Bernard Ford, MBE, (born in Birmingham) is an English former ice dancer. With partner Diane Towler, he is a four-time (1966–1969) World, European, and British champion. He is also a World Professional ice dancing champion. He later became a coach and choreographer.
Ford competed with Diane Towler. They were coached by Gladys Hogg in London, England at Queens Ice Dance Club.[1]
Towler / Ford debuted at the World Championships in 1964, finishing 13th. In 1965, they finished just off the podium in 4th. Towler / Ford won gold at the 1966 European Championships and went on to win their first World title. They would win the World and European titles for four consecutive seasons. At the 1968 Olympics, Towler / Ford skated in a demonstration event for ice dancing, winning the gold medal. Ice dancing became an official part of the Winter Olympics in 1976.
The achievements of Towler and Ford earned them the appointment of Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II, as well as a spot in the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1993.
Birmingham Ice Skating Sound of Music Dance Gala Team April 1969.
Ford immigrated to Ontario, Canada in 1971 and coached numerous ice dance teams to national titles and international acclaim, most notably 1986 World bronze medalists Tracy Wilson / Rob McCall. His coaching success with Wilson / McCall earned him the Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Award[2] and the Longines-Wittnauer Coaching Excellence Award.
In 1986, Ford co-founded the York Region Skating Academy (YRSA) in Richmond Hill, Ontario. In 1989 at the YRSA, Ford invented the Cha-Cha Congelado, with assistance from coach Kelly Johnson and ice dance team Laurie Palmer / Steven Belanger. The Cha-Cha Congelado became an International Skating Union pattern dance. In 1999 the Town of Richmond Hill recognised Ford with an induction into the Richmond Hill Sports Hall of Fame.
In 1994, Ford took a coaching position in Seattle, Washington, USA, where he produced national champions and international competitors as well as coaching ice dance teams from Australia and Japan to World Championship competition.
Ford returned to Canada in 2003 and continues to coach ice dance teams to the national and international level.
Over the years he has acted as a consultant to Skate Canada, United States Figure Skating, Professional Skaters Association and the ISU ice dance technical committee. He has acted as an NCCP coaching course facilitator and conducted officials and coach teaching and training seminars for national sport organisations across the world.
Ford was educated at the prestigious King Edward VI Grammar School in Aston, Birmingham. (King Edwards also produced such writers as J.R.R. Tolkien – "The Hobbit" & "The Lord of the Rings" ).
Ford currently resides in Calgary, Alberta with his wife and son.
^"Champions". Queens Ice Dance Club. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
^. Coaching Association of Canada. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
^"Hall of Fame: Honoured Members". Skate Canada. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
British ice dancing legend brings extensive knowledge to Calgary figure skating scene
Skate Guard Interview with Bernard Ford
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bernard Ford.
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January 07, 2023
bernard, ford, american, football, player, american, football, born, birmingham, english, former, dancer, with, partner, diane, towler, four, time, 1966, 1969, world, european, british, champion, also, world, professional, dancing, champion, later, became, coa. For the American football player see Bernard Ford American football Bernard Ford MBE born in Birmingham is an English former ice dancer With partner Diane Towler he is a four time 1966 1969 World European and British champion He is also a World Professional ice dancing champion He later became a coach and choreographer Bernard FordBernard Ford in 1966Personal informationCountry represented Great BritainBornBirmingham EnglandFormer partnerDiane TowlerFormer coachGladys HoggMedal record Figure skatingIce dancingRepresenting Great BritainWorld Championships1969 Colorado Springs Ice dancing1968 Geneva Ice dancing1967 Vienna Ice dancing1966 Davos Ice dancingEuropean Championships1969 Garmisch Partenkirchen Ice dancing1968 Vasteras Ice dancing1967 Ljubljana Ice dancing1966 Bratislava Ice dancing Contents 1 Skating career 2 Coaching career 3 Personal life 4 Results 5 References 6 NavigationSkating career EditFord competed with Diane Towler They were coached by Gladys Hogg in London England at Queens Ice Dance Club 1 Towler Ford debuted at the World Championships in 1964 finishing 13th In 1965 they finished just off the podium in 4th Towler Ford won gold at the 1966 European Championships and went on to win their first World title They would win the World and European titles for four consecutive seasons At the 1968 Olympics Towler Ford skated in a demonstration event for ice dancing winning the gold medal Ice dancing became an official part of the Winter Olympics in 1976 The achievements of Towler and Ford earned them the appointment of Members of the Order of the British Empire MBE by Queen Elizabeth II as well as a spot in the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1993 Birmingham Ice Skating Sound of Music Dance Gala Team April 1969 Click on the link below to see photo 1 2 Coaching career EditFord immigrated to Ontario Canada in 1971 and coached numerous ice dance teams to national titles and international acclaim most notably 1986 World bronze medalists Tracy Wilson Rob McCall His coaching success with Wilson McCall earned him the Petro Canada Coaching Excellence Award 2 and the Longines Wittnauer Coaching Excellence Award In 1986 Ford co founded the York Region Skating Academy YRSA in Richmond Hill Ontario In 1989 at the YRSA Ford invented the Cha Cha Congelado with assistance from coach Kelly Johnson and ice dance team Laurie Palmer Steven Belanger The Cha Cha Congelado became an International Skating Union pattern dance In 1999 the Town of Richmond Hill recognised Ford with an induction into the Richmond Hill Sports Hall of Fame In 1994 Ford took a coaching position in Seattle Washington USA where he produced national champions and international competitors as well as coaching ice dance teams from Australia and Japan to World Championship competition Ford returned to Canada in 2003 and continues to coach ice dance teams to the national and international level Over the years he has acted as a consultant to Skate Canada United States Figure Skating Professional Skaters Association and the ISU ice dance technical committee He has acted as an NCCP coaching course facilitator and conducted officials and coach teaching and training seminars for national sport organisations across the world In January 2007 Skate Canada inducted Ford into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame 3 Personal life EditFord was educated at the prestigious King Edward VI Grammar School in Aston Birmingham King Edwards also produced such writers as J R R Tolkien The Hobbit amp The Lord of the Rings Ford currently resides in Calgary Alberta with his wife and son Results Edit with Diane Towler Event 1963 64 1964 65 1965 66 1966 67 1967 68 1968 69World Championships 13th 4th 1st 1st 1st 1stEuropean Championships 4th 1st 1st 1st 1stBritish Nationals 3rd 1st 1st 1st 1stReferences Edit Champions Queens Ice Dance Club Retrieved 1 September 2009 Petro Canada Coaching Excellence Awards Coaching Association of Canada Archived from the original on 12 February 2009 Retrieved 1 September 2009 Hall of Fame Honoured Members Skate Canada Retrieved 1 September 2009 British ice dancing legend brings extensive knowledge to Calgary figure skating scene Skate Guard Interview with Bernard Ford Skatabase 1960 1969 Worlds Ice Dancing Results Skatabase 1960 1969 Europeans Ice Dancing Results Skatabase 1980 1989 Worlds Ice Dancing Results Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bernard Ford Navigation Edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bernard Ford amp oldid 1046890758, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
![[1]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Birmingham_Ice_Skating_Sound_of_Music_Dance_Gala_Team_April_1969.jpg){kind=link}
![[2]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Andrene_Harris_Present_WorldChampion_Ice_Skaters.jpg){kind=link}