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JENNA INVITED TO PALACE!
Jenna McCorkell International Ice Skating star has a date with the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Jenna who is married to Belgium Ice Skating star Kevin Van der Perren
will be accompanied by her husband at a garden party being hosted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on 22nd July 2010.
Jenna Commented 'This is such an honour and totally different to anything that I have done before. My main problem has been sorting out a hat!'
Jenna who became the first ever Ice skater from Northern Ireland to compete at the Winter Games this year, finished of her season with a personal best score and placing at the World Championships in March, placing an incredible 14th overall (15th short / 12th Free), becoming the first female singles skater in over 20 years to achieve this placing. In 2009 Jenna placed well inside the top 10 of Europe for a second consecutive year.
The Coleraine skater is in intense practice with coach Yuri Bureiko in Coventry and Belgium this season...
27.03.10
JENNA AT BRILLIANT FORM AT WORLDS
Jenna McCorkell put to the memory of a month ago firmly where it belongs today - in the past! The 23 year old from Coleraine skated a blinder in the free programme to not only record a lifetime best free programme score but a lifetime best overall score...ending the season on a high Jenna commented:
'This was one of my best skates, it felt so good to be out there! This will hopefully set the record straight!'
Yuri Bureiko Jenna's coach was equally delighted. 'Jenna has demonstrated real guts and determination this weekend, it was a psychological challenge for her but she rose to the occasion and put in two outstanding performances. Everyone should be really proud of her!'
11 March 2010
Jenna Bounces Back for Worlds!
Northern Ireland’s Winter Olympian Jenna McCorkell is back in Belgium and working hard on her programmes for the up-and-coming World Championships in a few weeks time in Torino, Italy. The seven times British Champion who was battling a series of viral infections prior to the Games, is now well on the mend and ready for the challenge of the World Championships.
‘The Olympics was a fantastic experience in one sense and yet disappointing in another. To not qualify was the worst feeling, but I will have other challenges in my life, its how you deal and overcome them that is the important thing. My confidence was knocked but I am feeling physically much better so I just want to go to World’s and try and improve on my scores and position from last season.’
Jenna has been receiving well wishes and encouraging e-mails from fans all over the world since her debut at the Olympic Games, proving she is a great role model for the next generation of sportspersons.
www.jennamccorkell.com or www.akrpromotionsevents.com
Chat to Jenna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JumpinJen2010
Karin McBride – PR Consultant
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Latest Pre-Olympic Feature on JENNA & KEVIN check out More than the Games for full up-to-date coverage - click icon below for link.
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JENNA LANDS IN CANADA!
Jenna McCorkell has just landed in Canada ahead of the start of the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. The seven times British Champion, International medallist and World and European competitor, is only hours away from the opening ceremony.
‘I spoke to Jenna earlier’ said her mum Ainsley from her Coleraine home in Northern Ireland ‘she is very excited and it is all just starting to sink in that this is real!’ Ainsley and husband Craig will join their daughter in Vancouver later in the month to watch her skate. You can catch the opening ceremony live on BBC 2 @1.45 am on Sat 13th February.
www.jennamccorkell.com and www.akrpromotionsevents.com
chat to Jenna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JumpinJen2010
Karin McBride – PR
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02/02/10
CASTLEREAGH COMMENDS OLYMPIC SKATER
Castlereagh Borough Council has commended Ulster ice skater, Jenna McCorkell as the British Senior Ladies Champion heads to Vancouver on 8th February to represent team GB at the Winter Olympic Games. Jenna, who trained at Dundonald International Ice Bowl in the beginning of her career, is the first ever skater from Northern Ireland to represent Great Britain at the Winter Olympic Games The Mayor of Castlereagh, Councillor Lawrence Walker was thrilled with Jenna’s success. He said, “Jenna is a magnificent ambassador for local sport and her success on the ice is a true inspiration to the many young skaters at Dundonald International Ice Bowl who strive to follow in her footsteps.
'On behalf of Castlereagh Borough Council, I would like to wish Jenna every success at the Winter Olympic Games.'
