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Four Titles Claimed At Irish Figure Skating Championships

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

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

Irish National Figure Skating Championships 2025

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.

Irish National Figure Skating Championships 2024

The Ice Skating Association of Ireland (ISAI) is pleased to announce that the Irish National Figure Skating Championships 2024 will take place between 8-10 June at the Dundee Ice Arena in Dundee, Scotland.

This will be the third 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.

“We are thrilled to be returning to the Dundee Ice Arena and I would like to thank our hosts for their hospitality for a third year in a row,” ISAI President Seán Gillis said. “We keenly anticipate seeing the cream of Irish figure skating vying for those coveted national titles.”

The Championship Announcement and Entry Form can be found on the dedicated event page. The entry deadline is 5pm, 10 May 2024.

Irish National Figure Skating Championships 2024

The Ice Skating Association of Ireland (ISAI) is pleased to announce that the Irish National Figure Skating Championships 2024 will take place between 8-10 June at the Dundee Ice Arena in Dundee, Scotland.

This will be the third 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.

“We are thrilled to be returning to the Dundee Ice Arena and I would like to thank our hosts for their hospitality for a third year in a row,” ISAI President Seán Gillis said. “We keenly anticipate seeing the cream of Irish figure skating vying for those coveted national titles.”

The Championship Announcement and Entry Form can be found on the dedicated event page. The entry deadline is 5pm, 10 May 2024.

Irish Figure Skating Championships 2023

The Ice Skating Association of Ireland (ISAI) is pleased to announce that the Irish Figure Skating Championships 2023 will take place on 17-18 June at the Dundee Ice Arena in Dundee, Scotland.

This will be the second 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.

“Following on from the successful staging last year, we are delighted to be returning to the Dundee Ice Arena once again,” ISAI President Seán Gillis said. “This year’s championships are being held a little later than usual, but we are looking forward to seeing the best Irish figure skating talent close out the 2022/2023 season in style.”

The Championship Announcement and Entry Form can be found on the dedicated event page. The entry deadline is 5pm, 5 May 2023.

Four Titles Decided At 2022 Irish Figure Skating Championships

Four titles were decided at this weekend’s Irish National Figure Skating Championships which were held at the Dundee Ice Arena in Dundee, Scotland. The Championships took place for the first time since 2020.

The Senior Men’s event was a tightly fought battle between Sam McAllister and Conor Stakelum. In the short programme, Stakelum nailed a triple Salchow, a triple toe loop-triple toe loop combination and a double Axel in his routine with two spins graded Level 4. He received a score of 59.11 points to lead overnight.

McAllister was close behind Stakelum after including a triple toe loop-triple toe loop combination, a triple Lutz and a double Axel in his programme. He also had a flying sit spin graded Level 4 by the technical panel to earn 58.45 points and second place at the halfway point of the event.

The free skating took place earlier today and McAllister was first to take to the ice. Skating to the “Pirates of the Caribbean” film soundtrack, he began with a triple Lutz-double toe loop combination and followed that with a triple toe loop. He then attempted a triple flip and a triple Lutz one after the other and also landed a triple toe loop and two double Axels with one in combination. He scored 98.65 points in the free to give him a total of 157.10 and a third consecutive national title.

“I am really pleased with my performances this weekend at the National Championships,” McAllister said. “After a hard season, having to withdraw from Europeans due to getting Covid, it was nice to finish the season off on a high.”

Stakelum performed in the free to the “Riverdance” musical soundtrack and he came very close to denying McAllister gold. He commenced with a triple Salchow-double toe loop combination and then attempted a triple flip. He also succeeded in landing a triple toe loop-double toe loop combination, a triple Salchow, a triple toe loop and a double Axel. A free score of 97.48 points was not quite enough to hold off McAllister and he claimed silver with a total of 156.59 points.

“I was happy with my short programme and enjoyed skating at my home rink in front of my friends even though I did not have the performance I wanted in the free,” Stakelum said.

The Junior Women’s event turned into another nail biter. Reigning champion Sophia Tkacheva opened her short programme with a double Axel attempt and went on to land a double Lutz-double toe loop combination and a double flip. She was awarded a Level 4 for her flying sit spin and earned 35.10 points to put herself in pole position going into the free skating.

Robyn Foster was first to skate in the whole championships and her short contained double Axel and triple Salchow combination attempts as well as a double flip. A change foot combination spin got her a Level 3 and she came second in the short with a score of 30.58 points.

Foster was again the first of all the championship skaters onto the ice this afternoon. She started with a double Axel-double toe loop combination and then attempted a solo double Axel. She also inserted a double Lutz and two double flips into her “Scheherazade” routine as well as a double loop-Euler-double Salchow combination. A Level 3 flying sit spin was a highlight of her programme. She scored 60.28 points in the free to wind up with a total 90.86 points and a first national title.

