Blackpool - The Scots Rule OK!

[Gus]

Well guys, you came, you saw, you picked up some serious silverware and you made it a weekend to remember! I''m now desperately trying to renounce my UK passpost and get a Scottish one instead! Seriously, the whole event owes the Scottish horde a massive thanks for the quality of dancers, the enthusiaism and sportsmanship and the fantastic atmosphere generated!

For those that missed the fantastic performances by both the Scottish teams (1st AND 2nd), Mel and James's brilliant performance in the Intermediate Final and the great winning couple in the Seniors (Sorry ... dont know your names) .... all achievements to be rightfully proud of.

Without commenting on some of the Judging decisions (a pointless exercise) ... I think that Fran and Bill, Bombay Bad Boy and De and Sheena and Alex can call count themselves unlucky not to have progressed further. Respect to you and all the other Scottish competitors.

ALSO .... big thanks to all the non-competing Scotts who just plain and simply had a great laugh ... had some great dances and still owe a load of dances ... promise to get up to Scotland again soon (Edinburgh at the end of the month??)

Also would like to thank the Scots Army for the fantastic support you gave me and Helen in the Advanced ... sorry we didn't manage to give you much to shout about but your support really did help us to lift our game. Cheers guys.

Sorry ... getting all tired and emotional! Lots to talk about and no small amount of controvesy ... but it would be nice if all the 'post-match' discussion could celebrate the high points rather than pick through the bowels of 'what might have been'.

Roll on the Scottish Champs!!!!

[Lou]

Sounds like you had a great time - well done the Teams & everyone!
So come on. We need to know all the gossip!

[Emma]

I'm too tired to string a sentence together but what a fantastic weekend and huge thanks to the Scottish hordes for making me so welcome - you thoroughly deserved all of the prizes you got, and even some of the ones you didn't get!

And what dancers...oooh....fantastic...what a pleasure!...can't wait to come and dance with you all again!



That's it, I'm going to sleep now....

[John S]

Originally posted by Gus

the great winning couple in the Seniors (Sorry ... dont know your names)

John & Hazel Lusby - in the winning cabaret team, too, so DOUBLE UK CHAMPIONS - Respect!!!!!!

Originally posted by Gus

fantastic performances by both the Scottish teams (1st AND 2nd), Mel and James's brilliant performance in the Intermediate Final

Absolutely - James has only been dancing 4 months, and he's in a national final!!!!! Makes me sick.

Medals too in the Double Trouble for Bill/Denise/Fran (2nd), and Brady/Heather/Melanie (3rd).

And in the Lindy Hop I know Linzi and Gilbert got 3rd place, but am I right that the winners (sorry, don't know their names) are also from Edinburgh?

Appearances too in the Take a Chance final for Brady and Carole with their respective partners.

There was another Scottish couple in a final but for the life of me I can't remember the guy's name - I must be having a Senior Moment. But thanks, Cathy, for the foot massage beforehand - one of the highlights of the day. Try massaging my head next time and I'll maybe remember the moves!!!

The best comment I heard was from one of the Chance2Dance crew, who said that some of them got quite emotional when the two Scottish cabaret teams held up the presentations for a spontaneous bout of mutual congratulations, commiserations and lots of hugging!! That was really what the day, and ALL dance competitions, should be about - to do your best, have fun, accept any vagaries of judging decisions with good grace, celebrate each other and above all enjoy life - it's short enough.

[Franck]

Originally posted by Gus
Seriously, the whole event owes the Scottish horde a massive thanks for the quality of dancers, the enthusiasm and sportsmanship and the fantastic atmosphere generated!

Wow, congratulations to all of you who made it there and obviously had a fantastic time...

I am even more sorry I missed it now
I actually spent the whole week-end wondering how you were all doing and checking the Forum / my mobile phone in case any of you had found an internet cafe...
Thanks Sheena for the late night txt with a summary of the brilliant results!

As ever guys and girls, you did Scotland proud!

Franck.


... now, onto the gossip and the after-champs party???

