Chapter Seven
‘The All Ireland Ballroom Latin American Dance Final.’
Richard and Nancy followed James’ instruction to the letter in order to enter the final as they dearly wished, while both had been tempted to risk a final practise on the evening before the final. However, each party knew that if they did and Richard’s disc slipped again, the prolapse would be so severe, he’d be bedridden for the rest of his life and no trophy would ever risk being lifted by them.
Three days prior to the final, the doctor visited Richard as planned. For the purpose of his doctor’s home visit, Richard took up the occupation of his bed once more and remained as still as a church dormouse during his doctor’s presence. He made no comment regarding the recent intervention by the osteopath, believing it to be futile to get the back of the medical professionals up any sooner than was required.
James agreed to attend the dance final to support the entry of Nancy and Richard, besides being on hand to keep an eye on Richard.
Three days prior to the final, the doctor visited Richard as planned. For the purpose of his doctor’s home visit, Richard took up the occupation of his bed once more and remained as still as a church dormouse during his doctor’s presence. He made no comment regarding the recent intervention by the osteopath, believing it to be futile to get the back of the medical professionals up any sooner than was required.
James agreed to attend the dance final to support the entry of Nancy and Richard, besides being on hand to keep an eye on Richard.
The evening of the final arrived. It was being held in County Cork and the couple travelled down the night previously in order to be on hand and not to rush around at the last moment. It was also a large job to bring down an exchange of dress for each of the five Latin dances plus a spare sixth dress in the event of an accident.
To tell the truth, both of them were unsure of how well they would be able to dance together, not having practised for over a month. They were naturally concerned with how Richard’s back would hold up, despite the fact that he felt his movement of it to be okay.
Deep down however, Richard and Nancy couldn't disguise the great risk that they were about to take. Indeed, both parties realised that his back could go anytime at the very first moment it twisted awkwardly or a sudden movement on the dance floor led to a prolapse once more.
With regard to their dancing skills and competence level however, they were at the top of their game and had been so for the past four months. If they could remain dancing for one more evening, they knew that they were well capable of winning the prize that Richard had coveted for so long.
To tell the truth, both of them were unsure of how well they would be able to dance together, not having practised for over a month. They were naturally concerned with how Richard’s back would hold up, despite the fact that he felt his movement of it to be okay.
Deep down however, Richard and Nancy couldn't disguise the great risk that they were about to take. Indeed, both parties realised that his back could go anytime at the very first moment it twisted awkwardly or a sudden movement on the dance floor led to a prolapse once more.
With regard to their dancing skills and competence level however, they were at the top of their game and had been so for the past four months. If they could remain dancing for one more evening, they knew that they were well capable of winning the prize that Richard had coveted for so long.
As the couple dressed, they looked at each other and smiled lovingly. Richard had never seen Nancy look as beautifully in her sequinned ballroom gown and she had never seen him look as elegant as he did tonight. He gracefully placed his arm around her waist and said lovingly, "Ready if you are, darling."
Looking into his eyes Nancy simply said, "Are you sure?"
Richard smiled back and said, "I've never been so certain, darling. Come on, let's do it!"
They could hear the music from the dance floor as they dressed and their anxiety level started to mount. At that precise moment James popped along to their room to wish the couple well, besides reassuring himself that Richard’s stamina was still holding up. Five minutes prior to going on the dance floor, Richard started to limber up as gently and as safely as he could.
Looking into his eyes Nancy simply said, "Are you sure?"
Richard smiled back and said, "I've never been so certain, darling. Come on, let's do it!"
They could hear the music from the dance floor as they dressed and their anxiety level started to mount. At that precise moment James popped along to their room to wish the couple well, besides reassuring himself that Richard’s stamina was still holding up. Five minutes prior to going on the dance floor, Richard started to limber up as gently and as safely as he could.
The atmosphere was electric as the entire contestants were called onto the floor in order that their names could be announced and the audience could clap their appreciation before the contest started in earnest. There were twenty six couples from all over Ireland. Every single county was represented and consisted of County Carlow, Cavan, Cork, Clare, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offally, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow. As each couple of contestants were introduced to the audience, they were given their list of rotational appearances.
Nancy and Richard left the floor and awaited their turn to dance. Nancy being somewhat cautious kept her eyes on Richard throughout. She was determined to withdraw from the contest there and then, the very first sign she saw of pain or discomfort in his body.
Nancy and Richard left the floor and awaited their turn to dance. Nancy being somewhat cautious kept her eyes on Richard throughout. She was determined to withdraw from the contest there and then, the very first sign she saw of pain or discomfort in his body.
