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The Essex Championships: A Squires Promotion
By Iris Findlay, Photographs by Morrison Findlay.
Derrick Squires and Peggy Callaghan are promoters and adjudicators who, during their life together, gained much success in the field of Ballroom and Latin dancing. As amateurs they won or made the finals of many competitions and championships and had the honour of representing England as members of the International Team. During this period Peggy trained with Josephine Bradley and won the Margaret Baker Trophy, which was judged on beauty, grace and charm at the Hammersmith Palais and the trophy was presented by Bob Burgess. Their success continued when they became professionals and they won many championships and demonstrated in both Ballroom and Latin styles in venues throughout Britain including the Tuesday Dancers’ Night dancing to Joe Loss and other orchestras, at the Hammersmith Palais. During this busy time they ran a full time school, the Delmar Ballroom,
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| EADA Juvenile National Selection and Open Juvenile Keepers Trophy in Latin and ballroom John Gianini and Stevie Jones, winners. |
training medalists and competitors in Ballroom and Latin dancing. They also promoted top class competition events at Ilford Palais where many of our top professionals made names for themselves as young dancers. Derrick and Peggy still continue to train both amateur and professional dancers at the Delmar Dance Centre and promote dancing events at Harold Hill Community Centre, Romford, Essex, where their promotion was held on Sunday July 25, 2004. Doors opened at 9.30am and the competitions started at 10.30am. Derrick introduced the panel of adjudicators starting with the ladies, Doreen Freeman-Burgess, Beryl Holland, Olga Komarova, Warren Bullock, Derek Green, Stephen Hannah, Thomas Persson, Philip Wylie and Richard Rose (Chairman). Four EADA National Selection Competitions and five Essex Championships were being contested, so from the first round the floor was crowded with eager young dancers. Couples for the EADA Juvenile Latin Competition were the first to dance and the eventual winners were John Giannini and Stevie Jones two lovely young dancers from Orpington. They swept the board and won every competition they entered including the Open Ballroom Keepers Trophy. All the Juveniles danced well, there is a lot of talent out there. The Open Essex Junior Ballroom Championship was won by Gary and Kerry Lathrope from Maidstone, the Open Junior Latin Keepers trophy was won by Courtney Garratt and Lauren Hunt from Reading.
The Senior EADA Latin Selection was next and the final result was a win for Sean and Carole Madden who had travelled from Oldham to compete. The EADA Youth Ballroom Selection Competition was eventually won by Danny Stowell and Holly Wallcott from Biggin Hill. It was a very hard fought contest with some of the best dancers in the country taking part. The EADA Over 50s Ballroom competition winners were John Atkinson and Maureen Hall from Rotherham, The Open Essex Senior Ballroom Championship winners were Paul Barclay and Christine Doucette from Benfleet; the Open Essex Amateur Ballroom Champions were Stephen Vincent and Amanda Coupar from Manchester, who have only been together a short time but were very impressive. The Open Essex Amateur Latin Champions were Danny Bayne and Danielle Booth from Welling. All day we saw some excellent dancing to superb music from Denis Gascoigne, he never fails to please. Derrick compèred with help from Brenda Gascoigne and Joy Weller scutineered aided by Tracey. The sponsors for the day were Brackley’s and Peter Larman. Peter also sponsored Elegance, in memory of his wife Joyce who loved elegant things. All the
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| EADA Youth Ballroom National Selection Winners Danny Stowell and Holly Woolcott. |
competitors were brought onto the floor by their partners in three different age groups: first age group up to 34, second age group 35-49 and the last age group over 50s. The judges had to pick the most elegant lady from each group. The three chosen were each presented with a prize and a bouquet of orchids, a lovely gesture and some very elegant ladies. I am sure Joyce would have been very happy with the winners. The day finished at 10.15pm it was a long day but a very successful and enjoyable one. Thank you for inviting us.
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