British Women making their mark
| In the World Championships prior to 1902, there was no thought of a woman competing, but then Madge Syers applied to compete at the World Championships. For the only time at World level, men and women competed against one another. Mrs Syers, aged 21, came second to Ulrich Salchow, some thought she should have won. So upset were the men that in 1903, the ISU congress banned women competing, but in 1905, the congress changed the rules so that in 1906, women had their own world championship and in 1908, Olympic championship. Madge Syers won both. Sadly in 1917, aged only 35, Britain's first Olympic figure skating champion died. |
| It was not until July 1939 that a woman actually held a post on the then National Skating Association Council, when they were joined by Mollie Phillips. An Olympic skater, she was the first woman to carry a flag at the opening of any summer or winter olympics. She was the first women to be invited by the ISU to judge and went on to become the first women to referee in a world championship, the ice dance event in 1953. As well as being a JP, she was the first lady High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire, a pioneer in every sense, and always controversial. |
| Janet Ann Sawbridge was born in 1947 and started out as a figure skater at the old Summerhill Ice Rink in Birmingham. Between 1963 and 1974, she competed in 12 world championships (equalling Sonja Henie's record) and 11 Europeans, with 3 different partners. She was 3 times British Ice Dance champion (63,64,71) and holds a unique achievement, being invited to compete in both the European ladies and ice dance competitions in 1964. |
Most of her
competitive career was spent at Queens Ice Club, a pupil of Gladys Hogg, skating
with David Hicks (1962-65), Jon Lane (65-69) and seen on left with Peter Dalby
(70-74).
On June 15th 1974 she was awarded the MBE and following her retirement from competition, coached at Solihull.
