with a time of 2:21.571. He ranked 48th for the distance. Next up was the 500m repechage quarterfinals and he was drawn in Heat 6. He showed some great strategic racing making a pass on the final lap that propelled him into second at the finish and lowering the Irish record once more to 41.836. He came 33rd in the overall distance classification.

On the final day of racing for the season McAnuff lined up in Heat 2 of the 1000m repechage quarterfinals. He kept himself in the thick of things until the penultimate lap when two athletes ahead of him collided. He took the opportunity to avoid getting caught up and swerved around to come home in first place with a time of  1:26.853. He advanced to the repechage semifinals and raced in Heat 1 where he finished fourth in a time of 1:27.252.

“Finishing in the 1000m with my best ever ranking in an ISU World Championships is a great feeling,” McAnuff said. “To finish strongly in the 1000m and set another new Irish record in the 500m is the culmination of this season’s dedication, sacrifice and of course the support from my wife, training partners, family and friends, as well as the Irish federation. I have felt my understanding and confidence grow this season more than ever before. I took away from this competition that I have more work to do on my starts and the set up of my first half lap strategy. Overall, I must say this weekend’s experience has been an absolute motivation for me to keep pushing my limits going into this off season and into the Olympic season to come!”

McAnuff Eyes Up Short Track Worlds

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Sean McAnuff (27) will make his third appearance at an ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships when he takes to the ice this weekend (14-16 March) in Beijing, China.

McAnuff has enjoyed the best season of his career so far and just last month brought the Irish 500 metres record under the 42 second barrier and set a new personal lifetime best in the 1000 metres. He will be hoping the luck of the Irish will be with him this St. Patrick’s weekend as he will Ireland’s sole representative racing inside the Capital Indoor Stadium. Short Track Worlds were first held back in 1976. Ireland has been represented at every edition since 2017.

McAnuff starts racing on Friday, 14 March with the qualification rounds of the 500, 1000 and 1500 metre distances. Subsequent rounds, quarterfinals, semifinals and finals will take place on Saturday, 15 March and Sunday, 16 March.

“It is so exciting to be back in Beijing for the World Championships,” McAnuff said. “I think so far this season, more than any other, I have demonstrated a realistic understanding of my skills and growth capabilities as an athlete. I set many goals this season and I have been able to push myself to new lengths in order to achieve them. This weekend is no different, but as it marks the end of my season, I hope to display several of the various areas I have grown in. Perhaps I’ll manage to achieve one or all of the following: break another Irish record, finish with my best overall ranking in a distance, and skate as tactically as possible in order to make the afternoon session.”

The ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships will be broadcast online 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 #WorldShortTrack and #ShortTrackSkating hashtags.

Membership Renewal

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Annual memberships are now up for renewal!

As per ISAI Communication 11, there will be an extended term of 16 month membership for 2025/2026 running from 1 March 2025 till 30 June 2026.

Reflecting the longer membership year, the 2025/2026 membership fee will be €130. Membership can be renewed via the Sportlomo website registration portal.