Bracknell Ice Skating Club Newsletter - May 2006

Bracknell Wins Inter-Club Artistic

BISC was in jubilant mood after winning an inter-club competition in which it came second last year.

The teams were so evenly matched in the artistic free skating competition held at the Bracknell rink on May 14 that the outcome could hardly have been closer with just one point between the top two clubs and the third placed club just two points behind that.

The competition, devised by BISC, was held for the first time last year and was so successful that it has become an annual event, although entries dropped from seven last year to five this time. “It ran very well again and everyone taking part seemed to enjoy it,” said Laura Hetebrij, Bracknell’s assistant competitions organiser who took charge of the event this year.

Unlike most skating competitions, artistic contests are less about ability and technique and more about entertainment - skaters’ music can include words and there is a lot of emphasis on costumes, props and scenery.

The marking scheme is also different in that each of the five judges marks a particular aspect of the programme – musical interpretation, choreography, and costumes and props in addition to technical merit and artistic impression - and also gives a mark for entertainment value. It means that someone with little technical ability but excellent costume and props and an original and entertaining programme can do better than a more skilful skater with a technically superior but dull programme.

Each of the five teams - Basingstoke, Bracknell, Gosport, Guildford and the Isle of Wight – was allowed up to six entries and could choose to compete in some or all of the five classes – four for individuals and one for groups of 2-4 skaters. Each competitor was awarded points – from 10 for a first place down to four – and the top four scores from each club were added to decide the final result.

First to skate for Bracknell, in the Level 1 and under class, was Sophie Torrington, aged 11, whose Casualty programme, in which she changes from a paramedic to a nurse, did not prove as popular as at the previous month’s Bracknell Open when she came second, and this time she and the club had to be content with sixth out of 7.

However the Level 2 and 3 class saw Olivia Clarke, 11, pick up maximum points when she came first of seven with her Choo-Choo-ChaBoogie, complete with steam engine, and Holly Jordan, 11, coming second as a Ghoul skating to Thriller.

Hannah Hetebrij, 15, found favour with the judges for her Stupid Cupid programme in the Level 4 and 5 class where she came second ahead of Bethany Jarvis, 13, whose Monkey Magic earned her fourth place in a field of seven.

At that stage Bracknell was in first place with 33 points, four points clear of Isle of Wight on 29 which was followed by Basingstoke on 28, Gosport on 26 and Guildford on 25.

Bracknell did not enter the Level 6 and over class – which Basingstoke won to put it in second place, just one point behind Bracknell - but saved its final entry for the group class where Bethany Jarvis and Seren Tudor, 14, as squabbling felines skating to the Mieow cats’ chorus came second of six to win a final nine points for the club which kept it in first place.

Results: Bracknell first with 37 points, Basingstoke second (36 points), Guildford third (34), Isle of Wight fourth (31), Gosport fifth (29).

Karen ensures Club Competitions will continue

The future of the club's competitions is secure for the time being despite Sue Truby's resignation as competitions' secretary this summer.

Karen Clarke, whose children - Leanne Burling, Olivia Clarke and Harvey Clarke - have competed in many club and inter-club competitions over the past few years, has volunteered to become club competitions organiser.

She will work alongside Sacha Hartley who takes over in the autumn as organiser of the club’s two annual Opens, and fellow committee member Lesley Brenikov who is to organise the Bracknell inter-club artistic competition. Sacha will also be responsible for disseminating information about Opens etc to the coaches, club table.
and club noticeboard.

Meanwhile don’t forget to come to the rink to cheer on the BISC team in the National Team Challenge final from 10am-7pm on Sunday, June 25, and to support the club’s skaters in the Bracknell Adult Open on Thursday, June 29 (free) and Friday, June 30 (dance).
* See back page for other committee changes.

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