Anthony Hurley - My Blackpool Memories and some Interesting Statistics

I always find the statistics in our world of competitive ballroom dancing so interesting and I would like to share some of them as I pass through the years 1968-1974 they will be marked with a double asterisk.

** Since the introduction of the British Amateur and Professional Championships to the Blackpool Dance Festival. In 1931, 56 Amateur couples and only 30 Professional couples held this coveted title. Not that many considering the 98 years the Festival has been running. Of course many couples won multiple times.

1968.

Perhaps the most interesting development for this year was the introduction of the Professional International team match which was placed on the Saturday of the Festival. I can say this new highlight was a keen interest and much anticipation.

There were two teams invited for this inaugural match, namely Great Britain represented by Bill & Bobbie Irvine, Anthony & Fay Hurley, Michael Needham & Monica Dunsford, and John & Betty Westley.

Germany. Rudi & Metch Trautz. My apologies Germany but I can't remember the remaining team members. The match was over ten dances and each couple had to dance them all. From the moment the teams marched onto the floor to the St Louis Blues the atmosphere was electric and was carried through all ten dances before the final result was announced a win for Great Britain. The popularity of this match has firmly established itself over the years to become an essential part of the Festival.

** The skating system of collating the adjudicators marks was introduced to the British Championships in 1937. However, No Rule 11 that came years later. There was a very interesting result in the Amateur Ballroom. New champions Richard Gleave & Janet Wade their first of three Amateur titles, and we now know of the glowing Professional career that lay ahead for them.

Eggleton & Winslade won their last British

Trautz/ Trautz held their second Latin title

Douglas & Barb won the Amateur Latin.

The Mc Intyre’s won the Senior Latin arresting the title from Norman & Doris White

Mr & Mrs Morris won the Senior Ballroom.

** In the early years of the Festival couples had to dance in area heats to qualify to reach the Blackpool Championship proper.

** On a sad note, Henry Kingston passed away this year. Together with his wife Joy Tolhurst, they were former Star Champions. Henry was acclaimed as a wonderful coach and choreographer.

1969.

A record entry in the Amateur Ballroom of 241 couples, made the adjudicators work even harder as there were 10 heats in the first qualifying round. In those days of the Festival, there was only one panel of adjudicators who did both the daytime qualifying heats and the evening rounds

Readers will forgive me if I appeared to take over the year 1969 but it was a very special year for Fay and me as we won our first British professional title after a tremendous battle with Michael & Monica. Winning two dances each and Rule 11 being applied to separate us.

Winning this title was something that we both had set our combined ambitions on since our  Junior days. I think the pictures show our absolute delight in achieving our goal.

To put the icing on the 1969 cake we made the Professional Latin American semi-final and won the second International team match. One could say a successful Festival.

One amusing tale was that on our way home from Blackpool we had a demonstration booked.

I was looking forward to being introduced as the new British Champions. In the entry to our Waltz, I slipped fell over with Fay on top, and with those crazy large dresses I could not see how to get out from under those yards of net. Eventually, I appeared and said “ Ladies & Gentleman our entry needs a little more practice”.

Another first victory was for the very talented Raymond Root & Francis Spires who won the Amateur Latin.They were also brilliant ten dancers. And frequently represented Great Britain with Great success abroad.

Another first was in the Senior Latin when the Danish pair, Mr & Mrs Poulsen became the first foreign couple to win this title.

** There is a band of Gentlemen that keep the competitions running smoothly making sure that the marks are collected in alphabetical order and delivered to the scrutineers. I am referring to the judges Stewards. A band of unsung heroes. They also keep the judges on their toes ensuring they get their adjudicating cards, how many heats there are and if some heats have fewer couples owing to withdrawals etc. They can also be very entertaining. One such Steward was Eric Higgins a former dancer and competitor himself who fought with Montgomery in the desert campaign during the war. He had a wicked sense of humour which often kept the judges room in stitches. One year Eric was telling us of his jujitsu talents and asked Lorna Lee to assist him. During his demonstration he and Lorna fell to the floor, at that moment Mr Gledhill entered the room looked at the couple on the floor and said. “I am delighted that the competition or competitors are not being discussed”

Roy Sharpe took over as head Steward with great professionalism and authority upholding the traditions of the Blackpool Dance Festival.

