2011 British National Irish Dancing Championship Top Boys' Results

Joe Bitter from Carey, Birmingham, England

2011 British Nationals Irish Dancing Champion

Boys 16-17

photo courtesy www.goodmedia.co.uk

Nicholas Paulson from Broesler, MD/NJ

2011 British National Irish Dancing Champion

Boys 17-18

photo courtesy of Feis America LLC

Most of the boys' and men's results from the 2011 British National Irish Dancing Championships are in! Congratulations to 2011 British National Champions: Mark O'Malley, Boys 7-8; John Whitehurst, Boys 11-12; Daire Hanrahan, Boys 13-14; Sean Downes, Boys 14-15; Richard Murray, Boys 15-16; Joe Bitter, Boys 16-17; Nicholas Paulson, Boys 17-18; Cathal Keaney, Men 18-19; John Lawrence Morgan, Men 19-20; and, Jan Gaca, Men 20 & Over.

Special congratulations to Nick Paulson from Broesler in MD/NJ, the only North American male to clinch a British National Irish Dancing Championship in 2011, and Zac Warshaw from Short School in Canada, who placed 3rd in the Senior Men event.

Boys 7-8

Champion Mark O'Malley from Brian Geraghty, Roscommon

2 Michael Flanagan from Flanagan, Belfast

3 Joe Pavier from Inis Cara, Lincoln

4 Josh Owens from Cosa in Airde, Belfast

5 Kieran Flanagan from Lally, Manchester

Boys 11-12

Champion John Whitehurst from Carey, Birmingham

2 Gerard Byrne from McNelis-Cunningham, Donegal

3 Matthew Gardiner from Hession, Galway

4 Jack Roberts from Inis Cara, Lincoln

5 Tom Dunleavy from Coleman, Co Mayo

Boys 13-14

Champion Daire Hanrahan from Ui Ruairc, Limerick

2 James O'Farrell from Curley, Galway

3 Rory McElvogue-Heslop from McElvogue, Newcastle upon Tyne

4 Conor Walsh from Coleman, Co Mayo

5 Joseph Keegan from Ward-Mallinson, Manchester

Boys 14-15

Champion Sean Downes from McCutcheon, Glasgow

2 Macauley Selwood from Doherty, Coventry

3 Colm Molloy from Claddagh, Essex

4 Mitchell Hodges from Carey, Birmingham

5 Paul McCabe from Montgomery Taylor, Glasgow

Boys 15-16

Champion Richard Murray from Higgins, Waterford

2 Caolan McKeating-Lynch from Mulvenna, Belfast

3 Eoghan Murphy from Scoil Rince Mona Ni Rodaigh, Co Armagh

4 Luke McCusker from Fitzgibbon, Northwest England

5 Michael Gardiner from Hession, Galway

Boys 16-17

Champion Joe Bitter from Carey, Birmingham

2 Owen Sherman from Maguire-O'Shea, Essex

3 David Geaney from Rinceoirt No Riochta, Tralee

4 Conor Ryan from Scoil Rince Ceim Oir, London

5 Michael Gleeson from Morgan, Manchester

Boys 17-18

Champion Nicholas Paulson from Broesler, MD/NY

2 Garrard McNamee from McConomy, Derry

3 Dylan Millar from Inis Cara, Lincoln

4 Jack O'Donnell from Keogh Academy, Coventry

5 Declan Lyons from Morgan, Manchester

Men 18-19

Champion Cathal Keaney from Hession, Galway

2 Conor McGuire from Kenny, Birmingham

3 Alan Walsh from Coleman, Co Mayo

4 Niall McCarron from McCarron, Birmingham

5 Joseph Watson from Ward-Mallinson, Manchester

Men 19-20

Champion John Lawrence Morgan from Morgan, Manchester

2 Eamonn Sweeney from Morgan, Manchester

3 John McCullough from Keogh Academy, Coventry

Men 20 & Over

Champion Jan Gaca from Scoil Rince Ceim Oir, London

2 Conor Kennedy from Kenny, Birmingham

3 Zachary Warshaw from Short School, Canada

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2011 British National Irish Dancing Championship Top Girls' Results

Mackenzie Mahler from Blakey, Canada

2011 British Nationals Irish Dancing Championship

4th place Girls 14-15

photo courtesy of Blakey School website

Jade Bridgewater from Doherty, Coventry, U.K.

2011 British Nationals Irish Dancing Champion

Girls 14-15

photo courtesy of www.worldirishdancing.com

Claire Greaney from Hession, Galway, Ireland

2011 British Nationals Irish Dancing Champion Ladies 20 & Over

photo courtesy Claire Greaney

Shannon Bradley from Doherty, Belfast, Northern Ireland

2011 British Nationals Irish Dancing Champion

Girls 13-14

photo courtesy Diarmuid Mclaughlin

The British National Irish Dancing Championships were held this past week, and the results are in! Feis America on Irish Central brings you the top results for the Irish dancing competitions here! Congratulations to British National Irish Dancing Champions Trinity Halliwell for Girls 7-8, Brogan McCay for Girls 11-12, Shannon Bradley for Girls 13-14, Jade Bridgewater for Girls 14-15, Etain Mulvenna for Girls 15-16, Alana Pearson for Girls 16-17, Jasmine Withers for Girls 17-18, Caitriona Quinlan for Girls 18-19, and Claire Greaney for Ladies 20 & Over.

