Supadance League Finals

Weekend 11th - 12th November 2006 : Prestatyn

My apologies for the late filing of this report caused by the failure of my internet connection.

Match Report

I have to say that Pontins Prestatyn is not the most glamorous of locations for one of the top UK dance competitions of the year. Freezing chalets, lumpy beds, driving rain and howling winds aside, however, this was a weekend not to be missed.

Saturday

It was a long trek out to the wilds of North Wales for the four dedicated teams of Wright Rhythm dancers and their loyal band of supporters. But bleary eyes were rubbed, aching backs were stretched and sore heads were shaken as we made our way to the gladiatorial ring that was the dance floor and our home-from-home for two days. Saturday morning saw supporting events for everyone and gave the opportunity to see the standard of competition we would be up against for the main team events... it was prodigious! Fighting not to be overwhelmed by witnessing the cream of the countries medallist dancers strutting their stuff each couple took to the floor with just their wits and months of training to protect them. Some were felled early as pressure of the contest claimed them but then rallied to support their remaining team-mates as the struggle reached fever pitch each round more tense and exciting than the last until suddenly... silence. With just two Wright Rhythm couples remaining Kyle and Rebecca and Connor and Jemma it was announced that the finals of the supporting events would be completed in the evening - the hopes and fears of the school would rest on shoulders of their champions.

After the excitement of the morning the first rounds of the team competition in the afternoon seemed a comparatively sedate affair. The one exciting moment was that the adult first division team made the final, a great achievement against such tough opposition.

Saturday evening was a semi-formal event at which we were treated to the spectacle of the top dancers at the even battling it out for the prize of best couple at the event. Representing Wright Rhythm Kyle, Rebecca, Connor and Jemma demonstrated why they lead their respective teams on to the floor. In a whirl of sparkles and swirls they danced out of their skins to each achieve forth in their respective events results that should give them great confidence as they prepare for the Nationwide IDTA finals in April next year. Celebrations were short lived, however, as everyone retired to prepare for the next day and the main event of the weekend - the team match finals.

Sunday

Sunday morning brought some minor supporting events and passed in somewhat of a blur as everyone focused on the team matches. In the background last minute preparations were being made and nervous energy burned around the ballroom until finally the team marched out onto the floor and were greeted by a roar of support from the onlookers. Each team in turn gave their all for the cause - gliding, spinning, gyrating and flying round the floor before retiring with dripping brows and aching legs. Everyone danced superbly but there were a couple of outstanding performances I want to point out...

Keiran and Thee who put together a full set of new routines in two weeks and managed to make it look like they'd been performing them for years.
Carys and Nichole who danced against couples almost twice their age and height and proved themselves easily equal to it.
Steve and Carol who danced beyond themselves and finally found they could dance and smile at the same time.

Eventually disciplined dancing gave way to wild celebrations as the teams marched off knowing they had given everything and all that remained was in the hands of the judges. Conga lines twisted around the building and everyone let their hair down as the tension of the day worked itself out.

A hushed and exhausted calm descended on the ballroom as the time for the results arrived. The result of the weekend belonged to the senior team - beyond all their expectations they had fought through to be proclaimed winners of the nationwide division 2. They were closely followed up on to the stage by the Juniors who claimed second place in nationwide division two, enough to make them winners of the southern area. Paula and Gilli couldn't help beaming as they led the teams up to collect their trophies and with highly creditable performances from the adults and juveniles against tough opposition, the weekend was declared yet another Wright Rhythm success.

Full(ish) Results

Team Competitions

Wright Rhythm entered four teams of 'Wright Dazzlers'...

Winners of the 35-49 years Nationwide Division 2,
4th in the 16-34 years Nationwide Division 2:

Rob Wimble and Debbie Clarke
Howard Lewis and Gillian Lewis
Steve Elsbury and Carol Elsbury
John Sneath and Lynn Smith

Winners of the 12-16 years Southern Division 2,
Second in the 12-16 years Nationwide Division 2:

Connor McCabe and Jemma Stripling
Chris Williams and Charlotte Field
Alexandra Withers and Ashleigh Frost
Nichole Wimble and Carys Woods

6th in the 16-34 years Nationwide Division 1:

Kyle Magee and Rebecca Woolnough
Peter Normand and Rebecca Emmott
Frazer Magee and Jaimie Scrivener
Kieran Smith and Theodora Karavasili

7th in the under 12 Nationwide Division 1:

Hannah Bonnor and Holly Freeman
Nichole Wimble and Carys Woods
Jon Williams and Hannah Brown

Supporting Events

We also had some excellent results in the supporting events...

Kyle and Rebecca came 4th in the 16-34 years ballroom 5 dance
Connor and Jemma came 4th in the 12-15 years latin 5 dance
Hannah and Holly came 5th in the U12s jive
Howard and Gillian won the 35-49 years waltz (I think)

And many others that I can't remember - drop me a line if you want me to add your results.

Photos

Only a few 'snaps' from the weekend I'm afraid - it was a time for doing rather than photographing...