Celebrating Courtney's Engagement

The Richmond Championship class presented Courtney with a "congratulations on your engagement" bouquet yesterday. Thanks to Christine for submitting these photos (taken by Connie, using Christine's camera).

1. Courtney receives her flowers
2. Back row: Mikaela, Catalina, Courtney, Shannon, Michael and Nora. Front row: Morgan, Jessie, Caitlin, Emma, Jadyn and Macaela.
3. Caitlin gets a up-close view of the ring
4. Courtney's beautiful engagement ring!

Armstrong Girls in Belize

Although they weren't around here to join in on the NPIDA St. Patrick's dance shows, the Armstrong girls (Olivia and Sarah) gave an impromptu performance for some tourists on St. Patrick's Day - at the Ancient Mayan Ruins of Lamanai in Belize, Central America ! Thanks to mom Leanne A who submitted these photos, and added "if they look hot, it was about 40 degrees!"

3 More Red Dress Qualifiers!

NPIDA has 3 more red dress qualifiers, based on their great results last weekend at the Emerald City Feis in Seattle. Congratulations to Olivia B from Richmond (left), Emma B from Richmond (middle), and Mhairi M from North Van (right) on your fast advancement to getting a red dress! Have fun and good luck at the feis this weekend!

Photo credits:
Photo of Olivia submitted by Josee
Photo of Emma submitted by Christine
Photo of Mhairi submitted by Sharon

Claudia's Photos: Emerald City Feis

Thank you to Claudia for submitting these photos from the Emerald City Feis last weekend!

1. Catalina, Camryn, Emma and Mackenzie
2. Catalina and Macaela
3. Catalina, Shannon and Mackenzie

The POD Feis schedule for this weekend is now available on feisworx; click here: http://www.feisworx.com/

The Rest of the Photo Contest Entries

Here are the final sets of photos submitted by dancers for the NPIDA St. Pat's Photo Contest. (Scroll down a bit to see the earlier photos posted). Lauren N won the $25. iPOD card in a random draw. Thanks to Megan S (photos #1-5), Jessie H (photos #6-10) and Hanna S (photos #11-15) for these photos, above!

Megan's Photos:
1. Jenny M at the parade
2. Pub sign at St. Pat's
3. Malia at the parade
4. Julia R taking a photo
5. A backstage wave from Nora

Jessie's Photos:

6. Morgan
7. Toe stand
8. Jadyn
9. Morgan's funny face
10. Catalina and Catharine

Hanna's Photos:

11. Jessie taking a photo
12. Shannon and Emma in black and white
13. Catharine being impish
14. Mikaela at Gilmore Gardens
15. Jessie's beautiful smile

Morgan: (Belated) Prelim Congratulations!

It's been a busy few days for news here on the Pickett Line Blog; please scroll down if you haven't checked in lately ! Also coming soon; more of our St Pat's Photo Contest entries, and 3 new red dress qualifiers!

My apologies to Morgan G for not previously announcing on the blog that she is a new Preliminary Championship dancer. Morgan recalled at the Oireachtas back in November 2010 and on the basis of her results there, she was advanced to Prelim. This past weekend she competed in her 3rd Prelim competition at the Emerald City Feis in Seattle, placing 5th in the U-10 group. Congratulations Morgan!

Photo of Morgan at the Emerald City Feis submitted by Connie.

ENGAGED!

With Courtney's permission, I am happy to make this announcement on her behalf: Courtney and Bruce are officially engaged! Bruce surprised Courtney yesterday, and the news of their engagement has spread like wildfire since then... Congratulations Courtney and Bruce!

Mikaela: New Prelim Dancer!

Mikaela P, age 13 from Richmond has advanced to Preliminary Championships, following her results at the Emerald City Feis last weekend. She will be competing in U-14 Prelim this weekend at the POD Feis in Surrey - congratulations and good luck Mikaela!

Thanks to Diana for this photo, taken at the 2010 Oireachtas Mini-Feis.