Special congratulations to the North Americans who placed in the Top Ten: Mackenzie Mahler from Blakey, Canada; Kimmy Cooper from Blakey, Canada; Leyla Marasli from Broesler, MD/NJ and Olivia Griffin from Butler-Fearon-O'Connor, California.

Girls 7-8:

Champion Trinity Gleeson Halliwell from Morgan, Manchester

2 Eleanor Murray from Scoil Rince Mona Ni Rodaigh, Co Armagh, Ireland

3 Alliyah O'Hare from Scanlon, Birmingham

4 Grace McGrory from Turley, Coventry

5 Elli Coyle-McGovern from O'Connor, Sligo

6 Jaisie Withers from Kenny, Birmingham

7 Aileen Murphy from Murchu-Duignan, London

8 Ella Curry from Ard Rialla O'Donoghue, Leinster/Ulster

9 Corragh McCloskey from McConomy, Derry

10 Ailis Shannon from Ward-Mallinson, Manchester

Girls 11-12:

Champion Brogan McCay from McConomy, Derry

2 Roisin Naughton from Coleman, Co Mayo, Ireland

3 Olivia Drury from Claddagh, Essex

4 Alannah Lynch from O'Shea, Dublin, Ireland

5 Sophia Fizmaurice from Murchu-Duiginn, London

6 Andrea Martin from Scoil Rince NiChearra-O'Baolain-McMahon

7 Ava McLoughlin from O'Neill, Ireland

8 Grace Callaghan from McConomy, Derry, Ireland

9 Laura Cotton from McNelis-Cunningham, Donegal, Ireland

10 Cyra Carey from Ard Rialla O'Donoghue, Leinster/Ulster

Girls 13-14:

Champion Shannon Bradley from Doherty, Belfast, Northern Ireland

2 Leelle Eakins from Scoil Rince NiChearra-O'Baolain-McMahon

3 Shannon Morrissey from Scoil Rince Ceim Oir, London

4 Amy Prior-O'Loughlin from Hennigan-O'Loughlin, Essex

5 Hannah Drury from Claddagh, Essex

6 Amy Harley from Doherty, Belfast, Northern Ireland

7 Olivia Murray from Scoil Rince Mona Ni Rodaigh, Co Armagh, Ireland

8 Anna Fitzpatrick from O'Shea, Dublin, Ireland

9 Olivia N'Baolain from Ward-Mallinson, Manchester

10 Luca Moran from Ard Rialla O'Donoghue, Leinster/Ulster

Girls 14-15:

Champion Jade Bridgewater from Doherty, Coventry

2 Ellen Kennedy from O'Connor, Sligo, Ireland

3 Shauna Ryan from Ui Nuallain, Limerick

4 Mackenzie Mahler from Blakey, Canada

5 Lily Taylor from McGahan Lees, Essex

6 Leah Skerrett from Carey, Birmingham

7 Ciara Simpson from Maguire-O'Shea, Essex

8 Ciara Jennings from Coleman, Co Mayo, Ireland

9 Sophie Comer from Burke, Cheshire

10 Tie Sinead Kelly from Coleman, Co Mayo with Jude Murphy from Doherty, Belfast

Girls 15-16:

Champion Etain Mulvenna from Mulvenna, Belfast

2 Laura Casey from Ard Rialla O'Donoghue, Leinster/Ulster

3 Layla Healy from Fegan, Co Wicklow, Ireland

4 Emma Donnelly from Montgomery Taylor, Glasgow

5 Sophie Garside from Ward-Mallinson, Manchester

6 Rebecca Reed from Murchu-Duiginn, London

7 Fionnuala McNulty from Doherty, Belfast

8 Rachel Ferguson from McGahan Lees, Essex

9 Shannon Keenan from Kenny, Birmingham

10 Isabella Fisher from Inis Cara, Lincoln

Girls 16-17:

Champion Alana Pearson from Scoil Rince Ceim Oir, London

2 Anne Marie Keaney from Hession, Galway, Ireland

3 Emily Holt from Ard Ri, Kent

4 Samantha Morton from Kelly Hendry, Newcastle

5 Muriel Burke from Scoil Rince Mona Ni Rodaigh, Co Armagh

6 Zoe Griffin from Ui Ruairc, Limerick, Ireland

7 Sian Skerrett from Carey, Birmingham

8 Sarah Farrell from Brooks Academy, Herts

9 Lisa Martyn from Hession, Galway, Ireland

10 Gabrielle Nurse from McGahan Lees, Essex

Girls 17-18:

Champion Jasmine Withers from Kenny, Birmingham

2 Tara Walsh from Higgins, Waterford, Ireland

3 Christine Bresnan from Brooks Academy, Herts

4 Kimmy Cooper from Blakey, Canada

5 Laura Millar from Trainor, London

6 Niamh McMahon from Jackie O'Leary, Co Meath, Ireland

7 Leyla Marasli from Broesler, MD/NJ

Girls 18-19:

CHAMPION Caitriona Quinlan from Scoil Rince Ceim Oir, London

2 Sarah C Nutley from Scoil Rince Ceim Oir, London

3 Katie McAleer from McAleer-Field, Doncaster

4 Shanice Medoings from Kenny, Birmingham

5 Aimee Pulford from McGahan Lees, Essex

6 Tie Amy Cagney from Ward-Mallinson, Manchester with Kelly Bridgewater

from Doherty, Coventry

8 Jenna Hamill from Doherty, Belfast

Ladies 19-20:

Champion Nadine Martin from Doherty, Coventry

2 Jodie Osborne from Montgomery Taylor, Glasgow

3 Olivia Griffin from Butler-Fearon-O'Connor California, U.S.A.

4 Lucy English from Scoil Rince Ceim Oir, London

5 Victoria Thornley from Kelly Hendry, Newcastle

Ladies 20 & Over:

Champion Claire Greaney from Hession, Galway, Ireland

2 Suzanne Coyle from McLaughlin, Glasgow

3 Frances Dunne from Doherty, Coventry

4 Siobhan Casey from Doherty, Coventry

5 Simona Mauriello from Maguire-O'Shea, Essex

6 Emma Andrews from Kenny, Birmingham

7 Izzy Yorke from McGahan Lees, Essex

8 Rachael-Beth Powders from Ard Ri, Kent

9 Charaina Kelly from Maguire-O'Shea, Essex

10 Jessica Devlin from Maguire-O'Shea, Essex

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Meet the stars of new documentary "Jig" - Joe Bitter - VIDEO

Five-time World Irish Dancing Champion and a star of Jig! The Film

Coming soon to Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Toronto!

Joe Bitter is the real thing. Comfortable with cameras and strangers, wearing a smile that just didn't quit during hours of interviews, Joe exudes that stellar presence that helped him claim FIVE World Championship titles. Remarkably, Joe displays none of the inflated ego expected of a 17 year-old, particularly one with his amazing Irish dancing record and international fame.

Born and raised in California, Joe was smitten with American football long before he was introduced to Irish dancing. "I could throw twice as far and run faster than everybody, but I was too small," admits Joe. Watching his older sister dance and a Riverdance DVD peaked his interest, and Joe took to step dancing immediately.

In Jig!, Joe's father recalls that Joe won the first seventeen competitions he entered and often would roll up the carpet and dance for as many as seven hours at a time. Eventually, Dr. Bitter gave up his successful practice and moved the family to England so Joe could train with John Carey, TCRG, an EIGHT-time World Irish Dancing Champion. It is this kind of intimate look at the whole family's commitment that makes Jig! such a fantastic documentary about the world of competitive Irish dancing.

In New York for the opening of Jig!, Joe was excited to talk about the film and when prodded, about his own dancing and creative partnership with his mentor and teacher John Carey. Joe is preparing now for the North American National Irish Dancing Championships and finishing up at school at the same time. He does get to miss some school - and unfortunately some social events with his friends - because of dance, but he sees it more as dedication than sacrifice. He crosstrains with Pilates and at the gym. He looks up to the professionals who perform in Riverdance and Lord of the Dance, and hopes to join a tour when he's done with school.

In the film, a memorable moment is when young John Whitehurst talks about looking up to Joe in dance class; in another, Joe talks about wanting to be remembered for his set dance. Neither scene is one you will soon forget!

Jig! is scheduled to open this weekend in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Toronto. See http://www.jig-the-film.com/ for a list of theaters and cities, and put your request in for a showing in your area today!

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'Jig' the Irish Dance Movie Rocking Theaters Now

In ninety-three edge-of-your-seat minutes, Jig producer Sue Bourne takes her audience from neighborhood Irish dance studios across the globe to the coveted podium of the 40th Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne, held in Glasgow in 2010. If you're at all familiar with the culture of competitive Irish dancing, you will be delighted to share the journey made by the very best of these athletes; otherwise, you're in for an education and a treat!

Meet friendly rivals Julia O'Rourke from the Petri in New York and Brogan McCay from McConomy in Derry, Northern Ireland; young John Whitehurst and his idol World Champion Joe Bitter who study with 8-time World Champion John Carey TCRG in England; Will Sandun, a Sri Lankan adopted and brought up in the Netherlands known as "The Flying Dutchman"; the three young ladies - all friends - who have battled for the top title for 15 years; the unlikely Ceilidh team of adult Russian ladies from Moscow who with Tir na nOg's Shane McAvinchey TCRG are unwavering in their pursuit of excellence.

Jig opened in theaters across the United States on Friday, June 17th. View the trailer here:



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