Posts

Judge 12th At Road To 26 Trophy Olympic Test Event

/in , /by

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

/in , /by

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.

Milestones And Memories Abundant For Irish Ice Skating In 2024

/in , , /by

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

/in , /by

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

/in , /by

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.

 

Irish Figure Skaters Show Their Best At Denkova-Staviski Cup

/in , /by

A total of five figure skaters represented Ireland at this weekend’s Denkova-Staviski Cup in Sofia, Bulgaria competing in three different categories.

Dillon Judge (Co. Down) made his season debut at the event. In the short programme, he began with a pristine triple Lutz. He had to step out on the landing of a triple Salchow and lost points by not being able to turn into a combination. He executed a Level 3 change foot camel spin and a Level 2 change foot combination spin before landing a double Axel. He closed with a Level 4 flying sit spin and a Level 2 step sequence to score 52.66 points, the highest score he has ever posted for a short. He was in tenth place overnight.

Judge opened his free skating with a double Axel-double Axel sequence. He then reeled off a solo triple Lutz and a triple Lutz-double toe loop combination in succession before nailing a Level 4 flying sit spin. There followed a triple Salchow-double toe loop. He missed required features in change foot camel spin which resulted in the element receiving only a base level and had a hard fall on a second triple Salchow. Nevertheless he finished his routine with another career best score of 99.07 points which gave him a total of 151.73 points and 11th place overall.

Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus (Co. Wexford) had to withdraw midway through their previous competition last month due to illness and were on the comeback trail in Sofia. They commenced their James Brown routine with a choreographic rhythm sequence and a Level 1 midline step sequence. Level 4 sequential twizzles for Soucisse and Level 3 for Firus ensued with their pattern type step sequence receiving a base level. They closed out with a strong Level 4 rotational lift and sat in seventh place on 60.10 points after the segment.

The two-time Irish champions launched into their “When Harry Met Sally” free dance with intent. They produced an excellent stationary and rotational lift combination to get proceedings under way and continued with Level 3 foot turns for Soucisse and Level 2 for Firus. They next inserted a choreographic step sequence and a Level 4 dance spin. Their serpentine steps were Level 1 for Soucisse and Level 2 for Firus, while they both achieved Level 4 for their synchronised twizzles. They wrapped up with a choreographic hydroblading movement, a Level 4 straight line lift and a choreographic dance lift. A season best score of 104.02 was good enough for third in the free and fourth overall on a total of 164.12.

Two Irish skaters competed in the Junior Women’s event. Saoirse O’Sullivan (Co. Tipperary) was first up and she started positively her short programme with a good double flip. She came undone on a double Axel attempt, but rallied with a Level 4 sit spin. She eked out a double Lutz-double toe loop combination and Level 1 for a flying camel spin. She had an unfortunate fall in her Level 2 step sequence and ended with a Level 2 change foot combination spin. Despite the technical issues, she still managed to wind up with a career best score of 29.99 points for her short and placed 33rd. Due to a cut after the short, she did not advance to the free skating.

Sophia Tkacheva (Co. Wexford) was another Irish team member making her season debut. In her short programme, she stepped out on the landing of a double Axel and put a hand down on the first part of a double Lutz-double toe loop jump combination. She was awarded a Level 4 for a layback spin and got Level 1 for a flying camel spin. She landed a double flip and earned Level 2 for her step sequence. She had an untimely ending to the routine when she fell out of a Level 3 change foot combination spin. Nevertheless, her score of 34.82 points was enough for 29th and a place in the free skating.

Tkacheva was second to skate in the free and fell on her opening double Axel and also had difficulties with her triple Salchow attempt. She settled down with a double Lutz-double toe loop combination before performing a Level 4 flying change foot sit spin, a double loop and a double loop-Euler-double Salchow. She had another fall on a double flip-double toe loop combination and rounded out her programme with a Level 3 layback spin and a Level 2 change foot combination spin. With a score of 57.73 points she took 27th place in the free and moved up to 28th with a total of 92.55 points.

2024/2025 National Team Members Named

/in , , /by

The Ice Skating Association of Ireland has selected the following athletes to represent Ireland in international competitions during the 2024/2025 season:

Figure Skating

Senior Men – Dillon Judge* (County Armagh)

Senior Ice Dance – Carolane Soucisse/Shane Firus (County Wexford)

Junior Women – Saoirse O’Sullivan (County Tipperary), Allie Peterson (County Galway), Sophia Tkacheva* (County Wexford)

*Selected under Section 800 Paragraph 801.6

Short Track Speed Skating

Senior Men – Ryan McAnuff (County Antrim), Sean McAnuff (County Antrim), Liam O’Brien (County Cavan)

Irish Figure Skaters Ready To Take The Ice At Nationals

/in , /by

The cream of Irish figure skating talent assembles in Dundee, Scotland this weekend (8-9 June) for the Irish National Figure Skating Championships which take place over the course of two days at the Dundee Ice Arena. A total of seven skaters compete at the championships with four separate categories being held.