The demand for ice skating lessons has already soared at Dundonald International Ice Bowl as children and adults have taken to the ice to learn to skate or take up competitive skating. The next series of lessons will commence the end of February and registration is currently open. For further details, contact Dundonald International Ice Bowl on 90809 129 or log onto www.theicebowl.com
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23/01/10
JENNA SKATES BELOW PAR IN LONG!
Seven times British Ice Skating Champion JENNA MCORKELL looked pale and drawn at the end of her 4 minute programme at the European Championships in Estonia today. Jenna finally succumbed to the viral relapse that had started to work on her prior to the short programme. However the demanding free programme just proved too much for the skating star and her energy just went towards the end...
‘Jenna has had a rough time since Christmas health-wise. She is now starting her third course of antibiotics and in fact skated against doctor’s advice today, but that is the measure of the woman. She is a very conscientious athlete who does not like to let anyone down. Her coach Yuri Bureiko remains very positive and is convinced that with a good rest she will be fit for the Olympics in a few weeks time, it’s disappointing, and it doesn’t happen to Jenna often, but that’s life!’ stated Karin McBride PR
Jenna finished out of the top ten overall, but she can come away from the event, however, with a lifetime best score in the short programme. Jenna will become the first ever athlete from Northern Ireland to compete at the Olympic Games in Figure Skating in Vancouver in February...
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22/01/10
JENNA SKATES LIFETIME BEST!
Seven times British Ice Skating Champion JENNA MCORKELL skated a blinder in Estonia at the European Championships today to score a lifetime best in the short programme. However, things had been in doubt as to whether or not McCorkell would even compete
‘Up until the last minute Jenna had to consult with the doctor as she had suffered a viral relapse just prior to the event , but she is a very gutsy young woman and was determined to do her best, which I am delighted to say she did!’ stated Karin McBride who has been Jenna’s PR for 10 years.
With the standard this year at its highest ever and with very little separating the top ten skaters, there is all to skate for in the free programme tomorrow.
This year the European’s is acting as a ‘warm-up’ to the Olympic Games in a month’s time whenever Jenna will again compete...
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16/01/10
JENNA INTENSIFIES PREPARATIONS
Seven times British Ice Skating Champion JENNA MCORKELL is currently in Austria putting the finishing touches to her programmes with top internationally renowned choreographer SHANETTE FOLLE and coach Yuri Bureiko.
This comes just a week from the European Championships which be hosted by Saku Suurhall in Tallinn, Estonia from January 18 through January 24, 2010.
For the past two seasons Jenna has been top in the 10 of the Europeans and is hoping to improve her position even more in the run up to the Winter Olympics in February in Vancouver.
Thus far it has been a good season for Jenna culminating in an historic 7th title win in the National Championships and taking the Bronze medal in the NRW Trophy, Germany prior to Christmas.
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JENNA SECURES BRONZE IN MAJOR INTERNATIONAL!
With a tremendous skate Jenna McCorkell took her first major Senior International medal this season tonight in Dortmund Germany in the NRW Trophy. McCorkell has been threatening to take a medal for some time, however with an overall personal best score this season it would appear that Jenna’s fortunes are finally changing.
The NRW Trophy had most of Europe’s top competitors in it and naturally her coach Yuri Bureiko was delighted with her performances, as was Jenna who is 7 times British Senior Champion:
‘I am delighted with both programmes this weekend and to take a medal would have been really great in such a big field but to make a personal best overall score as well as take a medal, well that is really sweet.’
Jenna will now be working with Shanette Folle before she competes in the European, Olympic and World Championships in the New Year. Jenna’s husband Kevin Van der Perren who is also coached by Yuri clinched the bronze in the mens event earlier in the day!
Karin McBride – PR
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JENNA LYING IN SILVER MEDAL POSITION IN GERMANY...
Seven times British Ice Skating Champion JENNA McCORKELL is currently lying in silver medal position following the short programme at the NRW Trophy in Dortmund Germany this evening. In a world class field of 28 competitors Jenna skated her second best short programme of her career, clocking up a seasons best score.
Jenna who was announced for the Team GB Winter Games team 2010 earlier in the week will compete in the Free programme tomorrow.
