Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2010 | Page 31
INTERVIEW
February/March 2010
life
Jumps and Spins class before school, and
wants it, she could go on to the British
Emily prepare for all her shows, as well as
has off-ice practice. She sometimes skates
Championships.”
the day-to-day stable work. Dad Stewart
on Fridays, then has Syncro for two or
three hours on Saturday.”
Both Emily and Charlotte put a colossal
Chapman, who “doesn’t really get
amount of hours into their respective
ponies”, enjoys being with Charlotte at
That leaves Tuesday then. The logistics
sports. Of course Emily is approaching
the rink in Ryde.
for the parents don’t bear thinking about.
the time when school work cannot be
Charlotte, like her sister, shows no
signs of uppertiness. She takes it all in
her stride. Her under 13s Syncro group
(“where you skate in a big group and
all do the same thing at once,” as
Charlotte explains) have been British and
Scottish champions and have competed
in Switzerland for the last two years.
The group, Wight Crystal, took Silver
last year and Gold just a few weeks ago.
neglected – particularly if she is to fulfil
One rides, one skates.
The Chapman girls are
dedicated to their sports
and their parents are
determined to enable
them to succeed
“And all we won was a bowl of pasta and
cheese!” groans Charlotte.
Her coach, Terri Smith, applauds the
Time is one thing. Money is another.
Ponies, their stabling and food and all
the related equipment is just the start. Ice
skates, once you join the elite path, aren’t
something you can pick up for a few quid.
“We paid £360 for the past pair and they
only lasted six months!” gasps Judy. “The
blades alone are £160.”
Fortunately, and this is a big, big plus,
Stewart Chapman’s employer, Barratts,
the house builders, generously sponsor
both girls. “They pay for 12 ferry
her ambition to be an army vet. (Charlotte
crossings a year for Emily, and help with
can’t decide whether to be a hairdresser
the skating team too,” says Judy.
dedication of all the girls in the team,
or a skating coach.) But there is an
but Charlotte does free skating as
understanding by all concerned that if
their sports, will Judy be heartbroken?
well, for which she gets up at 6am two
they don’t want to carry on – and they
“No. When they’re older, they’ll be able
mornings a week to train. “She loves
want the family holidays they miss out on
to turn round and say ‘we were British
jumping and spinning. You need guts for
– they are free to do so.
champions’, or ‘we won in Switzerland’,”
that.” Terri adds: “Depending on how
much she works, and how much she
Their commitment is matched by the
Should the girls fall out of love with
she smiles. “That’ll feel good.”
time spent by their parents. Judy helps
Photo: Emily Chapman aged 12
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