Dillon Judge (Co. Antrim) won his first Senior Men’s title last year. 2023/2024 was his first complete season in the senior ranks and he concluded his international events with a bronze medal at Triglav Trophy in Jesenice, Slovenia back in April. He is coached by Barbara Luoni at Ice Lab in Bergamo, Italy, an ISU Centre of Excellence.

Carolane Soucisse and Shane Firus (Co. Wexford) have had a busy and rewarding 2024. The 2023 Irish ice dance champions became the first ice dancers to represent Ireland at both the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in January and the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in March of this year. The recently married duo train in Toronto, Canada with Carol Lane, Jon Lane, Juris Razgulajevs and Marc Andre Servant.

Saoirse O’Sullivan (Co. Tipperary) was crowned Advanced Novice Girls champion at last year’s Nationals. This time round she competes in the Junior Women’s event. She is coached by Margaret O’Neill in Nottingham, England.

Allie Peterson (Co. Galway) makes her Irish Nationals debut this year in the Junior Women’s category. She trains under the tutelage of Tammy Gambill and her team in Colorado Springs, United States of America.

Sophia Tkacheva (Co. Wexford) is the reigning and two-time Junior Women’s champion and will compete again in the Junior Women’s event this weekend in Dundee. Her coaches are two-time European medallist Kevin van der Perren and eleven-time British champion Jenna McCorkell.

Caoilfhionn Kavanagh (Co. Louth) skates in the Advanced Novice Girls event in her first ever Nationals. She works with coach Fabrice Masachs in Riihimäki, Finland.

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

Judge Bags Bronze At Triglav Tropy

/in , /by

Dillon Judge has finished third at this weekend’s Triglav Trophy in Jesenice, Slovenia.

Judge began his final international of the season with yesterday’s short programme. He opened with a triple salchow-double toe loop combination and then stepped out of a triple Lutz. He executed a Level 3 change foot camel spin and a Level 3 change foot combination spin before his final jump, a double Axel. He closed his routine with a Level 2 flying sit spin and a Level 3 step sequence. He earned 52.55 points, his best score in the segment all season, which put him in 3rd place overnight.

Earlier today, Judge performed in the free skating. He began his programme by nailing a triple toe loop. As in the short, he had issues again with the triple Lutz and then fell on a double Axel. He attained Level 4 for a flying sit spin and cleanly landed a triple Salchow. A Level 2 change foot camel spin garnered him a positive grade of execution. Things did not go his way on a subsequent triple Salchow-single Axel jump sequence and on a double Lutz-Euler-single Salchow. He received Level 2 for his step sequence before singling a planned double loop. He ended with a Level 4 change foot combination spin and a choreographic step sequence. He scored 82.51 points for the free which gave him a total 135.06 points and the bronze medal.

Judge 4th; Tkacheva 27th at Sonja Henie Trophy

/in , /by

Dillon Judge and Sophia Tkacheva have finished fourth and 27th in their respective events at the Sonja Henie Trophy in Oslo, Norway this weekend.

In the Senior Men’s short programme, Judge got off to a solid start with a triple Salchow-double toe loop jump combination. Unfortunately, he fell on a triple Lutz and the change foot combination spin that followed received no value as it did not meet the requirements to be counted. A change foot combination spin was deemed to be Level 2. He had another fall on a double Axel before rounding out with a Level 2 flying sit spin and a Level 3 step sequence. He scored 37.29 points to put himself in fourth place overnight.

Judge returned the following day for the free skating. he began with a triple toe loop. He stood up this time on a triple Lutz even if it was over rotated. He then nailed a double Axel-double Axel sequence, a Level 4 flying sit spin and a triple Salchow. He then performed a Level 3 change foot camel spin and a choreographic step sequence. He followed with two jump combinations – a triple Salchow-double toe loop and a double Lutz-double toe loop. He concluded with a Level 2 step sequence, a double loop and a Level 3 change foot combination spin. He scored 90.32 points which placed him third in the free and gave him a total of 127.61 to remain in fourth place overall.

In the Junior Women’s short programme, Tkacheva got off to a shaky start with falls on a double Axel and a double flip, the latter of which was supposed to be in combination. She recovered with a Level 3 flying sit spin and a Level 2 layback spin. She landed a double Lutz and brought her routine to a close with a Level 3 step sequence and a Level 4 change foot combination spin. She earned 28.15 points to sit in 27th midway through the event.

Tkacheva began the free skating with an attempted double Axel which was downgraded. She next landed a double Salchow and singled a planned double Lutz. Her layback spin was graded Level 3 and she followed with a double loop. Another double loop immediately after resulted in a fall and the second part of a double flip-double toe loop combination was downgraded. She concluded her routine with a double flip, a choreographic step sequence, a Level 2 flying change foot sit spin and a Level 2change foot combination spin. She scored 46.90 points for her free and remained in 27th place overall with a total of 75.05 points.