AFTER less than a year as an ice dancing couple Isabelle Lord and her partner Oliver Dunks came fourth in their category in the British Championships.
Isabelle, 12, from Helmshore, and Oliver, 16, from Mobberley in Cheshire, competed in the championships at Ice Sheffield.
In August they were both selected for the GC development squad after competing in the nationals’ competition at Ice Sheffield.
Isabelle said: “We weren’t able to do any more competitions after that because we were so busy and we expected just to use the British Championships as experience.
“We both have the same coach, Amanda Galloway. and she put us together as a dancing pair.
“After we did the first pattern dance in the competition we were in fourth but then in the second pattern dance we fell and although we got back up, we missed a couple of steps so we were marked down for the fall and the missed steps.
“That put us in fifth and I thought there was no point in us competing on the second day, but we decided to do the free dance.
“We just did our best and when we finished I looked across to my mum, my Auntie Jane and my Nana Glenda and they were all crying.
“The pairs skaters were in two groups and we were in the lower section. We were fourth onto the ice which is the best place to be because then you have seen everyone else. We got first place. Then the second group of four pairs took to the ice and we finished fourth overall.
“I was a bit upset that we didn’t get a medal, but glad that we came in fourth.”
Isabelle, a Year 8 student at Haslingden High School, fits in a hectic training schedule at Widnes Ice Arena.
She leaves home with her mum Sarah at 4.30am three mornings a week for around three hours on the ice and also attends on Wednesdays after school.
Isabelle has further solo lessons on a Tuesday after school at Blackburn Ice Arena.
In the summer the duo got a place in the GB Development Squad and will be attending the next training session in Edinburgh.
Isabelle has also had success in individual competitions and was eighth place overall in the British Championships at Sheffield Ice Arena when she performed three dances; a pattern, foxtrot and freestyle.
She added: “Solo skating is easier because you know you are not going to trip up on someone else, but pairs is easier you have more power with two people and you are not out on the ice all alone so you are more confident.”