The European Championships 2005

We were there, so here's what we thought!

The venue

Just as it was last year the event was held at the Riu Ferrara Hotel in Torrox.
This is a simply fabulous venue for the event. One of the best hotels in southern Spain, the complex was totally enclosed with electronic gates to keep outsiders out. There's a fantastic pool, good quality restaurants, beautiful surroundings, and right on the beach too.The halls were a little stuffy at times but the rest of the facilities more than made up for it, and it's to expected during the day in a hot country.

Enjoy Travel are to be congratulated on their choice! Unfortunately, and I'm not sure if they are aware of this, it is likely that the hotel will no longer be available to them for next year as Riu Hotels & Thomson holidays are thinking of making it a
Thomson exclusive resort.
Should that happen I hope that Enjoy Travel can find something just as good.

That may not be a bad thing though, as the one downside of Torrox is that outside of the hotel there was little for people, particularly teenagers, to do. The resort is popular with the German tourists, and they frown on the loud music, and singing and dancing antics of Irish dancers let loose!

Okay so what was it like

We arrived late afternoon on Sunday and by the time we'd got from the airport and checked in we were just in time for dinner. And what a spread! all manner of meats and pastas and salads etc. in a self service, eat what you like, buffet.

After dinner it was into the club bar for live entertainment from the on site staff. After a reasonable evening we went to bed tired.

Next morning we woke to grey skies, and a little rain, which was a little disappointing to say the least! it stayed that way until mid afternoon when suddenly the Sun came out and the place was transformed, with people in the pool and every sun bed taken.

Most of the dancers there had travelled with Enjoy Travel, and purchased their wrist bands for entry to the event etc. We had decided to go only at the last moment and the flights would have been extortionate for the Bank holiday weekend, so instead we booked a package tour with Thomson. This meant we would have to pay to get in, but that's fair enough. Unfortunately it also meant our Siobhán had to pay to go in to watch the days competitions, while we took it easy on the terrace bar ;o)
That's the first time I've known of a competing dancer having to pay, which I thought was a bit extreme, particularly at €15 (GB £10)

Competitions ran almost bang on time and by the time the Sun came out the days events, and presentations, were over. In the evening the club bar was packed as a duo did their best to entertain with a mix of 60's and 70's pop music. With lots of very young children running riot it was a thankless task, and the female singer seemed totally fed up. As soon as they finished their act the British organisers took over with some simple disco, and the floor was soon filled with what must have been every dancer from the Maguire O'Shea school as there seemed to be hundreds! They were soon lined up doing the Macarena, Saturday night etc. and were ably marshalled in this by the two sisters Katie & Ellie Maguire, who seemed to be loving every minute. If classes at the MOS are that much fun I think we'll all be heading down the motorway!

Next morning we had an early breakfast as the timetable said 9.30 start. We weren't sure if we were alternating age groups so we got down to the hall at 9.00. It soon turned out we were early as they did the whole of the other competition, including sets, and we eventually got to start just before lunch.

I've got to say that the fine weather must have had a very positive effect as nobody complained about the wait, or how hot it was. In fact for most it was a very social gathering, everyone chatting to each other like old friends. Eventually we got underway and the atmosphere was amazing. Every dancer, even those without friends present, got a rousing cheer after every round, which is sadly lacking at many events. Dancers stood around happily chatting to friends that they hadn't seen since the Worlds or All Irelands. Siobhan met up with some girls from Tralee that she first met several years ago during the Rose of Tralee festival, and only ever sees at the Majors, but they greet each other like long lost pals. They all dance for the Rinceori Nia Riochta, which means the Kingdom Dancers. Coincidentally their teachers Jimmy Smith and Honor Flynn (who has recently retired) knew Siobhan's Mum many years ago when they went to dance classes in Tralee as children.

