After
So my little ice skating adventure is over. Whilst I am gutted
on reflection I have
to say it was right up there as one of the best things I have
ever done, so absolutely no regrets. I would loved it to have
lasted longer, and to go on improving on the ice, but it just
wasn't meant to be. If someone had said to me a few months ago
- you are going to train to be a skater but go out just a couple
of weeks into the show - I would have still grabbed the chance
with both hands. I am so lucky to have had this opportunity,
so a big thank you to everyone involved in the show. It has
been a real privilege working with such wonderful people as
Jayne Torvill and Chris Dean, along with Karen Barber and Mark
Naylor. My partner Andrei has been magnificent. He encouraged
and supported me all the way, and was so gracious in defeat.
A lot of people have
asked me whether I felt
a kind of injustice for
going out early in the
competition; and whilst
I am disappointed, it
is only with myself,
as I know I could and
should have skated better
on my first dance. I
hoped that I had done
enough in the skate off
to squeeze through but
Tim Vincent did a great
job and was a worthy
winner. I am so grateful
to Karen and Robin Cousins
for their vote; and hopefully
I will be able to repay
their faith in me on
the tour later this year;
we'll have to wait and
see. One thing is for
sure though I will not
be hanging up the skates.
I intend on skating on,
because I have been introduced
to something I love,
so there is no way I
am going to give it up.
Besides I've got a whole
new bunch of mates down
at Streatham ice rink
who I want to see again.
So who is going to win
it? Well my money (even
back in October) has
always been on Gareth
Gates. He is not the
best skater (yet) but
he is a lovely bloke
and I think the public
is going to see him really
develop on the ice and
see his real personality
come through which is
great. Chris Fountain
and Suzanne Shaw both
look fantastic on the
ice, and Steve Backley
and Sam Mumba have become
good friends of mine,
so I will be keeping
in touch with them and
pressing redial to keep
them both in the series.
Its shaping up to be
a cracker of a competition,
with plenty more excitement
on the way; sadly its
one I'll be watching
from the audience or
the sofa now but I'll
still be glued to all
the action.
Thank you to those who
did vote for me, sorry
that I didn't repay your
support by skating better.
I did LOVE LOVE LOVE
every last second of
taking part though.
The Compeitors
Before
Following a training period that started back in October 2007, I will be appearing in Dancing On Ice 2008....which I am so excited about! Its been a huge amount of fun, and quite a challenge all in one.
I am skating with Andrei Lipanov - who is the strapping Russian fella who came second last year with Claire Buckfield. No pressure then. He is a lovely patient chap, which is handy given that it hasn't exactly 'clicked' for me just yet!
Andrei said the other day that lifting me was 'like lifting Octopus' ...my arms have been flying round like a jumper in a washing machine. I am working on it though. Hard, I promise. Right now I am about as graceful as a baby elephant (the extent of my dance classes was a four year old chanting good toes, naughty toes in ballet class) so I have managed to persuade my friend Stacey Dawson - dancer extraordinaire - to teach me the finer points of poise. Gawd Bless er!
I am prepared to beg quite shamelessly for your vote, I need them. Badly. So here's hoping you find it in your heart!? Will keep you updated with all the action from behind the scenes.
