Team GB scoop Gold

Team GB end the year on a high scooping joint Gold in the Showdance at the Malta Open last weekend.

Gary Lyness and Paula Moulton, co-founders of Strictly Wheels, are celebrating the end of their competitive season for 2016.

The pair compete internationally for Great Britain both in IPC (International Paralympic Committee) and non-IPC competitions.

2016 Season

Competitions this year have featured the Suomi Open in Helsinki and the Mainhatten Cup in Frankfurt.  The IPC European Championships ended their IPC season at the end of October in Kosice, Slovakia.

The final competition of the year took place in Malta last weekend with the pair taking part in Showdance and Latin Combi events.

They took the Bronze medal in the Latin Combi event on Sunday, however, they were ecstatic to take the Gold position in Showdance.  They performed an extended version of their iconic routine “Empire State of Mind”.

The podium was shared with Slovakia whom the judges could not separate in their performances.  Teams from Netherlands, Belgium and Germany took part.

It was a great competition and always one of the highlights of the season.  Full credit to Pippa Roberts and her team for the organisation.

Paula said “I’m thrilled to finish with a win, we don’t usually compete in Showdance, so this will spur us on to also concentrate on freestyle along with our Latin in the coming season”.

They finish the year with their official IPC European ranking in Latin Combi 2 at 9^th place with Paula also finishing the year in Single Ladies 2 at 8^th position in the rankings.

2017 Season

“We’re looking forward to a new season in 2017 which will be a new challenge as many athletes, including Paula, will be reclassified using a new system.  We are more likely to compete on a more level playing field as regards disability.  Showdance will certainly feature too”, Gary added.

The biggest hurdle for Team GB is sponsorship and funding to get to competitions.  “Mostly we have to fundraise and personally support ourselves to get to competitions to represent our country”, Paula says “and it’s very difficult to get funding for international travel.  We can have sponsors on costume in competition so we can offer brands something in return”.

If any companies or individuals would like more information on how they can support Team GB in Wheelchair Dance Sport then please get in touch.

Thanks to our current sponsors – International Dance Shoes and Fish Insurance.