[Scot]

Just back from Blackpool and I have to say the Scottish performance was outstanding, but then why would that ever be in question.

Great job guys you have made Scottish Ceroc proud.

[Bill]

Agree with what's been said so far.especially about the reaction from Wendy & Avril's team when they were receiving their prizes and realised that the Dundee team had won. Spontaneous cheering and hugging !!! Wish we were allowed vidseo cameras because that moment is going to stay with me for a long time. Very special congrats to Hazel and John. They are a lovley couple but in the final hazel was quite sensational - I've never seen her dance quite like that before !! Keep it up girl - John clearly enjoyed it

What a pity they couldn't have been first equal !!!!!

Depsite some seriously odd decisions ( and no doubt there will be some debate soon - I hope ) it was a great day and the Scots contingent did themselves proud as supportive and generous spectators and contenstants.

Memo to Keith and Tony & CTD team......... great day - wonderful atmosphere and thanks to all the team. ps could you consider relaxing the 'no video rule ....please for those of us going to London it would have been really good to see our 'performances' before we head off to see what we did and didn't do right on the day and nice to review the team performances again before August !

Anyway, just heading off for a nice relaxing soak to tend to these old weary legs... Well done again to everyone for helping make it a great day.

[Dance Demon]

Just back from Blackpool and proud to be a Scotsman
Total respect to everyone who competed. Nice to see so much silverware come north, especially with the standard overall being so high. Had a great weekend and thought the venue was brilliant. Well done Chance2Dance for the excellent way the whole event ran.

[Lorna]

WOW!!!!!



Well done to everyone, in particular to those North of the Border.
You've really done yourselves proud. I only wish I had been there to see it. Next year!

Big mentions to several people on stage this week. You deserve it!

As Franck said I've also been logging on all weekend to get the latest from the event. I was so chuffed to see names that I recognised amongst the winners. Go Guys!!

BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lotsa love Lorna x-x

[TheTramp]

Yeah. What they all said above.

Makes me proud to be an honourary Scot!!

You guys were fantastic. Especially with the level of support. And thanks for the cheers you gave Laili and I.

Steve

[Dreadful Scathe]

Brilliant day, especially for Scotland. Was a great competition overall though.

Most memorable, apart from the many great Scottish performances was the Showcase. The standard of Showcase entries was fantastic, lots of totally original and impressive moves and routines. Looking forward to the DVD see I can watch the things I missed.

Lets make the next Scottish Comp just as good as this . Hope the c2d team will come up for it !

[Fran]

I am soooooooo teird!!!! but it was FABBY!!!! Great company, great music, and Fabby dances!!

well done to everyone.

thankyou to denise and bill, you guys are great fun to double trouble with.

looking forward to next year for another great day out!



big hug to everyone who was there
fran xx

[Franck]

Originally posted by Dreadful Scathe
Brilliant day, especially for Scotland. Was a great competition overall though.

Indeed!
Any idea how many people were there for the day, and how many people had come from Scotland?

From the sound of things (and judging by how quiet the Forum was over the week-end), everyone was there!

Franck.

[Alfie]

Hi All,
Many congrats to you all from north of the border. What a super weekend we've all had. I'm not sure how many people were there on the day but It was nice to see Sheena and Heather again and to dance with some more of your wonderful ladies. Scot's champs here we come!
It was great to see and hear you all supporting eveyone and the haul of silverware was definately justified. The Double Trouble and your Teams were awsome.
I think the scottish contingent made the weekend for more memorable for eveyone who went.
Also congrats to the lovely Della and young Elliot on their victory in the Intermediates.
Again Many Congratulations and thanks for being such great Fun.
Cheers Everybody

[DaveD]

What a weekend! I intended to take it easy on Friday night, you know, a few dances to check out the friction coefficent of the floor, then an early night... Wrong!! Great night, loads of great dancers.

Saturday was even better, fantastic turnout from the Scottish contingent, great support! After all the competitions and the emotional high of winning the team cabaret, it was great to relax and enjoy the dancing to a variety of DJs.

