Continuing to set new records, highland dancers from the North Island showed they can compete with the best at the Vancouver Island Open Premiership and competition held Saturday in Duncan.
Two local dancers — Port Hardy’s Abigail McCorquodale and Port McNeill’s Xandryn Frost — took top honours in their age classes in the title event.
McCorquodale placed first in the Laddie, Village Maid and Blue Bonnets, and second in the Jig to win the 10-under Premiership title.
Frost placed first in the Village Maid and Blue Bonnets, and third in the Johnny and the Jig, to win the 11-12 Premiership title.
In addition, Emily Walker of Port Hardy placed third in the Village Maid and fourth in the Laddie, Blue Bonnets and Jig, taking third runnerup in the 11-12 Premiership.
In the afternoon competition, all three Premier dancers competed in an under-12 class. McCorquodale placed first in the Fling and 1/2 Tulloch, second in the Seann Truibhas, and fourth in the Hornpipe. Frost placed sixth in the Fling, third in the Seann Truibhas and 1/2 Tulloch, and second in the Hornpipe. Walker placed third in the fling and fifth in the Seann Truibhas.
A number of pre-premier dancers also represented the North Island.
Chloe McNulty and Sienna Cotter competed in the Primary class. Paisley Barolet placed in Primary Pas des Basques and Pas des Basques and Highcuts.
In Beginner 11-13 Kayley Clair placed sixth in the Fling and fourth in the Sword and Seann Truibhas. In Beginner 13-over Kristen Clair placed first in the Fling and second in the Flora.
In Novice 9-under Port Hardy’s Jerzie Cheetham was first in the Fling, Lilt and Flora and second in the Seann Truibhas to win the aggregate award for her group.
In Novice, Kylie McDonald placed third in the Fling and Sword and fourth in the Lilt, and Mollie Johnson placed fifth in the Sword, Seann Truibhas and Flora.
In Intermediate Kalina Cotter placed fourth in the Seann Truibhas and fifth in the Jig.
Team Charlton Highland Dancers will be performing in the Celtic Christmas celebration at the PHSS Theatre in Port Hardy Saturday, Dec. 6, at 6:30 p.m.; and at Gate House Community Theatre in Port McNeill beginning at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 7.