Results

2016 UK Blues and Smooth Championships.

Here are the results for the Championships. Didn't win or place. Worry not. You're all winners simply for supporting us and 'Having a go'. Chris Uren and Lisa Graydon

Friday Fun Competition

Solo Blues
1st Janette Shillito
2nd Chiharu Chi Nakao
3rd Gina Scholdfield

Saturday Competitions

Lucky Dip
1st Ann Harrison and Michelle Black
2nd Liam Ball and Melissa Dring
3rd David Wood and Chloe Hunt

Fresh Fundamentals
1st Jennifer Cowling and Fiona Newby
2nd Anton Antonov and Melanie Farrington
3rd Chris Wiseman and Jessica Rose

Young, Fun and Feisty
1st Matthew Brook and Hannah Lonsdale
2nd Liam Ball and Bianca Blezard
3rd Deej Moors and Heidi Ayling

In The Zone
1st Paul Ray and Sarah Lovatt
2nd Niel Wiffen and Jo Wiseman
3rd Chloe Hunt and Mellisa Dring

Smooth Blues Fusion - The Juke Joint Trophy
1st Matthew Brooke and Suzanne Berson
2nd Neil Wiffen and Jo Wiseman
3rd Liam Ball and Bianca Blezard

Valentines Trophy
1st Liam Ball and Bianca Blezard
2nd Robert Docherty and Magdelena Bukala-Docherty
3rd Gary Woodward and Alex Peel

Sunday Competitions

Smooth, Sassy and Sophisticated
1st Paul Ray and Thelma Quince
2nd Nick Shore and Ann Harrison
3rd Steve King and Carol Almond

Raw and Ready
1st Matthew Brooke and Hanna Lonsdale
2nd Deej Moors and Heidi Ayling
3rd Steve King and Carol Almond

Swinging The Blues - CurlyWurly Trophy
1st Robert Jeffreys and Anna Jeffreys
2nd Melvin Young and D Lynn Davis
3rd Ken Blake and Ann Harrison

Polished and Professional
1st Deej Moors and Heidi Ayling
2nd Matthew Brooke and Carol Lloyd
3rd Robert Jeffries and Anna Jeffries

Jack and Jill
1st Robert Jeffries and Heidi Ayling
2nd Robert Docherty and Michelle Black
3rd Deej Moors and Sarah Lovatt

You all did brilliantly. Entered into the spirit of the event and we both think you are all. WONDERFULL.

Chris, Lisa and the Champs crew.

Music Plus++++

Lets talk a little about some of the music that I chose to play for the Competition categories on the Saturday. Throughout I hope I managed to pick music that was suitable for the standard of dancer in any particular category. Did I get it right?. Well feedback generally would say yes. But there are still a small number of tracks I would have changed around. Now, it would be impossible to list and talk about all of the tracks so here I am going to give you some links to tunes that I played and hopefully give you a chance to get a feel for what you are likely to encounter in future Competitions.

It may be worth a listen to my Blues Spotify List as well "Just a few Blues Tunes"
But remember this is a BLUES AND SMOOTH competition so don't get toooooo hung up on blues tracks. Once again the aim is to play tracks appropriate to the standard / experience of dancers who may take part in any particular category. These are a small selection from Saturday Comps.

Mary Jane by the Mannish Boys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLofUzxLBCU
A Blues room classic and played by me as part of Lucky Dip. A great driving beat that would allow dancers of all abilities to have a go.

Finest Lovin' Man by Bonnie Raitt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irC1dKEpa00
Another Classic played for the "In The Zone" category (Effectively Intermediate Dancers). A little bit more of a challenge.

I'll Be Your Baby Tonight by Curtis Stigers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzMAb6XaAFM
One of the Tunes I chose for the Juke Joint Trophy. Unashamedly Smooth, it's part of what the Juke Joint is about. Going from Blues through all sorts of music that you can dance to and perhaps ending up here..

Blues 2.0 by Fruitland Jackson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wno2v17XhfI
Picked as the last Competition track of the day. Played for the Polished and Pro. It did what it was meant to do. A REAL CHALLENGE. And in my humble opinion it prompted some of the most amazing dancing of the day. I am not sure some of the competitors thought so.

In a future Blog I will talk about some of the Sunday Music and pretty soon more information about next years line up.

 

Catching the Blues and Smooth Bug

Now I know many of you who came along to the Champs "Caught The Blues and Smooth Bug". We have already announced that our next Champs will be on the 12th to the 14th of February 2016. But that's a long way away. So here are a couple of suggestions for Blues Comps and Events that you should consider looking at. In Date order.