Thanks to Sheena and Heather for double trouble, and to Heather for coming on from the substitutes bench in place of injured Lulu. Thanks to Sheena of course for all the work for the team cabaret. Had some great dances over the weekend, particular thanks to Margaret for the cha cha, Della for the dances with and without kilt, and the lady who I danced with to "All that Jazz"

[snoopy]

We came, We Danced, We conquered - well some did and for the rest of us it was a great evening to be part of.

Congrat's to all those who managed to lift a prize.

Only photo that I managed to get was "Fatal Attraction", sorry Sheena , perhaps you could rectify this.

Roll on October 2003

[Swannie]

Wasn't the saying a few years ago - 'Glasgow Smiles Better' but in the end 'Dundee Did It' xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Swannie x

[Debster]

Originally posted by Franck
Any idea how many people were there for the day, and how many people had come from Scotland?

From the sound of things (and judging by how quiet the Forum was over the week-end), everyone was there!

I have no idea how many were there but I was thrilled to find myself sitting at a table near the middle of the Scottish contingent - you guys are great! No-one else was really needed! You provided such wonderful atmosphere and it was so great to meet a bunch of you too. Many thanks to Sheena for spotting me - I was stumped as to where to start trying to say hello!

Big Congrats to all the prize winners!!

As for the cheering, I tried to do my bit as promised, but who could hear me amongst your own din?!! Thanks for your support too.

Well done to the C2D team for putting on such a great show again. And in such a great venue.
Thanks to the judges who did a very long and relatively thankless job. I am so glad I didn't have to judge the spotlight entries especially, the standard was very high and so many entries! Just goes to show how many of us are so addicted to this dance stuff that we are willing to put so much time and effort (&£) into such great performances.

Now I really need to get more sleep... looking forward to some more chat about the day later.

Cheers!!

[DavidB]

Congratulations to the winners and everyone who took part. This was the first time I've been to the C2D competition, and I thought it was the best organised jive competition I've been to. It was the little things that made the difference - a few examples:
- the organisers being very visible and approachable all weekend
- telling the next heat/division to stand-by when calling a heat to the floor
- Tony telling the audience off for not cheering enough (unless you were Scottish!!)

Originally posted by Bill
could you consider relaxing the 'no video rule ....please for those of us going to London it would have been really good to see our 'performances' before we head off to see what we did and didn't do right on the day and nice to review the team performances again before August !

I understand this - especially for the choreographed routines (Showcase and the Teams) However I can also understand the organiser's need to restrict videos - it could make the difference between a profit and a loss, and possibly whether the competition is held again.
Would it be possible to set up a video projector in the side room where the vendors are, and show an overall view of each routine (after the competitions have finished). Then the competitors get a chance of a near-instantaneous review, spectators can see something they may have missed, and the organisers get to protect their investment. It also gets more people into the vendors' room, and could be good advertising for video sales...

Despite some seriously odd decisions ( and no doubt there will be some debate soon - I hope)

Well Bill - you started it...

David

[Dave Hancock]

Would like to add my congratulations to everyone from Scotland for travelling down and making it such a fantastic weekend for all who attended. I would estimate that there must have been about 70'ish of us down and we certainly made a fair old noise.

Special congratulations to all those medal winners (shall maybe get a dance or two of some of the Dundonians on Wed &Fri??) and if I manage to get Hazel will you dance with us like you danced with John in the final, absolutely terrific fun and very happy for you both winning the top prize.

The teams were absolutely fabolous, Dundee were even tighter than at the Scottish champs and the few small alterations made to their routine worked wonderfully well and they had to as I thought Fatal Attraction were really good as well and must have pushed them fairly close.

Also well done to non-Dundonians, esp Bill, Fran and Brady all medal winners, esp Brady who won 2 medals and made the take a chance final, not too bad a performance!

On a personal note I'd like to thank everyone for cheering for myself when danceing and also all the lovely ladies whom I was fortunate to grab a dance with and also for Niall for what could only described as a most interesting dance!

Once again well done to everyone who went down for making it such an awesome day