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Farrell Set For Junior Grand Prix Debut

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Julianna Farrell (19) makes her first appearance on the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating at the Solidarity Cup in Gdansk, Poland this week (2-4 October 2025).

The 2025 Irish Junior champion made her international debut at Cranberry Cup in Norwood, United States of America where she finished 18th. She becomes the 10th athlete to represent Ireland in the women’s category since Irish skaters began competing on the Junior Grand Prix in 2008. Her competition begins on Thursday, 2 October with the Junior Women’s Short Programme and concludes with the Women’s Free Skating on Friday, 3 October.

“I’m really excited to represent Ireland at the Junior Grand Prix in Poland,” Farrell said. “My main goal is to skate with confidence, show the progress I’ve made in training, and enjoy the experience of competing at this level.”

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Solidarity Cup 2025 will be streamed live on the Skating ISU YouTube channel.

Team Ireland Competition Schedule (Irish Time)

Thursday, 2 October

08:45-14:00 Women Short Programme

Friday, 3 October

15:30-21:30 Women Free Skating

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.

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.

Turner-Frick 32nd At Yerevan Junior Grand Prix

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In her first outing on the ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit, Ciera Turner-Frick has finished 32nd at the Armenian Cup in Yerevan, Armenia.

Turner-Frick opened the entire competition when she took to the ice for the Junior Women’s short programme. Skating to “Prima Vera” and “Divenire” by Ludovico Einaudi, she began with a cleanly landed double Axel and a double Lutz to follow. She also included a double flip-double toe loop combination and she closed with a change foot combination spin which garnered Level 4. A score of 32.97 points left her in 31st place overnight.

In her free skating routine to “Victory Battle Cry” by Two Steps from Hell, Turner-Frick had a nervy start and unfortunately fell on the same double Axel she had successfully landed in the short. She gradually settled down got full value for a double Lutz-single Axel jump sequence and positive grades execution for a double loop and a Level 3 sit spin. A change foot combination spin once again received Level 4 from the technical panel. She earned 50.10 points for the free to give her a total of 83.07 to end up in 32nd overall.

“Thank you so much to the Ice Skating Association of Ireland for selecting me for my first competition representing Ireland,” Turner-Frick said. “I was delighted to have a good solid start with my short programme, Being the opening skater at my first international and this showed in my spins and steps. I lost confidence in my free when I fell on my double Axel combo jump at the start which I’d been landing well all week. I then struggled to centre my jumps though I managed to achieve 50.10 in my free despite losing careless points. Scoring over 83 as a debut skate is a good start, but I hope to be able to rapidly improve that total for Ireland at my next competition.”

Short Programme

Free Skating

Turner-Frick Making Her Junior Grand Prix Debut For Ireland

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This week Ciera Turner-Frick represents Ireland for the first time at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Armenian Cup in Yerevan, Armenia (5-7 October) which is the final stop of this season’s seven stage series.Turner-Frick competes in the Junior Women’s Short Programme on the afternoon of Thursday, 5 October and will return to the ice on the evening of Friday, 6 October for the Free Skating.“I am very proud to be representing Ireland at my first Junior Grand Prix,” Turner-Frick said. “I hope to achieve two clean skates and to be able to fully appreciate my first opportunity on the circuit.”The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series features skaters aged 13 to 19 (21 for male Ice Dance and Pair Skating partners) from all over the world. The 2023/2024 season marks the 26th edition of the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating that 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 Yerevan, Armenia will be broadcast live on the ISU’s dedicated YouTube channel. Direct links for each of the segments Turner-Frick will skate in are as follows:Junior Women Short Programme (5 October)Junior Women Free Skating (6 October)The conversation about the series can also be followed by using the #JGPFigure hashtag on social media.

Tkacheva Finishes 32nd at Istanbul Junior Grand Prix

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Sophia Tkacheva has made her 2023/2024 season debut at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Istanbul, Türkiye and placed 32nd in the Junior Women’s event.

The two-time Irish junior champion skated on the first day of competition in the short programme. Performing to “Bust Your Knee Caps (Johnny Don’t Leave Me)” by Pomplamoose, she attempted a double Axel and a triple Salchow to begin, but unfortunately fell on both elements. She next completed a Level 2 flying sit spin and a Level 1 layback spin. She singled a planned double Lutz jump which meant that she received no points for that elements. She closed out with a Level 1 step sequence and a Level 3 change foot combination spin. Her score for the short was 21.88 which put her in 33rd place overnight.

The following afternoon the County Wexford skater was back at the Silivrikapi Ice Rink for the free skating. She was unveiling her new free, a Romeo and Juliet choreographed by her coach and two-time European bronze medallist Kevin van der Perren. Initially, she valiantly attempted the double Axel and triple Salchow that had not come off in the short. Although they did not come off again this time, she rallied with a double Lutz-double toe loop jump that received full value from the judging panel. She also received positive grades of execution for her Level 2 layback spin and choreographic sequence. She earned a free score of 49.35 points which is a new ISU personal best and placed her 30th in the free. Her total score was 71.23 points.

You can catch Tkacheva’s performances below:

Short Programme

Free Skating

Tkacheva Glides Into New Season At Istanbul Junior Grand Prix

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Sophia Tkacheva (County Wexford) is the first Irish figure skater to compete this season as she takes to the ice this week in the Junior Women’s event at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Istanbul, Türkiye (6-9 September).

Tkacheva will first skate in the short programme, which opens proceeding at the event on the morning of Thursday, 7 September. She will be back on the ice the following afternoon (Friday, 8 September) for the free skating.

“Over the summer, I got a new free programme, choreographed by my coach Kevin van der Perren,” Tkacheva said. “This will be my first time skating it at a competition, so my main goals for the JGP in Istanbul will be show this new programme and all the skills and elements that come with it to the best of my ability. I am aiming to be expressive and show emotion through my skating while also concentrating on the technical aspect of my skating.”

The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series features skaters aged 13 to 19 (21 for male Ice Dance and Pair Skating partners) from all over the world. The 2023/2024 season marks the 26th edition of the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating that 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 Istanbul, Türkiye will be broadcast live on the ISU’s dedicated YouTube channel. Direct links for each of the segments Tkacheva will skate in are as follows:

Junior Women Short Programme (7 September)

Junior Women Free Skating (8 September)

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