European Blues Invasion runs from the 19th and 21st June https://www.facebook.com/events/344748909058412/ You will find a considerable number of your fellow competitors attending plus a large smattering of your Judges

Ceroc Brean Sands is a weekender from 9th to the 11th October that features the European Neo Blues Champs. A full weekender for you. https://www.facebook.com/events/330276097157469/

Crystal Blues https://www.facebook.com/events/331420280372303/ takes place at the end of October and is Run by Sara White. An annual event you will almost certainly find people you know attending.

I look forward to seeing you at some of these. So go out and enjoy your Blues and as I find more events and Classes for you to think about I will post them here.

The Starting Line

We are at the starting line. Prepared as it is possible to be for something we have never done before. After much thinking, action and occasional setback it is just a few days away. Below is the schedule for the 2 days of competition and it is our intention to stick as closely to this as is humanly possible. Come along and take part, but most of all enjoy yourselves. We will have made mistakes and no doubt have a few issues on the days. But we will do our best to make it a great event. However, it is you the dancers that will make it because that's what it is all about. Come along. Enjoy the music and competition, but above all dance your hearts out.

https://www.facebook.com/download/948494251836320/CopyofBluesChampsProvcomptimetable.pdf  for a PDF Link.

The all important schedule.

Saturday

10.30 doors open

11.00 Lucky Dip Partnering

11 15 Lucky Dip 1a

11.20 Lucky Dip 1b

11.25 Freestyle

11.50 Young Pups Song 1

11.55 Old Dogs Song 1

12.00 Freestyle

12.30 Fresh Fundamentals Song 1

12.35 Polished & Pro Song 1

12.40 Freestyle

13.10 Lucky Dip 2a

13.15 Lucky Dip 2b

13.20 Freestyle

13.50 Young Pups Song 2

13.55 Old Dogs Song 2

14.00 Freestyle

14.30 Valentines Trophy Song 1 & 2

14.40 Freestyle

15.10 Lucky Dip Semi

15.15 Fresh Fundamentals  Song 2

15.20 Polished & Pro Song 2

15.25 Freestyle

15.50 Young Pups Song 3

15.55 Old Dogs Song 3

16.00 Freestyle

16.30 Lucky Dip Final 2 songs

16.40 Freestyle

17.00 Fresh Fundamentals Song 3

17.05 Polished & Pro Song 3

17.10 Valentines Song 3

17.15 Freestyle

17.45 Presentation

18.00 Music until the evening

20.00 The Big Saturday Freestyle

Sunday

10.30 open

11.30 In The Zone Song 1

11.35 Smooth Fusion Song 1

11.40 Freestyle

12.10 Raw & Ready Song 1

12.15 Swingin' the Blues Song 1

12.20 Freestyle

12.50 In The Zone Song 2

12.55 Smooth Fusion Song 2

13.00 Freestyle

13.30 Raw & Ready Song 2

13.35 Swingin' the Blues Song 2

13.40 Freestyle

14.10 In The Zone Song 33

14.15 Smooth Fusion Song 3

14.20 Freestyle

14.50 Raw & Ready Song 3

14.55 Swingin' The Blues Song 3

15.00 Freestyle

15.45 Presentations

16.00 Freestyle

16.30 Jack & Jill

16.45 Final presentations etc

20.00 The Sunday Chill Down

 

And then I will go home and have a VERY STIFF DRINK.

 

 

The Final Countdown

 

"It's Getting damned close"

Second to last meeting today to look at entries and figures and it's all OK. Just the inevitable last few entries that will come in over the next week or so that will have to be slotted in. Guys being a bit slow as always, but they will come around. I mean there are beautiful women waiting to be danced with. Several categories close to full and Lucky dip with a fabulous selection of dancers of all abilities really taking shape

 

I have spent this evening reviewing lots and lots of music. Still a few tunes to be chosen for the competitions, but I have in my mind what I want for each category. And I have this Saturday to test a few of them out in the second room at Snickers. 5 hours of Blues music of all kinds to play. t  https://www.facebook.com/events/1565680143646787/

 

 

I am pretty sure we are going to have 3 nights and 2 days of great competition and freestyle dancing.

 

If your still sitting on the fence then don't miss out. Check out the details of the event at http://curlywurlyevents.com/blues-.php. You will kick yourself if you miss out on the first one. If you want more info then you can always get more info From Lisa on text: 07763 134026
email: curlywurlysunday@virginmedia.com