Latest Competition Results

Updated: 07.20.03

2003 Canadian Closed Championships

   Joel and Clara have been BC Standard Champions for the past 3 years.  During the 2002-2003 season, their goal was to place within the top two spots of the Canadian Closed Championships in April.  Well, they did it!   With much hard work and dedication, Joel and Clara placed second at the 2003 Canadian Closed Championships, earning the privilege of being one of the two couples to represent Canada at the World Championships in Vienna, Austria this coming November.

    In order to build up to the 2003 Canadian Closed Championships, Joel and Clara attended a number of competitions this past year.    They have been on a consistent, vigorous training and competition schedule all season.

  In February, Joel and Clara had a very busy month.   They had a big run-up of competitions, beginning with the Winter Classic in Calgary, at which they claimed a new title of Western Canadian Open Champions.   The following weekend, they hit a milestone in their dance results.  They were the second highest placing Canadian couple at La Classique du Quebec.  They placed higher than all the Quebec couples in the competition, including the second ranked couple at the 2002 Canadian Closed Championships.  To end off the month, Joel and Clara competed at the IDSF Snowball Classic in Vancouver.  Dancing in front of their home crowd, they really felt inspired and danced the best they ever did in a competition.  In the midst of 49 couples from 22 different countries, they were the only Canadian couple to make the semi-final.  And in fact, they were only one callback away from the final!   [This competition will be aired on W network on July 30th.  Check your TV Times!]

  Joel and Clara continued their success through the month of March.  At the beginning of the month,  Joel and Clara took a week-long training trip to Toronto.  They received valuable insights from Benoit & Lorraine Drolet, and attended the Trillium Cup, a competition which hosted the Canadian Closed Professional Championships.  They ended up winning their event, becoming the 2003 Trillium Cup Amateur Standard Champions.  The following weekend, Joel and Clara attended the UBC Gala Ball, which held the BC Open Champships.  They placed second overall, again placing higher than last year's second highest ranking Canadian couple.     

  As the results were starting to show, Joel and Clara's performance was consistently improving.  In April, Joel and Clara came second at the 2003 Canadian Championships.  They were ecstatic, as they finally achieved their desired results after all of their hard work over the past 2 years.  This was a fantastic acheivement, as they won a spot at the World Championships, in which only 2 couples form each country are eligible to compete.  

  With their recent success at the Canadians, Joel and Clara were invited for an all-expense paid trip to Seoul, Korea.  There, they competed in the IDSF Seoul Open, where they made the final!  The organizers were very gracious, the venue was beautiful and they had a wonderful trip. 

  Back home, on the following weekend, Joel and Clara successfully defended their BC Closed title, becoming 3-time undefeated BC Standard Champions.  Straight afterwards, they travelled to England to compete at the most prestigious competition in the world, the Blackpool festival.  To prepare for it and make the most of their England trip, they did several  run-up comps before the festival, totalling 4 competitions during their stay in England!  Joel and Clara did very well at these competitions, making it further than they did the previous year.  At the Blackpool festival, Joel and Clara danced very well, just missing the next round!  

   Joel & Clara are improving fast, and are moving forwards and upwards in their results.  They are more excited than ever for the upcoming 2003-2004 season.  Since there aren't any competitions in Vancouver during the summer months, Joel and Clara have decided to relocate to London, England.   There, they will be able to attend numerous competitions in England and throughout Europe.  [Please visit the England section to hear the latest stories about Joel and Clara's training in London.]

  Congratulations Joel & Clara!  You're one step closer to achieving your dancing dreams!!!