Sadly, both these ambassadors have passed away, but for me the memories they have left us with a part of the Blackpool magic and I will not forget their kindness.

Another wonderful member of the Stewards team was Arthur Parr, a past Professional competitor and an excellent golfer.

Jumping ahead, it was a pleasure for me to meet this year another of the Stewards team from my adjudicating years chief Steward Michael Hayton. Apart from dancing, we had something in common. We both owned boats. No doubt Michael still enjoys his days on lake Windermere.

I have mentioned these gentlemen as they were part of my Blackpool adjudicating days. I could write a book on all of the amusing moments that took place in that out-of-bounds inner sanctum known as the Judges room.

** Overseas winners.

The first couple to break the British dominance and win the British Professional Ballroom, were Alf Davies & Julie Reaby Australia, in 1954.

As in the Professional, the first couple to win the British Amateur Ballroom, were John & Carol Kimmins, in 1975, also from Australia. The Aussies must have something special.

** The 1969 Amateur Latin Championship was a win for Germany represented by Peter Neubeck & Miss Kaufman Germany.

1970.

There was a big surprise in store, for as we entered the wonderful Victorian Empress Ballroom, we saw that a new floor had been laid especially for the Festival. A light-coloured maple look was a complete contrast to the dark wood with that famous inlaid star in the centre that champions from 1931 had honed their performances on.

Because of the ever-increasing size of entries the daily start times for qualifying heats were brought forward which in turn meant that practice time was considerably reduced. However, the organisers being aware of this opened up the beautiful Tower Ballroom for those who wish to practice for as long as they liked.

The team match was becoming a major Saturday attraction of the Festival and Japan was a popular addition to the competing teams which added much excitement to the capacity audience. The teams were now eight couples four for Ballroom and four for Latin American. The entries onto the floor on introduction were becoming a much-anticipated choreographic presentation and integral part of the match.

** Over the years many teams have been invited. Namely USA, Japan, Italy, Australia, Russia, Scandinavia and a combined European team and a World team.

The Senior Ballroom and Latin American was a double win for Norman & Doris White winning back the titles they previously held.

In the Amateur Ballroom. Richard Gleave and Janet Wade rounded off their Amateur Blackpool years with their second and last Amateur title.

That highly competitive and popular couple from Germany Rudi & Metch Trautz also won their last of four Professional Latin American titles, presumably to concentrate on the Ballroom titles.

It was reported that adjudicator Sydney Francis suggested that there should be some restrictions on certain figures that have sneaked into the Latin performances. The idea was to protect the Latin from unacceptable choreography, especially in the Senior Championship. “ My dear Sydney you would not believe today’s choreography.”

The Friday morning cocktail party continued to be a Festival fashion parade and the often humorous speeches were a highlight not to mention a glass or two of some questionable wines.

1971.

The first time in history of the Blackpool Dance Festival the entries exceeded 1000. This meant more qualifying rounds and the timetable was taking us into the early hours of the morning.

One wondered how the Orchestra could possibly play for so long and still simulate and inspire the competitors.

There were many conversations about the growth of the Festival. It became obvious that the original starting day of Monday was long gone and slowly extra days would be added.

The first day of the 1971 Congress was a who's who of the dance profession namely Eric Hancox, Connie Grant, Syd Perkin & Edna Duffield and Walter Laird and the fabulous Lorraine gave such wise information to the large audience. And this was only the first day.

It was quite encouraging at that time how the Congress was proving to be so popular, which was a good sign for the years that were to follow.

And so, to the competitions.

The Amateur field was very strong and new Champions Byron Charlton & Mareen Alexander, what excellent stylists in the true traditions of Ballroom dancing. In the Amateur Latin. Stan Shippey and Iris Kane what popular Champions. One of the greatest ten dancers of the time John & Betty Westley, won their first British professional Latin title. 66 couples started in the first round, 23 of them from abroad. Once again Fay and I were delighted to be in the semi-final in all dances, that's two years running, but obviously not yet good enough to break into the final. Fay and I pulled off our second Professional Ballroom title with the Westleys second and blazing into the final and finishing third where Richard & Janet Gleave, the previous years Amateur Champions. This is the first time I believe that a reigning Amateur Champion finished third in the first Professional British Championships. According to the records the Friday night Professional had the largest attendance of spectators in the Festivals history.