When it was Richard's and Nancy's turn to open with their first dance, the Paso Doble, after three minutes on the dance floor, Nancy and he knew that they had been faultless in their execution. The crowd cheered wildly and as they did so, Richard whispered to Nancy, "It's going to be alright darling. I feel fine. It's going to be alright!"
Two hours later, Richard and Nancy had shown off their skills with the Paso Doble, the Rumba, the Cha Cha Cha and the Samba. To their reckoning only one couple, contestants number seven from County Sligo presented them with any serious threat of not winning. In Nancy's mind the points awarded to press made them joint favourites with the Sligo contestants. It seemed to be neck and neck and was certainly too close to call. Only the Jive remained to decide which couple would emerge the likely winners.
The order of dancing meant that the Sligo couple went before Richard and Nancy. They were good. In fact they were so good that Richard doubted if they could be beaten. For the very first time that evening, he sensed the possibility of the cup slipping away from him and Nancy.
As Richard and Nancy took the floor, while the Jive had always been Nancy's favourite dance with her husband Sam, she and Richard had always seemed to be stronger on the Rumba and the Paso Doble. Nancy looked towards Richard and whispered. He nodded his consent.
Nancy and Richard danced the Jive perfectly. Nancy had cleverly persuaded him to allow her performance to shine above his, thereby enabling Richard to save his strength for the final lift. Towards the conclusion of their dance Nancy would be glided through her partner's legs and swung around before being carried across Richards back in a move of seeming effortlessness before both parties collapsed to the floor with Nancy remaining spread eagled across her partner's prostrate body. Nancy had reckoned that to take the somewhat unconventional finish of the male dancer finishing beneath his partner as opposed to on top of her would go down better with the judges.
As Richard performed his final body twist, an excruciating pain was felt by him in the base of his spine and he instantly knew that he'd done some damage. Nancy could sense that all wasn't right and slowly went to help him up, but he couldn't move.
Amidst the wild cheering of the audience for the magnificent performance they had just seen, the sudden realisation that all was not well with the Kerry contestants began to dawn and a hushed silence fell across the ballroom. James was quickly on hand and after quickly examining Richard asked the organisers to call an ambulance.
Five minutes later Richard was in the ambulance accompanied by Nancy as it sped off towards the hospital. Little did the couple realise, but in their absence after all the finalists had danced, they had officially been declared the winners of the 1961 'All Ireland Dancing Contest' and their names were engraved upon the trophy as such.
The order of dancing meant that the Sligo couple went before Richard and Nancy. They were good. In fact they were so good that Richard doubted if they could be beaten. For the very first time that evening, he sensed the possibility of the cup slipping away from him and Nancy.
As Richard and Nancy took the floor, while the Jive had always been Nancy's favourite dance with her husband Sam, she and Richard had always seemed to be stronger on the Rumba and the Paso Doble. Nancy looked towards Richard and whispered. He nodded his consent.
Nancy and Richard danced the Jive perfectly. Nancy had cleverly persuaded him to allow her performance to shine above his, thereby enabling Richard to save his strength for the final lift. Towards the conclusion of their dance Nancy would be glided through her partner's legs and swung around before being carried across Richards back in a move of seeming effortlessness before both parties collapsed to the floor with Nancy remaining spread eagled across her partner's prostrate body. Nancy had reckoned that to take the somewhat unconventional finish of the male dancer finishing beneath his partner as opposed to on top of her would go down better with the judges.
As Richard performed his final body twist, an excruciating pain was felt by him in the base of his spine and he instantly knew that he'd done some damage. Nancy could sense that all wasn't right and slowly went to help him up, but he couldn't move.
Amidst the wild cheering of the audience for the magnificent performance they had just seen, the sudden realisation that all was not well with the Kerry contestants began to dawn and a hushed silence fell across the ballroom. James was quickly on hand and after quickly examining Richard asked the organisers to call an ambulance.
Five minutes later Richard was in the ambulance accompanied by Nancy as it sped off towards the hospital. Little did the couple realise, but in their absence after all the finalists had danced, they had officially been declared the winners of the 1961 'All Ireland Dancing Contest' and their names were engraved upon the trophy as such.
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Over the following week it became evident that Richard's gamble hadn't paid off. He had suffered another prolapse, this time far more serious than the last one and with graver consequences for his future as it turned out. The consultant told him that he'd been extremely foolish to have ignored his prior instructions and that while an operation might be possible in the future that might enable him to one day stand upright again, in his opinion he would be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
As Richard took in this sad news the day after the final, the only consolation he had was the 'All Ireland Winner's Trophy' that Nancy's brother-in-law had dropped off at the hospital during a visit to see Richard.
As Richard took in this sad news the day after the final, the only consolation he had was the 'All Ireland Winner's Trophy' that Nancy's brother-in-law had dropped off at the hospital during a visit to see Richard.