Karin McBride - PR
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02/12/09
JENNA - Acknowledged in Parliament!
Seven times British Senior Ice Skating Champion JENNA McCORKELL has had a whirlwind week, and as the young 23 year old ice skater from Coleraine ‘took off’ the runway for another International in Germany today the British Parliament in London was acknowledging her achievements. Mr Gregory Campbell MP, MLA brought forward the Early Morning Motion which read:-
ULSTER OLYMPIAN SKATER
01.12.2009
Campbell, Gregory
That this House notes the outstanding ice skating achievements of Coleraine woman, Jenna McCorkell, in winning the British Senior Ice Skating Championships for a record breaking seventh time, and in qualifying, for the first time ever for a Northern Ireland ice skater, for the British and Northern Ireland team to compete in the forthcoming Olympic Games; commends her magnificent efforts thus far; and wishes her every success for Northern Ireland in the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
Jenna’s PR Consultant Karin McBride commented:
‘Jenna has just left for Germany this morning but she was delighted with this acknowledgement and would like to thank Mr Campbell and all those who have supported the motion, she deems this as a great honour.’
Jenna is now in fulltime training and her announcement that she was officially now on the Team GB and heading to Vancouver was met with joy and concern by her coach Yuri Bureiko who also coaches Jenna’s husband European Bronze medallist Kevin Van der Perren: ‘Jenna has been receiving Sport NI Funding for many years now to help her to achieve this goal of Olympic Games Selection, and we would like to publicly thank them for all their support. However, to make it to Olympic level is an extraordinary achievement which requires an extraordinary level of funding and I just hope that the funding will be there for Jenna. She has made vast improvements this year and the feedback from the judges has been phenomenal, she will be the first ever Ice Skater from Northern Ireland to have achieved this and we hope that everyone will get behind Jenna and support her!’
Keep up to date with all of Jenna’s news on her official website: www.jennamccorkell.com and you can now follow Jenna on ‘Twitter’ – link via site.
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30/12/09
It’s Official!
Seven times British Senior Ice Skating Champion – Jenna McCorkell has re-written the history books for a second time in 24 hours!. Jenna will represent GB at the Winter Games in Vancouver 2010 – it was officially announced by the BOA this afternoon. .Jenna becomes the first ever ice skater from Northern Ireland to be selected for this honour.
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28/11/09
JENNA MAKES IT SEVEN - AND MAKES HISTORY!
As Jenna McCorkell packs her bags in Sheffield this weekend, she takes with her an unprecedented record 7th British title win re-writing the history books in the process! Jenna has been national champion for the last 6 years and was head and shoulders above the competition at this event held at Ice Sheffield, England. The top 10 European and world competitor was literally in a class of her own and has been making big improvements all season on the international stage. The 22 year old Coleraine skater however suffered a shoulder injury in the morning and was skating under par but she already has her sights set on another international event in Germany – NRW Trophy next week, and whilst Jenna is clocking up the miles in different time zones it doesn’t seem to be affecting her skating.
Yuri Bureiko Jenna’s coach commented:
‘Jenna has been improving each time she is going out there to perform in fact the performance value of her programmes has improved out of all recognition and her confidence is really really good. I feel she is very relaxed also with her skating. Her experience is showing, and feedback from the judges this season has been tremendous. Jenna’s choreographer is Shanetta Folle who is world renowned and very much in demand, we were so fortunate to get her to work with Jenna this season and this is now being reflected in her performances.’
Yuri Bureiko has been Jenna’s coach since she was 15 years old and Jenna has received support from Sport NI since the age of 14 yrs to help her to achieve her goal of competing on the World stage and the Winter Games. Next year Jenna will become the first athlete from Northern Ireland ever to compete at the Winter Games and funding will be of paramount importance. Yuri continued:
‘Jenna receives lottery funding from Sport NI and whilst this is very welcomed there have been some raised eyebrows as to where some of the funding has been going this year. For an athlete to compete at the Winter Games alone demands a huge amount of funding and it would be unfortunate if financial stress was to impinge on her performances. An athlete of Jenna’s stature should not have to worry about such things, we would hope that Sport NI will step up to the mark and help Jenna with some additional funding in her most important year.’
