My First
Midlands Regional Championships
Coventry 4th December 1999
Also known as
Oireachtas Rincí Lár na Breataine
These Championships were held in Coventry and were only open to the dancers that actually live in the Region. Each Region has its own Championships and the winners from each qualify for next years World Championships in Belfast.
I got up early to do the usual routine, hair, shoes, practice etc. and I just managed to get things right. I had a bit of lunch and then I jumped into the car, and off we went. Just under an hour later, we arrived at a huge theatre, which was really old. It had really big red velvet curtains and had really weird carvings on the chairs and on the front of the stage. I went out to practice, and about half an hour later, my age group was called out, and so I went backstage. This was quite a long trip as I had to go through the canteen, and through lots of long corridors and a series of soundproof doors. Everywhere along the walls was covered with huge posters about big shows and pantomimes that had been at that theatre. There wasn't a millimetre of space on the whole wall!!
I was number 50, and the light round started at 46, so I was on second, and dancing in a two because the children after me were dancing the slip jig. I was really nervous, but once I got on stage it was really good, and I felt like a big star! I think it even made my Reel better!! I went back to my chair, and changed my shoes, when my pen pal, Kayleigh, came to see me. It was the first time that we met and it was really good to see one of my pen pals. About 20 minutes later, I was called up for my heavy jig. Up I went again, and I danced quite well, and this time I wasn't even nervous. (Well, not really nervous!)
Afterwards, I was really hungry, so my dad went to get me some chips from the canteen. They started to call out the recall results, so I ran to a speaker near by and listened really hard and hoped I would get a recall. I had to wait until last to hear my number, but I got recalled!! I was really excited because it was my first ever recall at an outside feis!! A good one to get recalled for too!!
I wasn't allowed to eat my chips because I had to practice my set dance, Madame Bonaparte. So my dad put the chips back and off we went. About half an hour later, the recall was called to come backstage. It was a great experience to dance my first recall, and I was really excited!!!
After that I waited for an hour, and then I decided to get some chips, but when I got outside, the canteen had shut! So back into the hall I went, very hungry!! I sat for another hour, and watched Kayleigh dance her Ceili!! (Hey, that Rhymes!) It was really good!! After the Ceili finished, the results were shown on screen. After a while I worked out that I had come 18th overall!! I was really excited!!
Afterwards, there was a big presentation, which was a lot of fun!!! It was by then about 9:00 pm, and we went home. It was about 10:30pm by the time we got home, so I had some fish and chips and went to bed, as I was very tired. I slept until 10:00am the next morning!!
The following day, I had curly hair for school, which my friends liked, and my form said that I had to wear my medal all day!! So overall I was very pleased with my results!!!!