More Photo Contest Submissions

Here are the St. Pat's Photo Contest submissions from Anna (photos #1-2), Rachel (photo #3), Jadyn (photos #4-6), and Catharine (photos #7-8). Thanks girls!

Anna's Photos
1. Mary and Gemma
2. Mary with her cowboy hat

Rachel's Photo
3. Jayne, Camryn, Laurel and Mackenzie fueling up between shows

Jadyn's Photos
4. Catharine
5. Sage and Catalina
6. Mckenna lost a tooth - and it's in the cookie!

Catharine's Photos
7. Festive hat #1

8. Festive hat #2

Sisters Rock the Treble Reel!

My apologies to these dancers who placed in their Open Treble Reel competitions at the Emerald City Feis on Saturday. When I posted the Open Championship results on Saturday, the Treble Reel results were not yet available on feisworx, and I forgot to go back later to check. Congratulations Caitlin, Macaela, Camryn and Mackenzie !

U-12 Open Treble Reel (12 competitors)
Caitlin B: 1st!
Macaela B: 2nd
Camryn C: 4th

U-16 Open Treble Reel (18 competitors)
Mackenzie C: 1st!

Lauren's Photo Contest Submissions

As posted here last night (scroll down!), Lauren N won the random draw for a $25 iPOD gift card by entering the NPIDA St Pat's Photo Contest. Above are the photos that Lauren submitted; complete with her captions. Thanks and congratulations Lauren!

1. "Hello???" (Morgan)
2. "Cotton-Eyed Joe"
3. "Oww, my hair is caught!" (Hanna helping Shannon)
4. "Shamrock Troupe backstage at O'Hare's" (Lauren used the self-timer on her camera)
5. "Don't worry, I've got the hats!" (Shannon)

McKenna in Seattle

Thank you Krista for this great photo of Mckenna L at the Emerald City Feis! Mckenna placed 1st in the Novice Treble Reel Trophy Dance and 2nd in the U-9 Novice/Prizewinner Reel and Treble Jig Trophy Dance. As well, she won 5 solo dance medals; all 1sts, 2nds and 3rds. Congratulations Mckenna!

The St. Pat's Photo Contest Winner Is...

Congratulations to LAUREN N of Richmond for winning the 2011 NPIDA St. Pat's Photo Contest! 8 dancers submitted photos; thank you all: Lauren N, Catharine A, Anna M, Megan S, Jadyn M, Jessie H, Rachel S and Hanna S (we did not include Hanna's name in the random prize draw - potential conflict of interest!)

Over the next few days I will be posting all the photos that were submitted, beginning with Lauren's 5 photos tomorrow! Thanks Lauren, and congratulations! We will get your $25 iPOD gift card delivered to you at class this week!

Emerald City Feis Results: Sunday

Congratulations to our NPIDA dancers who competed at the Emerald City Feis today (all competitors age 13+ including Prelim but not including Open). Here are the Prelim and Trophy Dance results from today. Please scroll down 2 posts to view the NPIDA results from Saturday. I'm sorry for the weird formatting and spacing of the blog posts today; something must be wrong at blogger.com...

U-15 Prelim Championships

Emma B: 3rd in Soft Shoe. 2nd in U-15 Prelim Treble Reel

U-17 Prelim Championships
Jessi B: 4th in Soft Shoe, 5th in Hard Shoe

TROPHY DANCE RESULTS
Beginner Reel Trophy
Mhairi M: 2nd in 13+

Novice/Prizewinner Reel and Treble Jig Trophy
Mikaela P: 2nd in U-15

Emerald City Feis: Christine's Photos

Thanks to Christine for submitting these photos, taken yesterday at the Emerald City Feis. Please see the post below for full NPIDA Championship and Trophy results.

1. Back row: Catalina, Mackenzie and Shannon. Front row: Camryn, Macaela and Caitlin.
2. Sisters Macaela and Caitlin. They won 1st and 3rd respectively in Open U-12.
3. Sisters outside the feis venue.
4. Caitlin, Morgan, Macaela and Shannon.
5. Emma B
6. Sage L, Emma B and Mckenna L.