“It didn’t all go to plan, but there were lots of good things to take away from this competition, like landing my Axels in the free,” Foster said. “It was great seeing the rest of the team and I can’t wait to compete again and make improvements.”

Tkacheva narrowly missed out on retaining her title. She went for a triple Salchow at the beginning of her free to “Voila” by Barbara Pravi and also attempted a double Axel in addition to a double loop, a double flip, a double flip-double toe loop combination and a double Lutz-single Axel sequence. She garnered Level 4 for two spins to give her a free score of 54.71 and a total of 89.82 for second place in the standings.

“I was very happy with how I skated my short,” Tkacheva said. “It was my new personal best for that programme and the last time I was skating to that music so I really poured my heart and soul into that performance. Maybe a little too much because my free skating didn’t go so well. I made several silly mistakes that I had worked on before and were easily preventable. This was my last competition of the season and I’m excited to train and work on both of my programmes this summer.”

Dillon Judge retained his Junior Men’s title. In the short programme, he attempted a triple Salchow-double toe loop combination and a double Axel and landed a double flip. He completed a Level 4 flying sit spin and scored 35.46 points.

Judge opened his free programme with a clean triple Salchow and double Axel. He also included another triple Salchow attempt, double Lutz on its own and in combination with a double toe loop, a double flip-double toe loop and a double flip-Euler-double Salchow sequence. A free score of 70.32 points gave him a total of 105.78 points.

“The skates weren’t the skates I was looking for,” Judge said. “However, under the circumstances of being injured, I was content with the programmes. I am looking forward to next season when I have made a full recovery.”

Laura Hegarty and Kevin Hegarty made history this weekend when they became the first ice dance team to participate at an Irish championship. Their blues rhythm dance featured five elements – two patterns, a twizzle sequence, midline steps and a rotational lift. The siblings achieved a new Irish record score of 25.33 points.

The Hegartys closed out the competition at these Irish Championships with their “Lord of the Dance” free dance. They commenced with a combination spin and then attempted synchronised twizzles. A one foot step sequence followed and they also performed a rotational lift, diagonal steps, choreographic twizzles and a choreographic step sequence. They set two more Irish records for their free (31.67) and total (57.00).

“Although our performance was flawed, the competition was fun and it was great to have the opportunity to show ice dance at Irish Nationals for the first time,” Kevin said. “My sister and I have a lot to work on before our next competition, where we hope to deliver a better performance.”

“The sense of support from the fellow competitors was especially apparent during this time,” Laura said. “Our mistakes motivate us to work hard and thrive to improve.”

Full detailed results for the Championships are available here.

Irish Figure Skating Championships Back On Ice After Pandemic Break

The Irish Figure Skating Championships take place this weekend (21-22 May) at the Dundee Ice Arena in Dundee, Scotland. The Championships were last held in February 2020 prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. Eligible skaters will compete in four separate categories.

In the Senior Men’s event, Sam McAllister is aiming to pick up his third consecutive national title. After the disappointment of not being able to compete at this season’s European Championships, McAllister bounced back with two new Irish records and a silver medal at Triglav Trophy in Slovenia last month.

The Dundee Ice Arena is where Conor Stakelum trains and is looking to take a fifth Senior Men’s title. In January, Stakelum was called up to skate at the European Championships at short notice and finished 30th, the highest he has ever placed at the event.

This is the second time Robyn Foster participates in the Junior Women’s event at the Irish Championships. Foster had to withdraw after the short programme in 2020 due to injury. She ranked seventh at the Tayside Trophy back in November which was held at the same venue and was also seventh at last month’s Kurbada Cup in Latvia.

Sophia Tkacheva is the reigning Junior Women’s national champion. In September 2021, she made her ISU Junior Grand Prix debut this season when she placed 25th in Kosice, Slovakia. She also finished tenth at the Tayside Trophy and eighth at the Kurbada Cup.

Dillon Judge is set to retain the Junior Men’s title he won at the 2020 Championships. Judge has had a successful season so far with a silver medal at the Tayside Trophy and bronze at Kurbada Cup. He also participated on the ISU Junior Grand Prix for the first time at events in Latvia and Austria.

History will be made by Laura Hegarty and Kevin Hegarty who will become the first ice dance team to compete at the Irish Championships. The sister/brother duo are entered in the Junior Ice Dance category.

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

Provisional schedule

Cancellation of Irish Figure Skating Nationals 2021 (ISAI Communication No.9)

The Ice Skating Association of Ireland (ISAI) Board of Directors has determined that the Irish National Figure Skating Championships will not take place in 2021. Read the full decision in ISAI Communication No.9 below.

ISAI Communication No.9

2020/2021 Irish Figure Skating Championships Update (ISAI Communication No.8)

In light of the ongoing public health situation, the Ice Skating Association of Ireland (ISAI) has published an update on the 2020/2021 Irish National Figure Skating Championships which can be viewed in ISAI Communication No.8 at the link below.

ISAI Communication No.8