North American Figure Skating Championships

Defunct ice skating competition

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The North American Figure Skating Championships were a former elite figure skating competition for skaters from the United States and Canada. It was a biennial (every two years) competition held between 1923 and 1971, with locations alternating between the two countries.

## History

[edit]

Although the event was classified as an "international competition" under International Skating Union rules, it was actually a cooperative venture between the United States Figure Skating Association and the Canadian Figure Skating Association,[1] which both had their roots in a former organization called the Ice Skating Union of America. The latter organization had sponsored competitions open to skaters of both countries as early as 1913.[citation needed] The first competition, which occurred alternatively in the two countries, was held in 1923. The earliest competitions included events for four skating, which were dominated by Canadian skaters.[2]

The 1943 competition was canceled due to World War II and the 1945 competition included ladies single skating (only). Ice dance was included for the first time in 1947 as a result of many pairs wanting to compete in this competition.

The competition was discontinued when the Canadian federation abruptly canceled its participation in the 1973 event, which was to have been held in Rochester, New York. The CFSA cited problems with the judging (which tended to favor the skaters of whichever country had a majority of judges on the panel) and the reluctance of top skaters from both countries to participate in an event immediately before the World Figure Skating Championships. In fact, the CFSA was at that time already planning to hold its own international competition, the first Skate Canada International, in the fall of 1973. This event would be open to skaters from all ISU member countries and use international judges. The USFSA established its own international competition, Skate America, in the fall of 1979.

The final North American Figure Skating Championships was held in Peterborough, Ontario, in 1971.[3]

## Medalists

[edit]

### Men

[edit]

Men's medalists[4][5][6]

Year  | Location  | Gold  | Silver  | Bronze
1923 |  Ottawa |  Sherwin Badger |  Melville Rogers | ?
1925 |  Boston |  Melville Rogers |  Nathaniel Niles | no other competitors
1927 |  Toronto |  Melville Rogers |  Sherwin Badger |  Montgomery Wilson
1929 |  Boston |  Montgomery Wilson |  Roger Turner |  Frederick Goodridge
1931 |  Ottawa |  Montgomery Wilson |  James Madden |  Gail Borden
1933 |  New York City |  Montgomery Wilson |  J. Lester Madden |  Robin Lee
1935 |  Montreal |  Montgomery Wilson |  Robin Lee |  J. Lester Madden
1937 |  Boston |  Montgomery Wilson |  Roger Turner |  Ralph McCreath
1939 |  Toronto |  Montgomery Wilson |  Robin Lee |  Ralph McCreath
1941 |  Philadelphia |  Ralph McCreath |  Eugene Turner |  William Grimditch
1947 |  Ottawa |  Dick Button |  James Grogan |  Wallace Diestelmeyer
1949 |  Philadelphia |  Dick Button |  James Grogan |  Hayes Alan Jenkins
1951 |  Calgary |  Dick Button |  James Grogan |  Hayes Alan Jenkins
1953 |  Cleveland |  Hayes Alan Jenkins |  Peter Firstbrook |  Ronnie Robertson
1955 |  Regina, Saskatchewan |  Hayes Alan Jenkins |  David Jenkins |  Charles Snelling
1957 |  Rochester, New York |  David Jenkins |  Charles Snelling |  Tim Brown
1959 |  Toronto |  Donald Jackson |  Tim Brown |  Robert Brewer
1961 |  Philadelphia |  Donald Jackson |  Bradley Lord |  Gregory Kelley
1963 |  Vancouver |  Donald McPherson |  Thomas Litz |  Scott Allen
1965 |  Rochester, New York |  Gary Visconti |  Scott Allen |  Donald Knight
1967 |  Montreal |  Donald Knight |  Scott Allen |  Gary Visconti
1969 |  Oakland, California |  Tim Wood |  Jay Humphry |  John Misha Petkevich
1971 |  Peterborough, Ontario |  John Misha Petkevich |  Toller Cranston |  Ken Shelley

### Ladies

[edit]

Ladies' medalists[4][5][6]

