Roland vows to return

AN INNOCUOUS cycling accident has robbed Guernsey's top junior artistic roller skating couple of the chance to represent Great Britain in the European Championships. Following Bobby Roland and Chloe Dyke's tremendous second place finish at the recent British Championships in Alfreton, Derbyshire, they were picked for the British team to go to the Euros in Denmark at the end of the month.

But horrendous misfortune struck 14-year-old Roland shortly after returning from the UK.

Due to a simple fall off his bike, he sustained serious fractures to his lower left leg, which have required two operations, and he is now unable to skate for six months.

'I'm quite upset really because I can't go and because I have never been to Denmark before,' said Roland.

'I want to come back because I would like to get selected for the Euros again and then the worlds in a couple of years' time.'

Roland's coach Darren Dyke said his protege's attitude will help him get over the setback.

'He's young and fit and he should make a full recovery,' he said.

'It has highlighted to me his commitment.

'He's very determined to get back on his skates, which is good because he's got drive and commitment and that will drive their progress.'

At the British Championships, Roland and Chloe Dyke had skated very well to pick up their silver medals. They performed their three compulsory dances with good control and poise to see them picked for the European level.

In the rock-and-roll themed free-dance section, after a great start to their routine, they encountered a problem with a difficult trick.

They lost their momentum to miss a small section of their programme.

They soon got it back and with a spirited show, they got the crowd on their side to be awarded the Youth Championship title.

'We'd done really well as we were coming first but we had a little mistake in one of our programmes,' said Roland. 'But it all came back together.'

It was not the only medal that the 14-year-old Dyke was awarded at the competition.

The Grammar School student went on to gain her fifth British title in six years when she walked away with the cadet solo dance title.

On her way to that she had to perform the Denver shuffle, the Kleiner waltz and the paso doble in the set pattern category.

Fellow Sarnian 13-year-old Emilia Bianco followed her into second place.

Both skaters have been selected for Great Britain trials for November's European solo dance championships in Paris.

'Chloe has done fantastically well as an individual skater,' said her coach and father, Darren.

'Emilia has always been with Chloe and she's always had to be second behind her, but she has got fantastic potential as well. They are two of the top skaters in their age group and they are quite above the rest.'

Darren Dyke has also been in action when he went with his partner, Kristy Chick, to represent Great Britain at the Senior European Dance Championships in Monza.

The Guernsey pair had taken second place in the British Championships earlier in the year to earn this accolade.

After overcoming the problem of having their luggage arriving late in Italy, they were awarded the top mark of 8.4 by the Israel judge for their starlight waltz and Iceland tango.

That put them in a commanding position going into the original dance section.

An impressive interpretation of the cha cha rhythm saw them in ninth and a place above the current British champions.

In front of television cameras for the last dance, the pressure told on the Guernsey duo as they found the conditions hard going.

They unfortunately lost the performance element of their routine after they had begun well.

Subsequently they slipped down to 10th place.

On the strength of their performance, though, they have been invited to trials in October for the World Championships.

'It was really fantastic,' said Dyke.

'I had a three-week holiday and we were able to put more time into the training and it definitely benefited our skating.'