In the Finlandia Trophy, Finland Jenna performed a seasons best in the short programme of 49.93; at The Rostelecom Trophy, Cup of Russia Jenna scored a personal best of 93.76 in the free programme. Her overall world ranking has also improved this season, prior to competitions Jenna was ranked 33rd in the world now she is 17th after two international events, and ranked 7th in Europe. However, the hard work continues towards the New Year whenever Jenna will take to the world stage in the Europeans, Olympics and World Championships in January, February and March respectively...
Jenna now flies out for the NRW Trophy in Germany next week...www.jennamccorkell.com
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27 Nov 2009
Jenna leads field at British Championships...
Jenna McCorkell is right on track for her 7th British Senior Ladies title as she swept away the field in the short programme at the British Championships today in Sheffield, England.
Jenna who leads with an almost 20 point margin has only the free programme tomorrow to secure her 7th (seventh title), with her next competitive outing the NRW Trophy in Germany later in the week.
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22/10/09
Jenna Scores Personal Best in Cup of Russia!
Jenna McCorkell is just getting better with each outing and in Russia this evening she has just scored her best ever Free Programme score with 93.76, not only that but Jenna beat some of the world’s best in the technical element score where she placed an incredible 3rd, just behind Miki Ando (JPN) and Ashley Wagner (USA).
The 22 yr old from Coleraine who now resides in Belgium had missed out in the short Karin McBride her PR commented:
‘This is only Jenna’s second time out this season with her programmes, in the short she missed an important combination but her free programme was the best in her career and her marks prove this. She beat former world champion Mao Asada in the technical element score and in fact was only 5 points behind her overall. Jenna ended up 6th in the free and moved up an incredible 4 places overall to 8th place in a world class field – brilliant!’
Jenna’s next stop will be Skate Canada in November.
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click logo for results at Cup of Russia
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Jenna will skate on Saturday 10th October in the short programme at The Finlandia Trophy - link for results here
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Chiller - Michael Jackson Ice Show Coventry
Location: Coventry
Date: 2009-12-12
Stands: £13.00
On Ice: £16.00
From the producers of Dancing Queen comes an amazing tribute to the life of the King of Pop - Michael Jackson. This is a one off show featuring the best British & European Skaters including a last chance to see Six Times British Senior Ladies Champion Jenna McCorkell and husband European Bronze - Kevin Van Der Perren prior to there Winter Olympic performance.
There is a whole host of amazing skaters including Christina Chitwood and Mark Hanretty, British Senior Mens Championships Matthew Parr, Karly Robertson, Saher Lanson, Fiona Zaldua and Dmitry Sukhanov, plus Vicky Ogden and many more still to be announced.
This show is already taking reservations and it is advised to book tickets fast.
To Book Tickets Ring: 02476 630693 or go online by clicking here
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ALL NEW MARY PETERS TRUST WEBSITE
Jenna is one of many top Northern Ireland athletes to feature on the all new interactive Mary Peters Trust website. Meanwhile Jenna is getting ready for the new season. The Finlandia Trophy 8-11 October 2009 will see Jenna step onto the ice for the first time with her new programmes this seaseon. You can keep up-to-date on this website on Jenna's progress..
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March 2009
JENNA BECOMES FIRST EVER NORTHERN IRISH SKATER TO GO TO WINTER OLYMPICS!
Jenna put in two great skates at the World Championships to become the first ever skater from Northern Ireland to be heading for the Winter Games 2010. In a nail biting wait the Coleraine skater had to qualify in the top 24 out of a massive 55 starting field to secure her place at the winter games next year. Jenna qualified in 21st place after the short, however she had a poor draw and was the first of the top 25 to skaters to skate.
Therefore Jenna had to wait overnight for the free programme to secure her Olympic dream. With just one mistake in the free the 22 year old put in a great performance, one of her best all season, to take 18th place (her highest world position in the free) and move up one place overall.
Jenna's world ranking has now improved 5 places overall since last year which is massive in World terms and made history by becoming the first ever skater male or female to hail from Northern Ireland and is going to the Winter Olympics - fantastic! well done Jenna from all of us...