Highland dancers from the North Island have been busy over the last few weeks, amassing a collection of medals and trophies from competitions across BC and in California.
In February local 10 year old Premier dancer Abigail McCorquodale attended the Queen Mary Championships in Long Beach California, an annual event that included many of the top dancers from across North America to kick off the 2015 championship season. McCorquodale placed third in the Highland Fling, second in the Sword, and fourth in the Seann Truibhas and Strathspey and Half Tulloch to place second runner up overall in the 10 and 11 years Championship.
Closer to home, in the February Fraser Valley competition, 11 year old Port McNeill Premier dancer Xandryn Frost placed first in the Fling, third in the Sword, first in the Seann Truibhas and second in the Reel to win the 11 years overall aggregate class award.
Dance teacher Teresa Charlton congratulated the girls on their recent accomplishments. “It’s fantastic that these dancers can travel around B.C. and North America and represent the North Island so well. They work very hard and it is showing in their results.”
Last weekend four North Island dancers participated in the British Columbia Open Championships held in Delta, BC. Catherine Symons of Port McNeill competed in the 14 years and over pre-championship. She placed fifth in the Fling and the Sword and sixth in the Seann Truibhas. Jerzie Cheetham of Port Hardy participated in the 9 years & under Championship. She placed third in the Fling and fourth in the Reel.
Abigail McCorquodale of Port Hardy competed in the 10 years Championship. She placed fourth in the Fling, second in the Sword, and third in the Seann Truibhas and Reel for an overall placing of second runner up in the 10 years Championship. Xandryn Frost of Port McNeill competed in the 11 years Championship and placed third in the Fling and the Sword, second in the Seann Truibhas, and fourth in the Reel for an overall placing of second runner up in the 11 years championship. In the afternoon National Dances competition, in the 10 years class, McCorquodale placed first in the Johnny and Blue Bonnets and third in the Lilt and Flora. In the 11 years class Frost placed second in the Johnny and Blue Bonnets and third in the Lilt. Both McCorquodale and Frost were selected for a special Blue Bonnets dance off.