Bernard Ford

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For the American football player, see Bernard Ford (American football).
Bernard Ford
File:Towler ford.jpg
Bernard Ford and Diane Towler
Personal information
Country represented  United Kingdom
Born Birmingham, England
Former partner Diane Towler
Former coach Gladys Hogg

Bernard Ford, MBE, (born in Birmingham) is an English former ice dancer. With partner Diane Towler, he is a four-time (1966–1969) World, European, and British champion. He is also a World Professional ice dancing champion. He later became a coach and choreographer.

Career

Ford competed with Diane Towler. They were coached by Gladys Hogg in London, England at Queens Ice Dance Club.[1]

Towler / Ford debuted at the World Championships in 1964, finishing 13th. In 1965, they finished just off the podium in 4th. Towler / Ford won gold at the 1966 European Championships and went on to win their first World title. They would win the World and European titles for four consecutive seasons. At the 1968 Olympics, Towler / Ford skated in a demonstration event for ice dancing, winning the gold medal. Ice dancing became an official part of the Winter Olympics in 1976.

The achievements of Towler and Ford earned them the appointment of Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II, as well as a spot in the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1993.

Ford immigrated to Ontario, Canada in 1971 and coached numerous ice dance teams to national titles and international acclaim, most notably 1986 World bronze medalists Tracy Wilson / Rob McCall. His coaching success with Wilson / McCall earned him the Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Award[2] and the Longines-Wittnauer Coaching Excellence Award.

In 1986, Ford co-founded the York Region Skating Academy (YRSA) in Richmond Hill, Ontario. In 1989 at the YRSA, Ford invented the Cha-Cha Congelado, with assistance from coach Kelly Johnson and ice dance team Laurie Palmer / Steven Belanger. The Cha-Cha Congelado became an International Skating Union pattern dance. In 1999 the Town of Richmond Hill recognized Ford with an induction into the Richmond Hill Sports Hall of Fame.

In 1994, Ford took a coaching position in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A., where he produced national champions and international competitors as well as coaching ice dance teams from Australia and Japan to World Championship competition. Ford returned to Canada in 2003 and continues to coach ice dance teams to the national and international level.

In January 2007, Skate Canada inducted Ford into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame.[3]

Personal life

Ford was educated at the prestigious King Edward VI Grammar School in Aston, Birmingham. (King Edwards also produced such writers as J.R.R. Tolkien - "The Hobbit" & "The Lord of the Rings" ). Ford also restructured the Canadian Figure Skating Dance test system, and is also responsible for initiating the new scoring system used for all skating championships.

Ford currently resides in Calgary, Alberta with his wife and son.

Results

(with Diane Towler)

Event 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69
World Championships 13th 4th 1st 1st 1st 1st
European Championships 4th 1st 1st 1st 1st
British Nationals 3rd 1st 1st 1st 1st

References

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