The professional dancers were in competition at The International Championships in England

Results

Darren Bennett & Lilia Kopylova

James Jordan & Aleksandra Grabowska (Ola)

~ reached the semi-finals



Andrew Cuerden & Hanna Haarala (from last year)

~reached the quarter finals



http://www.dancesportinfo.net/Displa...?EventId=12896
Last edited by Eclipse80 : 13-10-2006 at 03:36

I was lucky enough to be at the Internationals last night and I've got to say a MASSIVE congratulations to James and Ola who were just on fire! They did so well to get to the Semi's (Probably their best result to date) and they were so delighted that they just couldn't stop kissing when their names got read!!! I was v impressed by them. (In terms of dancing ability, not kissing!!)

Congratulations to others as well, but perhaps their results were more expected!

what a shame we dont do so well in top competitions at the mo (by we I mean UK and the latin) Ballroom we still get 2 or 3 in major final but not the latin I remember when there would be donie, the stopfords and denise and david in top finals

Paul and Olga got to the final for England and have been doing very well recently. They will probably overtake Darren and Lilia as British number 1s.

Darren and Lilia have got to big finals, but he's been injured and so been out of competition for a long time and a lot of international talent has come through in the last couple of years!

It's only relatively recently that England hasn't got through to major finals consistently. Up until last year when they retired, Matthew Cutler and Charlotte Egstrand were consistenty up there with the best and of course, before that Matthew and Nicole and Paul Killick and Hanna were both always in all of the top finals and both won many major titles.

Perhaps we are just going through a transitional phase at the moment since the Cutlers and the killicks retired..but having said that it is so tough to get to the top as there is so much depth in competition, it may take a while before we see England claiming many multiple final spots again. There are so many awesome international dancers!

Sorry I've begun rambling...In short it is only since 2003/4 that we have not had more than one England couple in finals and although they do not do Strictly, Paul and Olga, who represent England, are breaking through into the big finals!!
Last edited by Erinfan : 13-10-2006 at 11:42

I was there too, what a fantastic evening, and to quickstep myself at the albert hall was a dream come true (thank you John)

But those dresses? What was that black net one all about???? Next year I'm taking sunglasses for all that sparkle (Already got the tickets!)

yes am pleased re Paul and Olga - and I was a fan of Paul Killick and Matthew too. It's a shame some of our top Ballroom people are not in SCD isnt it - I wonder why they are not ? maybe its the latin which puts them off ?

David and Denise were absolute stars!!!!! Love them love them love them!

yep David and Denise were brilliant and really nice people too !!

Agree They could do everything too... Ballroom & Latin.. and their cabarets were always wonderful.. they just oozed with personality! And you're right...very nice people too

tvaddict - Yes it was fantastic! The amateur Latin blew me away - there are so many strong men it is brilliant to see! The dresses were all amazing and must cost a fortune!! Sunglasses are definitely a good idea !! The ballroom was all so elegant and I'm a MASSIVE latin fan so the prof Lat was just a highlight of the whole night!!

Was torn between the top two couples as love them both, but Michael and Joanna were really on form last night and do so such interesting choregraphy that I'm glad they won and felt they deserved it. Perhaps Slavik and Elena need a little while longer to get that spark...they were electric in moments, but for me, not the whole way through like the Polish pair.

I had to miss the presentations and results to catch my train home, was gutted, what were Michael and Joanna's reactions to winning like? Slavik and Elena have been beating them recently so I'm sure their win was extra sweet!

Ps I'm sure your dancing was fabulous last night! It must have been a great experience!

Bendymixer - I agree it is a shame not to see the top ballroom couples in SCD, but I think the reason is that they work so hard with their competitive careers to keep their rankings so high, that they just can't afford to give their time to Strictly.

In fact, for this reason I'm surprised that Darren and Lilia decided to do the show as they joined at a point when they were making names for themselves in the Pro world. In my opinion I'm sure their ranking and progress has suffered as a result of their time being taken up with Strictly.

I sometimes wonder what the top ballroom couples think of Anton and Erin being portrayed as the best ballroom in the country on SCD when actually they are not...I LOVE A&E don't get me wrong, I think they're fantastic, but there are three couples out there working their socks off in competitions who are three of the best ballroom couples not just in England, but in the world.

I was at the albert hall as well last night. Just got back home actually. I personally was impressed by Ola, but not somehow so much by James. Darren and Lilia did really well, and are obviously getting back somewhere near to form. They must have been close to getting into the final I think.

Some of the dresses were really beautiful but I do agree that some outfits were really odd to say the least.

Many people obviously still have trouble thinking of Paul and Olga as representing England. They were first announced as representing the United States,and then as representing England, in the final.!! Did anyone else notice that?

It was nice to see nearly all the professionals from SCD there last night, apart from Darren and Lilia and James and Ola, Ian and Camilla were there, as were Nicole, Matt, Brendan, and of course Andrew and Hanna from last year. I believe Erin may have been there but did not see her, but not Anton apparently. Karen, of course, was commentating.

A really great evening!

have to agree about Anton & Erin and yes, to the lay person they do look really good but in the Ballroom world they were good competitors but not in the same league as our top three couples. I really like Erin but not so keen on Anton - not from the show but from past experience when my brother competed so tend to just not comment on him!!!

Must have been great at the Internationals last night have not been for a long while the dance school keeps me busy and not so easy to get away will try and get to Blackpool in November if time allows

nooooooooooo I missed Matt and Nicole! I saw Ian and Camilla, but didn't spot the Cutlers despite some searching!!!

Possibly cos they were propping up the bar with most of the other professional spectators!!! I found them in my search for a sandwich!!!

you always find who you want by the bar - at Blackpool it's the first place I head to !!!

I always see them all at the bar at Bournemouth, but the problem is at the Albert Hall, there is more than one bar!! I must have gone to the wrong one!I'd never been there before so I got a bit lost!!

How very true!! I may see you at the bar then??? Although last year at the Albert Hall I actually met Nicole in the ladies loo!!

Was Brendan on his own or was he with a female friend ?

Was Andrew in the bar with Nicole and Matthew?

Yes, he was!!! It was after he and Hanna were knocked out early on. Brendan was with female companion.

Were any of them with their Celeb partners? I think it would be great to show them a real competition, but I suppose they want the chance to catch up with all of their pro mates and to have some time away from the show!

Was Brendan with Lady v from love island ?

Nicholas was there with Nicole. Not sure who lady v is, I'm afraid, cos I never watched Love Island. Could you give me any more details?

here is a picture of her
[url]
http://editorial.gettyimages.com/source/search/FrameSet.aspx?s=EventImagesSearchState%7c0%7c1%7c0%7c28%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c1%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c72132448%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c%7c%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c0&p=3&tag=3

she is down the page with brendan
Last edited by welshbabe : 13-10-2006 at 13:09

To be honest, I am not sure, I didn't look at her particularly. But I don't think that was her. The lady with him was shorter than him and I think was darker with longer hair. I couldn't swear either way really, sorry!!! Thanks for the photo tho!!!