From the original programme and from the book „Blackpool my Blackpool – One man’s chronicle of the Blackpool Dance Festival over the years 1931 - 1978“ from Kit Hallewell M.B.E. (first published in 1979).
Blackpool 1962 The British Professional Latin American Tournament
1st Walter and Marianne Kaiser!
Adjudicators
1. Mr. A. S. Warren, Glasgow, Chairman of Adjudicators
2. Mr. G. Begley, Dublin
3. Mr. H. Carter, London
4. Mr. S. Francis, London
5. Miss C. Grant, Sheffield
6. Mr. E. Hancox, Manchester
7. Mr. K. H. Jones, Coventry
8. Mr. W. Martin, Liverpool
9. Mr. A. Moore, London
10. Mr. B. Philp, Glasgow
11. Miss E. Wells, London
12. Mr. B. Wright, Newcastle-on-Tyne
Festival Organiser: Mrs. I. Ilett
BRITISH PROFESSIONAL LATIN-AMERICAN TOURNAMENT
OPEN TO THE WORLD
Tuesday, May 29th
Cha-Cha-Cha, Samba and Paso Doble
13 couples
The Result
1st Mr. Walter Kaiser - Mrs. Marianne Kaiser, Switzerland
2nd Mr. Ron Smith - Miss Jill Stephens, Long Ditton, Surrey
3rd Mr. Eric Lashbrooke - Miss Norma Graves, New Brighton
4th Mr. Peter Eggleton - Miss Brenda Winslade, London
“The final event on Tuesday evening was the new British Professional Latin American Tournament, attracting thirteen entries for its first year, one of whom arrived just too late to dance. The contest was over only three dances, Cha Cha Cha, Samba, and Paso Doble. If this seems a somewhat peculiar choice of dances, it must be remembered that the great Rumba controversy was still raging. Winners were Walter Kaiser and his wife Marianne from Switzerland, who captivated the crowd, and drew the comment from Sydney Francis, ‘very sound.”
Victory Ceremony 1962
Blackpool 1963 The British Professional Latin American Tournament
1st Walter and Marianne Kaiser!
Adjudicators
1. Mr. A. H. Franks, London, Chairman of Adjudicators
2. Mr. G. Begley, Dublin
3. Mr. H. Carter, London
4. Mr. S. Francis, London
5. Miss C. Grant, Sheffield
6. Mr. E. Hancox, Manchester
7. Miss P. Haylor, London
8. Mr. W. Martin, Liverpool
9. Mr. A. Moore, Kingston-on-Thames
10. Mr. A. S. Warren, Glasgow
11. Miss E. Wells, London
12. Mr. J. Whiteside, Newcastle-on-Tyne
Festival Organiser: Mrs. I. Ilett
BRITISH PROFESSIONAL LATIN-AMERICAN TOURNAMENT
OPEN TO THE WORLD
Tuesday, May 14th
Rumba, Samba, Paso Doble and Cha-Cha-Cha
26 couples
The Result
1st Walter and Marianne Kaiser, Switzerland
2nd Robert and Margaret O'Hara, England
3rd Bob Burgess and Doreen Freeman, England
4th Anthony and Valerie Goodyear, England
5th Len Armstrong and Elaine Welch, England
6th Günther and Heidegard Dresen, Germany
„The British Professional Latin American Tournament provided a second time success for the winners, Walter and Marianne Kaiser repeating their success for the previous year, but only after a tight struggle with Robert and Margaret O’Hara. Kaisers were first in Samba and Paso, and second in Rumba and Cha Cha Cha, while O’Haras were first in Rumba and Cha Cha Cha, and second in the other two. A perhaps unexpected third were Bob Burgess and Doreen Freeman, fourth Anthony and Valerie Goodyear, fifth Len Armstrong and Elaine Welch, and sixth Günther and Heidegard Dresen from Germany. This year’s competition was notable for the first impact of Japanese Professional competitors, the Shinodas reaching the semi-final and earning favourable comment from Sydney Francis…”
Previous Winners
(aus dem Blackpool DANCE Festival-Programm)
BRITISH PROFESSIONAL LATIN-AMERICAN TOURNAMENT
1962 - Mr. and Mrs. W. KAISER, Switzerland
Prize Presentation 1962: Michael Needham and Monica Dunsford,
North of England Professional Ballroom Dancing Champions,
Walter and Marianne Kaiser, Winners of the British
Professional Latin-American Tournament
Blackpool 1964 The British Professional Latin American Championship
1st Walter and Marianne Kaiser
British Professional Latin American Champions!!!