The camaraderie between these dancers is a bond that very few outside the world of competitive Irish dance are ever privileged to share with anyone. It come from the very soul of these highly trained and dedicated dancers who know that they share something unique. The long hours of practice and hard work, blistered feet, strange outfits and wigs, and the agony and ecstasy of the competitions all combine as an experience of life that only someone else that has been there, done that, and got the "Gavin" (or other dress) can truly understand. It generates a level of mutual respect and admiration, that transcends the momentary disappointment of not doing as well in a competition as they'd hoped, and lets them honestly congratulate the winner.

The results were as exciting as at any event we've attended and getting down to the last three we saw three girls clutching hands. All three girls were wearing similar numbers starting with 29..............in Third place ........2...9............4! Sarah Hopkins (Ard Ri), she turned and hugged the other two and stepped forward to the podium.
The last two stood clinging to each other tightly.......2nd place....2.....9.. (the girls clung even tighter) ...7. The disappointment didn't even flicker across her face as
Donna Griffin (Sheila Hayes) gave a big smile and hugged the winner. That left only one number 2...9...1! Siobhan Amos (McCamphill Godfrey), our little girl had won!
(she's not so little now, but you know what I mean!)
And what a cheer she got from the Tralee contingent!

After the presentations and all the photographs on stage we waited for Siobhan to come back to show off her cup to us and her friends. To our amazement she was dragged backstage and out of the door by the photographer to get some photos on the patio.
He could have waited a few minutes!

We certainly celebrated later, but then Siobhan got into teenager on holiday mode and wanted to go off with her mates. Which was fine with us. it was good to see such strong rivals getting on so well.

Next day the Champion of Champions event was upon us, and what an amazing display we had. A very cute little lady came out and then danced wonderfully, and a very small young man just flew across the stage, the standard never dropped. How they chose a winner is beyond me, but after recalling 5 dancers they eventually decided that on the day Miss Ellie Maguire had done enough to win.

After that we all switched to holiday mode, lounging by the pool, eating and drinking too much, and sightseeing. We made a trip across to Gibraltar, which was fun and even managed to attend a friends wedding in Benalmadena, after which we lazed on the beach for a while. Certainly was a very relaxing feis week.

Overall a very well run event, that ran to time, and left us all with a few days to simply soak up the sun & relax, a rarity indeed in the Irish dancing world!

Below are a few photos to give a feel for the event

There has been some debate about the status of this competition, although it has to be said that much of this is based on personal likes and dislikes rather than any genuine facts. Most dancers regard competitions like the North American's and All Irelands as Majors. They are regarded as Majors because they are both Secondary World Qualifiers (SWQ) for their own Nations.

On that basis then the Europeans are NOT a Major. Quite simply they cannot be a SWQ because, as the title suggests, they encompass all of the Nations of Europe, rather than a single nation. But this is where the argument gets complicated.

As you all know the British Nationals in Blackpool 2005 are definitely a Major, as they are also a SWQ for dancers in Britain. They alternate this particular role annually with the Great Britain championsips in Brean Sands. (i.e. in 2004 the GB's were the SWQ). Consider this then, in 2006 when the GB's are once again the SWQ, will the British Nationals no longer be a Major?
Or are the GB's not a Major this year, just because they are not the SWQ?

Of course not!

It takes more than that to be a Major.
The competition must be run in a proper fashion, attract good quality adjudicators, and International competitors must be prepared to travel. In addition you would expect to see World recallers & medallists.

The Europeans certainly meet these criteria, with dancers travelling from Ireland, the US, Australia, mainland Europe, and of course from Britain. In addition the range of schools that are entered is comparable with most other Majors too.
You only need to flick through the program to see the number of World class dancers that attended this year.
As for adjudicators they don't come much more high profile than
the illustrious Mr Seamus O'Se

At the moment the only thing holding this competition back is its relatively low number of entries. In part this is simply a cost issue. Being held over a UK Bank holiday certainly bumps up the cost.
In addition it is only a few weeks before the North American's which are closely followed by the British Nationals. Obviously these established Major's will take precedence for most dancers.

Overall we certainly believe this event has a right to be regarded as a Major, and one that will grow in stature with each year that passes.