Year  | Location  | Gold  | Silver  | Bronze
1923 |  Ottawa |  Theresa Weld Blanchard |  Beatrix Loughran |  Dorothy Jenkins
1925 |  Boston |  Beatrix Loughran |  Cecil Smith |  Theresa Weld Blanchard
1927 |  Toronto |  Beatrix Loughran |  Constance Wilson |  Cecil Smith
1929 |  Boston |  Constance Wilson |  Maribel Vinson |  Suzanne Davis
1931 |  Ottawa |  Constance Wilson |  Elizabeth Fisher |  Mrs. Frederick Secord
1933 |  New York City |  Constance Wilson-Samuel |  Cecil Gooderham |  Suzanne Davis
1935 |  Montreal |  Constance Wilson-Samuel |  Maribel Vinson |  Suzanne Davis
1937 |  Boston |  Maribel Vinson |  Veronica Clarke |  Eleanor O'Meara
1939 |  Toronto |  Mary Rose Thacker |  Joan Tozzer |  Norah McCarthy
1941 |  Philadelphia |  Mary Rose Thacker |  Eleanor O'Meara |  Norah McCarthy
1945 |  New York City |  Barbara Ann Scott |  Gretchen Merrill |  Janette Ahrens
1947 |  Ottawa |  Barbara Ann Scott |  Janette Ahrens |  Yvonne Sherman
1949 |  Philadelphia |  Yvonne Sherman |  Marlene Smith |  Virginia Baxter
1951 |  Calgary |  Sonya Klopfer |  Suzanne Morrow |  Tenley Albright
1953 |  Cleveland |  Tenley Albright |  Carol Heiss |  Barbara Gratton
1955 |  Regina, Saskatchewan |  Tenley Albright |  Carol Heiss |  Patricia Firth
1957 |  Rochester, New York |  Carol Heiss |  Carole Jane Pachl |  Joan Schenke
1959 |  Toronto |  Carol Heiss |  Lynn Finnegan |  Nancy Heiss
1961 |  Philadelphia |  Laurence Owen |  Wendy Griner |  Sonia Snelling
1963 |  Vancouver |  Wendy Griner |  Petra Burka |  Shirra Kenworthy
1965 |  Rochester, New York |  Petra Burka |  Peggy Fleming |  Valerie Jones
1967 |  Montreal |  Peggy Fleming |  Valerie Jones |  Tina Noyes
1969 |  Oakland, California |  Janet Lynn |  Karen Magnussen |  Linda Carbonetto
1971 |  Peterborough, Ontario |  Karen Magnussen |  Janet Lynn |  Suna Murray

### Pairs

[edit]

Pairs medalists[4][5][6]

