PUPILS at a Helensburgh dance school are celebrating after flying the flag for Scotland in some style at a major Highland dancing event in Canada.
The youngsters, who all attend the Margaret Rose School of Dance, brought home an incredible 75 medals – 20 gold, five silver and 50 bronze – from the ScotDance event in Regina, Saskatchewan.
This year’s ScotDance, returning after a pandemic-enforced pause, brought almost 600 competitors from around the world to the Viterra International Trade Centre over four days earlier this month.
Eilidh Gammons led the way for the Helensburgh contingent with a prize haul that included the trophy for the best overseas dancer
And while dance teacher Margaret MacInnes’s pupils are no strangers to success, even by their standards the haul they brought back from Canada was quite something – featuring 9 choreography trophies, a pre-championship trophy, a championship trophy, a section trophy, and the ‘best overseas dancer’ trophy.
Leading the way for the Helensburgh contingent – and not for the first time – was Eilidh Gammons, who won the 14 years premier section, the solo choreography prize, the duet choreography prise with Camryn MacIsaac, the nationals section, and the trophy for the overseas dancer with the most points.
Six-year-old Olivia Moffat won eight medals - six gold and two bronze
Among the other top performers were Olivia Moffat, who won eight medals – six gold and two bronze – and Ava Lily King, who secured five medals in the novice section.
Teacher Margaret said: “The girls did Helensburgh and Scotland proud and I couldn’t be more proud of how hard they worked before and during the competition.
Ava Lily King won five medals in the novice section
“Eilidh’s was an amazing achievement for a hard-working girl, and little Olivia was amazing as she is only six and adjusted well and shone in her age group.
“We are now working hard for the summer season of Highland Games events, but Canada 2023 is on our minds.”
The Margaret Rose School of Dance pupils who won 75 medals at the ScotDance event
Held from July 6-10, this year’s ScotDance featured dancers aged from four to 41 from Scotland, Northern Ireland, Australia, the United States and nine Canadian provinces and, according to the organisers, was expected to bring in an economic benefit to the city of more than £1 million.
Next year’s ScotDance event will be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
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