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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