Year  | Location  | Gold  | Silver  | Bronze
1923 |  Ottawa |  Dorothy Jenkins / A.G. McClennan |  Theresa Weld Blanchard / Nathaniel Niles |  Channing Frothingham / Charles Rotch
1925 |  Boston |  Theresa Weld Blanchard / Nathaniel Niles |  Gladys Rogers / Melville Rogers | no other competitors
1927 |  Toronto |  Marion McDougall / Chauncey Bangs |  Theresa Weld Blanchard / Nathaniel Niles |  Constance Wilson / Montgomery Wilson
1929 |  Boston |  Constance Wilson / Montgomery Wilson |  Theresa Weld Blanchard / Nathaniel Niles |  Maribel Vinson / Thornton Coolidge
1931 |  Ottawa |  Constance Wilson / Montgomery Wilson |  Frances Claudet / Chauncey Bangs |  Beatrix Loughran / Sherwin Badger
1933 |  New York City |  Constance Wilson-Samuel / Montgomery Wilson |  Maud Smith / Jack Eastwood |  Kathleen Lopdell / Donald Cruikshank
1935 |  Montreal |  Maribel Vinson / George Hill |  Constance Wilson-Samuel / Montgomery Wilson |  Louise Bertram / Stewart Reburn
1937 |  Boston |  Veronica Clarke / Ralph McCreath |  Maribel Vinson / George Hill |  Grace Madden / J. Lester Madden
1939 |  Toronto |  Joan Tozzer / Bernard Fox |  Norah McCarthy / Ralph McCreath |  Aidrie Cruikshank / Donald Cruikshank
1941 |  Philadelphia |  Eleanor O'Meara / Ralph McCreath |  Donna Atwood / Eugene Turner |  Patricia Vaeth / Jack Might
1947 |  Ottawa |  Suzanne Morrow / Wallace Distelmeyer |  Yvonne Sherman / Robert Swenning |  Karol Kennedy / Peter Kennedy
1949 |  Philadelphia |  Karol Kennedy / Peter Kennedy |  Marlene Smith / Donald Gilchrist |  Irene Maguire / Walter Muehlbronner
1951 |  Calgary |  Karol Kennedy / Peter Kennedy |  Janet Gerhauser / John Nightingale |  Jane Kirby / Donald Tobin
1953 |  Cleveland |  Frances Dafoe / Norris Bowden |  Carole Ann Ormaca / Robin Greiner |  Margaret Anne Graham / Hugh Graham
1955 |  Regina, Saskatchewan |  Frances Dafoe / Norris Bowden |  Carole Ann Ormaca / Robin Greiner |  Barbara Wagner / Robert Paul
1957 |  Rochester, New York |  Barbara Wagner / Robert Paul |  Maria Jelinek / Otto Jelinek |  Nancy Rouillard / Ronald Ludington
1959 |  Toronto |  Barbara Wagner / Robert Paul | ? | ?
1961 |  Philadelphia |  Maria Jelinek / Otto Jelinek |  Maribel Owen / Dudley Richards |  Debbi Wilkes / Guy Revell
1963 |  Vancouver |  Debbi Wilkes / Guy Revell |  Gertrude DesJardins / Maurice LaFrance |  Vivian Joseph / Ronald Joseph
1965 |  Rochester, New York |  Vivian Joseph / Ronald Joseph |  Cynthia Kauffman / Ronald Kauffman |  Susan Huehnergard / Paul Huehnergard
1967 |  Montreal |  Cynthia Kauffman / Ronald Kauffman |  Susan Berens / Roy Wagelein |  Betty Jean Lewis / Richard Gilbert
1969 |  Oakland, California |  Cynthia Kauffman / Ronald Kauffman |  JoJo Starbuck / Ken Shelley |  Mary Petrie / Robert McAvoy
1971 |  Peterborough, Ontario |  JoJo Starbuck / Ken Shelley |  Melissa Militano / Mark Militano |  Sandra Bezic / Val Bezic

### Ice dance

[edit]

Ice dancing medalists[4][6]

Year  | Location  | Gold  | Silver  | Bronze
1947 |  Ottawa |  Lois Waring / Walter Bainbridge |  Ann Davies / Carleton Hoffner |  Marcella Willis / Frank Davenport
1949 |  Philadelphia |  Lois Waring / Walter Bainbridge |  Irene Maguire / Walter Muehlbronner |  Ann Davies / Carleton Hoffner
1951 |  Calgary |  Carmel Bodel / Edward Bodel |  Carol Ann Peters / Daniel Ryan |  Pierette Paquin / Donald Tobin
1953 |  Cleveland |  Carol Ann Peters / Daniel Ryan |  Virginia Hoyns / Donald Jacoby |  Carmel Bodel / Edward Bodel
1955 |  Regina, Saskatchewan |  Carmel Bodel / Edward Bodel |  Joan Zamboni / Roland Junso |  Virginia Hoyns / William Kipp
1957 |  Rochester, New York |  Geraldine Fenton / William McLachlan |  Joan Zamboni / Roland Junso |  Sharon McKenzie / Bert Wright
1959 |  Toronto |  Geraldine Fenton / William McLachlan |  Andree Jacoby / Donald Jacoby |  Anne Martin / Edward Collins
1961 |  Philadelphia |  Virginia Thompson / William McLachlan |  Dona Lee Carrier / Roger Campbell |  Paulette Doan / Kenneth Ormsby
1963 |  Vancouver |  Paulette Doan / Kenneth Ormsby |  Donna Mitchell / John Mitchell |  Sally Schantz / Stanley Urban
1965 |  Rochester, New York |  Lorna Dyer / John Carrell |  Kristin Fortune / Dennis Sveum |  Carole Forrest / Kevin Lethbridge
1967 |  Montreal |  Lorna Dyer / John Carrell |  Joni Graham / Don Phillips |  Judy Schwomeyer / James Sladky
1969 |  Oakland, California |  Donna Taylor / Bruce Lennie |  Judy Schwomeyer / James Sladky |  Debbie Gerken / Raymond Tiedemann
1971 |  Peterborough, Ontario |  Judy Schwomeyer / James Sladky |  Anne Millier / Harvey Millier |  Mary Karen Campbell / Johnny Johns

