Dancefloor challenge proves a walk in the park for vet David

DAVID Chamberlain and Natasha Axworthy are Guernsey's 2007 Dancefloor Challenge champions. The twinkle-toed director of Isabelle Vets ditched his lab coat for Lycra and sequins to pull ahead of 11 competing couples with 24 points.

'I'm amazed,' said the 42-year-old.

'I honestly thought there were three or four other people who would have snapped up first place.

'I think as a kid growing up in the 80s you get a taste of what it's like on the disco dancefloor, but this is so different - it's disciplined and exact.'

The pair danced their way to the top spot with a waltz in the group round and blew the crowd away with a saucy version of the rumba in the solo competition. Supported by his wife, friends and colleagues, Mr Chamberlain said his nerves hadn't got the better of him once he got onto the dance floor.

'I had never danced before this competition and I am definitely going to try and keep it up and drag my wife, Helen, along with me.

'My son couldn't come tonight but he came along to the rehearsal this afternoon and loved it - actually he is the reason I decided to take part.

'He absolutely loves the TV programme, Strictly Come Dancing, and I just wanted to make him proud.'

Ms Axworthy, a customer services executive, who danced between the age of five and 16 and then returned to the sport four years ago, said she was completely overwhelmed about coming first.

'I'm in shock, to be honest,' said the 27-year-old.

She added that Mr Chamberlain was the perfect pupil.

'He worked very hard, we never fell out and my toes are perfectly all right - it was a pleasure to dance with him because it has been great fun.'

Money raised from the evening will go to Changing Faces Channel Islands, which supports adults and children with disfigurements and helps them overcome their psychological and social challenges.

Chairwoman Jill Clark said the charity would receive between £3,000 and £4,000, which would go towards creating awareness about the organisation.

'We will be running a medical seminar in September for GPs and health professionals and a second seminar for teachers.

'We are hoping to reach about 700 people who will, at some point in their profession, have contact with someone with a disfigurement - we want to create as much awareness about Changing Faces as possible.

'It's all about making GPs aware that we exist so they refer people to us,' she said.

Guernsey Amateur Dancesport Association chairman Jamie Le Tissier, who created the Dancefloor Challenge with his partner and wife Vanessa, said the evening had once again been a total success.

'It's been absolutely superb,' he said. 'We have raised lots of money for Changing Faces thanks to all the support of Martel Maides and all our other sponsors. The dancers have just been absolutely fantastic - they have all done us proud.'

* Full report and pictures in tomorrow's Guernsey Press.