Dancing couple's fast track to Winter Gardens success

Roger and Susan Jones, of Greenbank Road, say they have been given a new lease of life, and it has culminated in the duo's appearance at a prestigious tournament.

They represented the North West in the IDTA National Medallist of the Year Dance Championship at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens this weekend.

The pair, both aged in their 60s, first learned to dance five years ago for their 30th wedding anniversary, and quickly became hooked.

They now train for up to 20 hours a week at Jagers Dance School in Oldham, and are seeing their dedication is paying off.

Roger, aged 61, said: “People say that to reach the standard we are at now you normally have to be dancing for 10 or 15 years, so we’re obviously doing very well.

“We are very focused with our training and we have some fantastic coaches. The standard at the school is very high.

“If we’d taken this up when we were younger, then we might have been world champions by now.

“It was great to be in Blackpool because it is the home of dancing and where every dancer in the world wants to compete.”

Roger still finds time to practice despite travelling across the country for his job with a waste management company, and he recently picked up the title of ‘National Accountant of the Year’ at the Business and Finance Awards.

He finished seventh in the ballroom section of the competition on Saturday, while Susan, who was Head of Catering for Greater Manchester Fire Service before retiring, narrowly missed out on the ballroom final.

The couple, who dance with separate partners, also competed in the Latin American category on Sunday and were delighted to have been able to dance in front of their family.

Roger added: “Because of work and dancing we don’t get to see our two daughters and two grandchildren as much as we’d like, but they are very proud of us.

“Our youngest always wanted to see a dancing competition at the Winter Gardens, so we’re very happy to have fulfilled that dream for her.”