O’Sullivan 18th At Tayside Trophy

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Saoirse O’Sullivan (Co. Tipperary) has finished 18th in the Junior Women’s event at this weekend’s Tayside Trophy in Dundee, Scotland.

O’Sullivan opened her short programme yesterday with a double flip. She fell on a double Axel attempt, but came back with a Level 3 sit spin. Other elements in her routine included a double loop-double toe loop combination, a Level 1 flying camel spin, a Level 2 step sequence and a Level 2 change foot combination spin. She posted a score 27.07 points for the segment which was an increase on last month’s performance at the ISU Junior Grand Prix and put her in 18th place overnight.

For her free skating this morning, O’Sullivan commenced with a double loop and a double Salchow-double toe loop combination. She continued with a double flip and a Level 4 sit spin. She fell on a subsequent double Lutz. A double flip-single Axel-single Axel jump sequence, a second double loop and a Level 2 change foot combination spin all received positive grades of execution from the judging panel. She scored 53.31 points for her free which gave her a combined total of 80.38, another improvement on her ISU Junior Grand Prix outing.

 

McAnuff and O’Brien Get Season Under Way

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Irish short trackers Liam O’Brien (Co. Cavan) and Sean McAnuff (Co. Antrim) got their seasons under way this weekend respectively at Shanghai Trophy in Shanghai, China and Dutch Open Short Track in Heerenveen, The Netherlands.

O’Brien was first off the mark in Shanghai where he raced over the course of three days with his best finish coming in the 1500 metres where he advanced to the final and came fifth. He also raced as part of Team Ireland in a Mixed Team Relay with three skaters from other federations. The team ended up fourth in the final.

Meanwhile McAnuff made his comeback to international competition at the Dutch Open after being forced to sit last season out through injury. It was a busy return as he competed in 11 races over the course of the three days. He ended up classified 29th in the 500 metres, 34th in the 1000 metres and 40th in the 1500 metres with the highlight coming when he won his 500 metre quarterfinals. He took 36th place in the overall classification.

Introducing The Irish Wolfhounds

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The Ice Skating Association of Ireland is pleased to introduce the Irish Wolfhounds, our new Team Ireland identity for this season’s inaugural ISU Short Track World Tour.

In collaboration with the International Skating Union and a team of designers, each national federation competing on the tour was charged with the task of coming up with a symbol that encapsulates the spirit of their nation’s skaters. Steeped in our ancient history and mythology, the bold and brave Irish Wolfhound is a perfect embodiment of the ambition and drive our short trackers bring to the ice in competition.

“We are thrilled to be a part of this striking and innovative initiative by the ISU and our colleagues worldwide for this year’s ISU Short Track World Tour,” ISAI President  Seán Gillis said. “We look forward to the new team identities bringing even stronger engagement with the public and attracting new fans to our incredibly exciting sport.”

This season’s ISU Short Track World Tour launces in Montreal, Canada and will stop in the United States of America, China, Republic of Korea and the Netherlands before culminating in Milan, Italy for the test event of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games.

To keep up to date with the ISU Short Track World Tour visit https://short-track.com/

O’Sullivan 33rd At Gdansk Junior Grand Prix

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Saoirse O’Sullivan (Co. Tipperary) has finished 33rd at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Solidarity Cup in Gdansk, Poland.

Competing in her first ever international event, O’Sullivan got under way in yesterday’s Junior Women’s short programme. Skating to “The Storm (Live)” by Havasi and Peter Pejtsik, she began with a double flip. A double Axel did not go according to plan resulting in a fall, but she picked herself up and came back with a Level 4 sit spin. She then landed a double loop-double toe loop jump combination and rounded out her routine with a Level 1 flying camel spin, a Level 1 step sequence and a Level 2 change foot combination spin. She scored 26.30 points to put herself in 34th place overnight.

This afternoon O’Sullivan returned for the free skating. Performing to “Golden River” by Parry Music, she commenced with a double loop and went on to cleanly land the rest of her jumping elements, including two jump combinations and jump sequence. Once again she maxed out with a Level 4 sit spin which was even better than the day before. She also included a choreographic step sequence and a Level 2 change foot combination spin. The only element of the programme where she struggled was with a flying camel spin that did not meet the features to be required as valid and she received no points. A free score of 53.38 was enough for 32nd in the segment and she ended her ISU Junior Grand Prix debut with a total of 79.68 points.

“I’m very pleased with my overall performance at my first Junior Grand Prix,”  O’Sullivan said. “It was a brilliant experience with so much to learn and take forward.”

Videos

Short Programme

Free Skating

O’Sullivan Set For Junior Grand Prix Debut

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Saoirse O’Sullivan (Co. Tipperary) makes her first appearance on the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating when she competes at this week’s Solidarity Cup in Gdansk, Poland (26-28 September), the fifth stop on this year’s series.

The 2024 Irish Junior Women’s silver medallist begins in the Short Programme on Thursday, 26 September and skates again on Friday, 27 September in the Free Skating.

“I am so excited to be representing my country in my first Junior Grand Prix in Poland and am really looking forward to be competing with some of the best skaters in the world,” O’Sullivan said. “I know I will learn so much from this experience.”

The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series features young skaters from all over the world. The 2024/2025 season marks the 27th edition of the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating which was introduced in 1997. This season more than 300 skaters from over 50 different nations are expected to compete in the series.

This week’s Junior Grand Prix in Gdansk, Poland will be broadcast live on the Skating ISU YouTube channel. Direct links for each of the segments O’Sullivan will skate in are as follows:

Junior Women Short Programme (26 September)

Junior Women Free Skating (27 September)

The conversation about the series can also be followed by using the #JGPFigure and #FigureSkating hashtags on social media.

