Hazel Newberry

Hazel Newberry
MBE
Personal information
NationalityBritish
Born28 November 1977
Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England
Medal record
Dancesport
Representing  Great Britain
World Games
Gold medal – first place 1997 Lahti Standard

Hazel Catherine Newberry MBE is one of the United Kingdom's leading ballroom dancers and dance teachers. She was three times undefeated World Professional Ballroom champion, dancing with Christopher Hawkins (2002–2004).

The couple also won the International Professional Ballroom Championship in London in 2002 and 2003.[1] This couple also won the European, Open British, UK, US Open and Asian Open.

Before this, Newberry won both World and European Amateur Ballroom championships with Hawkins, in 1997. Newberry's career as an amateur concluded with thirteen successive victories in championship events in Europe and the USA, during 1997,[2] including the World Games.

From 2008, Newberry danced with Jonathan Wilkins. The two came second in the 2008 Embassy Ball World Cup Standard competition, behind Wilkins' former partner, Katusha Demidova, and Demidova's new partner, Arunas Bizokas.

In 2009 Newberry and Jonathan Wilkins won the European Championships held at the Kremlin, Moscow, and came second in the WDC Professional Ballroom Championship, held in Japan. The winners were Arunas Bizokas and Katusha Demidova.[3] Newberry and Wilkins have now announced their retirement from competitive dancing.

Hazel Newberry was appointed MBE in 2007 for services to Ballroom dancing.[4]

Strictly Come Dancing

Newberry appeared in the second series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnering Quentin Willson. They were the first couple to be knocked out of the competition, and made the lowest score in Strictly Come Dancing, with a total of 8 out of 40 for their Cha-cha-cha.

References

  1. ^ Programme of the 57th International Championships 2009 gives complete list of previous prize-winners.
  2. ^ "DancesportInfo.net".
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ United Kingdom: "No. 58196". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 30 December 2006. p. 20.