“The Latin American events introduced in 1961 had proved so popular, and so great had been the increase in interest in Latin American dancing, that by 1964 it was decided to promote the events to the status of championships and the British Amateur and Professional Latin American Championships were launched…"
Adjudicators
1. Mr. A. S. Warren, Glasgow, Chairman of Adjudicators
2. Mr. S. Atack, Huddersfield
3. Mr. H. Carter, London
4. Mr. G. Daniels, South Shields
5. Mr. S. Francis, London
6. Mr. E. Hancox, Manchester
7. Miss P. Haylor, London
8. Miss D. Lavelle, London
9. Mr. W. Martin, Liverpool
10. Mr. A. Moore, Kingston-on Thames
11. Mr. B. Philp, Glasgow
12. Mr. F. Spencer, Penge
Festival Organiser: Mrs. I. Ilett
BRITISH PROFESSIONAL LATIN-AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP
OPEN TO THE WORLD
Recognised by the Official Board of Ballroom Dancing Ltd.
Wednesday, May 6th
Rumba, Samba, Paso Doble and Cha-Cha-Cha
31 couples
"The British Professional Latin American Championships created tremendous atmosphere, with three German entries, two Japanese, and the Kaisers from Switzerland trying to repeat in this first Championship their two successes in the Professional Tournament, and again being challenged by the O’Haras. In an early sensation last year’s finalists Len Armstrong and Elaine Welch failed to make the twelve…
Reaching the semi-final but failing to make the final were Peter Eggleton and Brenda Winslade, Michael Needham and Monica Dunsford…
The final six actually finished: first Walter and Marianne Kaiser with first in Samba and Cha Cha Cha, second in Paso Doble, and third in Rumba, second were Robert and Margaret O’Hara with first in Rumba and Paso Doble, but third in Samba and Cha Cha Cha, third were Bill and Bobbie Irvine with third in Paso and second in the other three. Anthony and Valerie Goodyear were fourth, Bob Burgess and Doreen Freeman were fifth, and the Japanese Shinodas sixth, Sydney Francis made a mild complaint against ‘gimmicky’ interpretations."
The Result
1st Walter & Marianne Kaiser, Switzerland
BRITISH PROFESSIONAL LATIN AMERICAN CHAMPIONS 1964
2nd Robert and Margaret O'Hara, England
3rd Bill and Bobbie Irvine, England
4th Anthony and Valerie Goodyear, England
5th Bob Burgess and Doreen Freeman, England
6th Manabu and Matsuko Shinoda, Japan
Listen to the unique Blackpool atmosphere:
That's how it could have sounded in 1964 when Walter and Marianne Kaiser
won the first ever Open British Professional Latin American Championship:
1963 - Mr. and Mrs. W. KAISER, Switzerland 1962 - Mr. and Mrs. W. KAISER, Switzerland
Certificate for the first ever British
Professional Latin-American Champions
Walter and Marianne Kaiser, Switzerland
1965 - The British Professional Latin American Championship
“The great disappointment was that Walter and Marianne Kaiser, although entered, were unable to appear and therefore robbed us of a rare tussle with the O’Haras…”
Previous Winners
BRITISH PROFESSIONAL LATIN CHAMPIONSHIP
1964 - Mr. and Mrs. W. KAISER, Switzerland
Walter and Marianne Kaiser, photo from
"Blackpool my Blackpool" from Kit Hallewell