Soucisse And Firus 5th At Lombardia Trophy

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Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus (Co. Wexford) have finished fifth at Lombardia Trophy, an ISU Challenger Series event, in Bergamo, Italy.

The two-time Irish ice dance champions made a superb start to their season yesterday when they debuted their new James Brown medley rhythm dance. They opened with a Level 2 midline step sequence and followed with Level 4 sequential twizzles. They garnered Level 2 for their pattern step sequence and next included a choreographic rhythm sequence. They closed with a Level 4 rotational lift and earned 69.52 points to put themselves in fourth place overnight.

On the second day of competition Soucisse and Firus performed their new “When Harry Met Sally” free dance for the first time internationally. They began with a Level 4 stationary lift and rotational lift combination quickly racking up technical element points. For the one foot turns sequence Soucisse was graded Level 1, while Firus received a Level 2. A choreographic step sequence ensued before the duo reeled off a Level 4 dance spin. Their serpentine step sequence merited a Level 1 before achieving Level 4 with their synchronised twizzles. They executed a choreographic hydroblading movement, a Level 4 straightline lift and a choreographic lift to wrap things up. They posted a free score of 101.82 points which combined to give them a total of 171.34 points.

“We were quite tired, but I think everybody felt the dance was long,” Soucisse said. “We had a practice in the morning and eight hours in between so I think it is something we are going to have to take into consideration in our preparations. Overall, for our first competition of the season I think it went quite well. We still have a few things to work on, but I guess we’ll wait to see the protocol sheets.”

“I thought it was a great start, so onwards and upwards from here,” Firus added.

Soucisse And Firus Ready For Lombardia Trophy Challenge

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Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus (Co. Wexford) commence the 2024/2025 season in Bergamo, Italy at this weekend’s Lombardia Trophy (13-15 September), an ISU Challenger Series event.

The two-time national ice dance champions are made ice skating history earlier this year when they became the first ice dancers to represent Ireland at both the ISU European and World Figure Skating Championships. They are aiming to build on that success in the season ahead.

“It will be our first event of the season so the goal will be to perform the two programs as best we can so we have a good idea of where the programmes are at and what to work on next,” Soucisse said. “We are excited to get the season started!”
“We look forward to debuting our two new programs internationally,” Firus added. “We worked very hard this summer and want to show all the work we have put in.”
Competition Schedule

Saturday, 14 September – Rhythm Dance

Sunday, 15 December – Free Dance

All the action from Lombardia Trophy can be viewed live on the dedicated competition stream (paid subscription required). Stay tuned to the official Ice Skating Association of Ireland social media accounts for additional updates!

The ISU Challenger Series was introduced in 2014. It is a series of international Figure Skating Competitions organised by International Skating Union Members. Each season there are up to ten International Competitions linked together within the Challenger Series. Skaters may compete in up to three events on the series with their two best results counting towards their overall final standing.

Annual General Meeting 2024

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The Ice Skating Association of Ireland (ISAI) will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 25 September 2024 in person in Dublin. Current members will have received a notice via e-mail with the AGM Agenda attached.

Peterson 23rd At Maiden Junior Grand Prix

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Allie Peterson (Co. Galway) has finished 23rd at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Riga Cup in Riga, Latvia.

Peterson, in her Junior Grand Prix debut, first performed in yesterday’s Junior Women’s short programme. Skating to “Right Now” by The Pussycat Dolls (NBA Version), the current Irish Junior champion began with a triple Salchow-double toe loop attempt, but she could only tack on a single toe loop on the end of the triple. A subsequent double Axel was landed, although deemed a quarter short by the technical panel. A Level 3 sit spin, a Level 2 step sequence and a double flip followed. She closed out her routine with a Level 2 flying camel spin and a Level 2 change foot combination spin. A score of 37.16 points left her in 23rd place overnight.

This evening Peterson competed in Warm-Up Group 3 of the Junior Women’s Free Skating. This season she has chosen “Ange et demon” by Maxime Rodriguez and “Pie Jesu” by Saara Alto and Esko Grundstrom for her free. She struggled at the start of today’s performance with a step out of a downgraded triple toe loop, a fall on a triple Salchow and a hand down on a double Axel. She got back on track with a Level 3 change foot combination spin before reeling off a clean triple Salchow-double toe loop jump combination. She then executed a double Lutz-Euler-double Salchow jump sequence, a Level 3 flying sit spin and a choreographic step sequence. She concluded with a double flip-double toe loop combination and a Level 2 flying change foot combination spin. She earned a free score of 69.45 points which gave her a combined total of 106.61 points.

Videos

Short Programme

Free Skating

Peterson Prepared For First Junior Grand Prix

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Allie Peterson (Co.Galway) is all set to make her ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating debut this week when she performs at the Riga Cup in Latvia (29-31 August), the opening event of this season’s series.

The current Irish Junior Women’s champion competes in the Short Programme on Thursday, 29 August and will return to the ice on Friday, 30 August for the Free Skating.

“I am so excited and honoured to be representing the Irish team at my first JGP,” Peterson said. “I am hoping to skate my very best here in Latvia and to improve from my previous competitions. I am looking forward to a great experience.”

The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series features young skaters from all over the world. The 2024/2025 season marks the 27th edition of the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating which was introduced in 1997. This season more than 300 skaters from over 50 different nations are expected to compete in the series.

This week’s Junior Grand Prix in Riga, Latvia will be broadcast live on the Skating ISU YouTube channel. Direct links for each of the segments Peterson will skate in are as follows:

Junior Women Short Programme (29 August)

Junior Women Free Skating (30 August)

The conversation about the series can also be followed by using the #JGPFigure and #FigureSkating hashtags on social media.