### Fours

[edit]

Fours competitions were held only in the indicated years.

Fours medalists[4][7]

Year  | Location  | Gold  | Silver  | Bronze
1923 |  Ottawa |  Elizabeth Blair, Florence Wilson, Philip H. Chrysler, C.R. Morphy |  Clara Hartmann, Grace Munstock, Paul Armitage, Joel Liberman |  Clara Frothingham, Theresa Blanchard, Charles Rotch, Sherwin Badger
1931 |  Ottawa |  Frances Claudet, Kathleen Lopdell, Melville Rogers, Guy Owen | ? |  Elizabeth Fisher
1933 |  New York City |  Margaret Davis, Prudence Holbrook, Melville Rogers, Guy Owen |  Constance Wilson-Samuel, Elizabeth Fisher, Montgomery Wilson, Hubert Sprott |  Theresa Blanchard, Suzanne Davis, Richard Hapgood, Fred Parmenter
1935 |  Montreal |  Margaret Davis, Prudence Holbrook, Melville Rogers, Guy Owen |  Nettie Prantel, Ardelle Kloss, Joseph Savage, Roy Hunt |  Suzanne Davis, Grace Madden, Frederick Goodridge, George Hill
1937 |  Boston |  Margaret Davis, Prudence Holbrook, Melville Rogers, Guy Owen |  Naomi Slater, Aidrie Cruikshank, Jack Hose, Donald Cruikshank |  Nettie Prantel, Ardelle Kloss, Joseph Savage, George Boltres
1939 |  Toronto |  Dorothy Caley, Hazel Caley, Ralph McCreath, Montgomery Wilson |  Gillian Watson, Ruth Hall, Sandy McKechnie, Donald Gilchrist |  Nettie Prantel, Marjorie Parker, Joseph Savage, George Boltres
1941 |  Philadelphia |  Janette Ahrens, Mary Louise Premer, Robert Uppgren, Lyman Wakefield, Jr. |  Therese McCarthy, Virginia Wilson, Donald Gilchrist, Michael Kirby | ?
1949 |  Philadelphia |  Janet Gerhauser, Marilyn Thomsen, Marlyn Thomsen, John Nightingale |  Mary Kenner, Vera Smith, Peter Dunfield, Peter Firstbrook |  Jean Matze, Elizabeth Royer, Henry Mayer, IV, Newbold Black, IV

## References

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1. ^ Wright, Benjamin T. (1996). Skating in America (1921–1996): The 75th Anniversary History of the United States Figure Skating Association. Colorado Springs: United States Figure Skating Association. OCLC 566382053. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
2. ^ Hines, p. 52
3. ^ Hines, p. xxvi
4. ^ a b c d e "Results Book, Volume 1: 1896–1973" (PDF). Skate Canada. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-11-22. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
5. ^ a b c "North American Figure Skating Championships". Golden Skate. Archived from the original on 2021-08-01. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
6. ^ a b c d "North American Figure Skating Championships". skate.org. Archived from the original on 2021-08-01. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
7. ^ Hines, James R. (2011). Historical Dictionary of Figure Skating. Lanham: Scarecrow Press, pp. 326-327