** good music is essential for couples to perform well, and Blackpool has always provided the best, and up to the present day and within the bounds of my memory there have been five great Orchestras. Namely.

Tommy Jones Orchestra.

Charles Barlow.

Ken Turner.

Irvine Tidswell,

The Empress Orchestra directed by Ashley Frolich, has become immensely popular with some wonderful new musical arrangements but always remembering to play some of those toe-tapping all-time Blackpool favourites.

They were all very approachable and new exactly what the dancers wanted in both ballroom and Latin American to raise their performance.

1972.

** Chairman of adjudicators and compare Alex Warren enters his 50th year of attending Blackpool.

The Warren family were famous in Glasgow and the renowned Warrens Ballroom was often the venue for mayjor Scottish events. Alex demanded great respect on the stage, but his warm Scottish brogue gave a wonderful sound to all his announcements. My memories of this year were mostly about famous dancing personalities.

Josephine Bradley was made a life member at the AGM of the Ballroom Dancers Federation being the first to receive this accolade.

That wonderful character Len Goodman with his partner Cherry Kingston, ( Henry Kingstons daughter), won the Professional Rising Stars Latin American. Another wonderful and lovable Latin character Lorraine married Swedish professional Gunnar Rohdin and moved to Sweden.

A very popular Michael Barr & Vicky Green won their first of two British Amateur Championships. Alan & Hazel Fletcher also won their first of two Amateur Latin American Championships.

How these young Amateur stars rose to become great Professional champions and respected coaches worldwide.

In the Professional Latin John & Betty Westly won their second title in what would be a very busy week for them. Two evenings later they would be runners-up to Fay and me in the Professional Ballroom, with the Gleaves coming third.

1973.

The Barrs comfortably retained their Amateur title. This year could be described as a memorable year of duals.

The Amateur Latin was a fantastic competition and a great dual between the Fletchers and Peter Maxwell & Lyn Harman. They had contrasting styles both popular with the audience but after a wonderful final Alan & Hazel came out on top.

Another brilliant couple Peter & Ing Fischer from Austria won their first professional Latin.

So that took care of three of the major Championship nights.

Now the 1973 Professional Ballroom Championship on the Friday.

This was to be the fifth year that Fay and I defended our titles and if successful would have been the first couple to win five consecutive titles.

We had decided it was to be our last competitive event, after many years on the competition floor from Juniors and Amateurs. Fay’s first competition was in 1949 and mine in 1952.

We knew however that in the past twelve months Richard & Janet Gleave had pushed us hard, so we knew it was going to be

“a hard days night” as the Beatles song goes. Of course, we needed to win if we were going to announce our retirement.

It was a memorable competition to be part of. The music when you could hear it, and the audiences verbal participation was unbelievable.

A wonderful final ensued with six dedicated couples apart from ourselves, the Gleaves, Robin & Rita Short, John & Betty Westley, Joe & Nancy Jenkins (USA) and Colin and Toni Twine.

We gave it our all. Now we await the arrival of Alex Warren on the stage to announce the results.

In Alex's words “ in the Waltz first Richard & Janet Gleave.

Second Anthony Hurley Fay Saxton.

In the Slow Foxtrot First Richard & Janet Gleave. Second Anthony & Fay Hurley

In the Tango. First Anthony Hurley & Fay Saxton. Second Richard & Janet Gleave.

In the Quickstep. First Anthony Hurley & Fay Saxton. Second Richard & Janet Gleave

Wow, two dances each. The spectators and supporters were going crazy.

Alex Warren then explains. “ There is a tie, so rule eleven of the skating system has been applied. Out of a possible 44 first-place marks, all of them have been shared by these two couples. By having 23 firsts to 21 firsts the new British Champions are Richard and Janet Gleave.

Fay and I ran onto the floor to congratulate Richard and Janet’s victory.

Of course, we withheld our announcement of retirement. We did not want to retire in a runner’s up position. Were we disappointed of course we were. But we knew we had been beaten by a couple who would become one of the greatest champions of all time.

Words from coach Henry Kingston. “To be a good champion you must be able to accept a defeat as well as celebrating a victory.”

I hope we fulfilled his advice.

Memories and emotions are still clear, far too many to relate them all from the many years of dancing.

Adjudicating and spectating at the worlds greatest Festival of competitive dancing.