Below you will find a selection of comments regarding Michael & Valerie's many performances during their Professional Career.
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1st July 2002 by Michael Reilly & Valerie Hobden-Reilly BRITISH OPEN PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 31st May 2002
This was to be Michael & Valerie's last competition due to the pending arrival of their first child, due February 2003. They both have enjoyed their long and successful competitive careers and now look forward to the new challenges that parenthood will bring them.
DANCE NEWS 18th July 2002 by Harry Smith-Hampshire BRITISH OPEN PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 31st May 2002
This couple are sometimes under-rated because their style of dancing tends to be quiet and unassuming. A touch of "Italian Flair" might not come amiss.
DANCE NEWS 28th February 2002 by Harry Smith-Hampshire UNITED KINGDOM PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 23rd January 2002
Danced well below par in this event. There is nothing wrong with the mechanics of their dancing. Most important for Michael is to cultivate a more positive mental attitude to raising his quality of performance, developing a belief in himself.
DANCE NEWS 21st February 2002 by Anne Gleave BDF STAR PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 27th January 2002
Steady progress has been made since Michael & Valerie turned Professional. They dance tasteful and traditional choreography and are good yound ambassadors for dancing. Michael is a lovely dancer and has many attributes of a champion.... I really think they could be formidable.
DANCE NEWS 10th January 2002 by David Trueman BRITISH NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 17th November 2001
Michael & Valerie are excellent dancers. They possess high levels of technique in feet & ankles and body flights are effortless.
DANCE NEWS 8th November 2001 by Harry Smith-Hampshire INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 11th October 2001
Difficult to fault in the areas of style and movement. Good swinging, spinning Waltz. Neat in all that they do.
DANCE NEWS 8th November 2001 by Wally Olney INTERNATIONAL RISING STAR PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 10th October 2001
Delightful floor appearance. Good balance and control and expressive movement.
INTERNATIONAL RISING STAR PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 10th October 2001
Michael & Valerie performed well in this Rising Star Final and received many comments that they should have been placed higher! At least two adjudicators marked them to win this event! Final 1st Luca Tonello & Ekaterina Berulina (Russia) 2nd Tomas Atkocevicius & Aira Bubnelyte (Lithuania) 3rd Roberto Giuliato & Serena Picco (Italy) 4th Erminio Stefano & Luana Conte (USA) 5th Michael Reilly & Valerie Hobden-Reilly (England) 6th Gerwin Biedermann & Betty Urbeinz (Germany)
DANCE NEWS 28th June 2001 by Robin Short BRITISH OPEN PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 1st June 2001
Last 24 in All 4 Dances-As often happens when arrival in the Professional ranks and after some time, an improvement takes place. They should continue to work on impact.
DANCE NEWS 9th August 2001 by Jack Reavely BRITISH OPEN PROFESSIONAL RISING STAR CHAMPIONSHIP 28th May 2001
The carefulness of the past has been changed to a carefree approach, which suits them.
DANCE NEWS 5th July 2001 by Warren Bullock BRITISH OPEN PROFESSIONAL RISING STAR CHAMPIONSHIP 28th May 2001
An encouraging result for these two quality dancers who certainly looked improved today, complimented beautifully by the best costume I've seen Valerie wearing. I was pleased to see a clear improvement in Valerie's posture in the early rounds which helped create a good first impression. Final 1st Alessandro Firmo & Michelle Barry (England) 2nd Timas Atkocevicius & Aira Bubnelyte (Lithuania) 3rd Mirko & Marika Selli (Italy) 4th Matis Toome & Helen Klandorf (Estonia) 5th Christian Corsi & Simonetta Ambrosini (Italy) 6th Michael Reilly & Valerie Hobden-Reilly (England)
DANCE NEWS 7th June 2001 by David Trueman THE ENGLISH CHMPIONSHIPS 7th May 2001
Look very much at home in the Professional field and so they should as they have studied their dance for many years making the fundamentals first and foremost in their thinking and changing and correcting the niggly habitual faults we all have. We now see fine charismatic dancing with Valerie expressing her dance more through back flexibility and extended head use. Final 1st Christopher Hawkins & Hazel Newberry 2nd Koji& Kumiko Hiyama 3rd Susumu and Mariko Onda 4th Seiji Tanido & Yurie Yoshino 5th Michael Reilly & Valerie Hobden-Reilly 6th Luca Tonello & Ekaterina Berulina
HERTS BALL 30th April 2001
This was their first competition since Valerie's ankle injury at the United Kingdom Championships and they were Semi-Finalists. Final 1st Christopher Hawkins & Hazel Newberry 2nd Alan & Donna Shingler 3rd Tony Dokman & Amanda Owen 4th Scott Draper & Morena Colegreco 5th Alesandro Firmo & Michelle Barry 6th Koji& Kumiko Hiyama
DANCE NEWS 12th April 2001 by Norman White BDF EASTERN SPECTACULAR 21st March 2001
Showed their skills by performing their Waltz, Foxtrot and Tango, showing good clear characterisation and style.
DANCE NEWS 5th April 2001 by Elaine Bottomer BDF GALAXY SHOWCASE 1st March 2001
Danced their demonstrations with confidence and an elegance that so captivated the audience.
DANCE NEWS 29th March 2001 by Nicola Nordin BDF GALAXY SHOWCASE 1st March 2001
Relatively new Professionals showing no nerves as they demonstrated the Waltz, Foxtrot and Tango with precision and artistry. Beautiful dresses and they showed lovely sesitivity and musicality. Very impressive and captivating.
DANCE NEWS 15th March 2001 by Marcus Hilton MBE UNITED KINGDOM RISING STAR CHAMPIONSHIP
Possible Champions stood out from the very first Waltz of the competition. Unfortunately, an injury in the 2nd round to possible challengers for this competition saw Michael Reilly & Valerie Hobden-Reilly withdrawing from this event. I had noticed them in the 1st round and thought how well they were dancing and how they seemed very much at home as Professionals.
UNITED KINGDOM CHAMPIONSHIPS 23rd January 2001
Valerie & Michael have to withdraw from United Kingdom Professional Rising Star Championship due to a serious injury during the competition resulting in three torn ligaments in Valerie's left ankle.
DANCE NEWS 3rd January 2001
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