The European Figure Skating Championships

European Figure Skating Championships

The European Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition in which figure skaters compete for the title of European Champion...

is an annual figure skating competition

Figure skating competition

-International:* International competitions sanctioned by the International Skating Union. These competitions are held using ISU rules; skaters are entered by their respective national skating federations....

 sanctioned by the International Skating Union

International Skating Union

The International Skating Union is the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. It was founded in Scheveningen, Netherlands in 1892, making it one of the oldest international...

 in which figure skaters

Figure skating

Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...

 compete for the title of European Champion.

The 1961 competitions took place from January 26th to January 29th 1961 in West Berlin

West Berlin

West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...

. Skaters competed in the disciplines of ladies' singles

Single skating

Single skating is a discipline of figure skating, wherein a single person skates alone. Men's singles and ladies' singles are both Olympic disciplines and are both governed by the International Skating Union. The other Olympic figure skating events are pair skating and ice dancing...

, men's singles

Single skating

Single skating is a discipline of figure skating, wherein a single person skates alone. Men's singles and ladies' singles are both Olympic disciplines and are both governed by the International Skating Union. The other Olympic figure skating events are pair skating and ice dancing...

, pair skating

Pair skating

Pair skating is a figure skating discipline. International Skating Union regulations describe pair teams as consisting of "one lady and one man." The sport is distinguished from ice dancing and single skating by elements unique to pair skating, including overhead lifts, twist lifts, death spirals,...

, and ice dancing

Ice dancing

Ice dancing is a form of figure skating which draws from the world of ballroom dancing. It was first competed at the World Figure Skating Championships in 1952, but did not become a Winter Olympic Games medal sport until 1976....

. The event took place without the participation of skaters from the Soviet Union

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

 not because of a political boycott, but rather because an exceptionally mild winter left the Russian skaters with insufficient ice for practice in their home country. The Soviet team was also withdrawn from the following World Figure Skating Championships

World Figure Skating Championships

The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...

 for the same reason.

The defending champions in all four divisions retained their titles. In the pairs competition, however, the champions Marika Kilius

Marika Kilius

Marika Kilius is a two-time Olympic silver medalist and two-time World champion in pair skating....

 & Hans-Jürgen Bäumler

Hans-Jürgen Bäumler

Hans-Jürgen Bäumler is a German pair skater, actor, singer and television host.- Biography :...

 faced a close battle with Margret Gobl

Margret Göbl

Margret Göbl is a former German pair skater and roller skater.Margret Göbl is a multiple German champion in pair figure skating with her husband Franz Ningel. She also won several medals at Worlds and Europeans with her partner...

 & Franz Ningel

Franz Ningel

Franz Ningel is a former German pair skater and roller skater.Franz Ningel became World and European champion as a single roller figure skater in 1956 and 1957...

, who had defeated them at the West German championships earlier in the season. Gobl & Ningel may have been penalized for including an illegal lift

Figure skating lifts

Figure skating lifts are a required element in pair skating and ice dancing. Pairs lifts differ from dance lifts most notably in that dancers are not allowed to lift their partners above their shoulders...

 in their program.

In the ladies' event, Sjoukje Dijkstra

Sjoukje Dijkstra

Sjoukje Rosalinde Dijkstra is a Dutch figure skater. She is the 1964 Olympic champion in Ladies' Singles, the 1960 Olympic silver medalist, a three-time World champion , five-time European champion , and the six-time Dutch national champion .Following the retirement of Carol Heiss in 1960, who...

 built up a lead in the compulsory figures

Compulsory figures

Compulsory figures or school figures were formerly an aspect of the sport of figure skating, from which the sport derives its name. Carving specific patterns or figures into the ice was the original focus of the sport. The patterns of compulsory figures all derive from the basic figure eight...

 that assured her of victory. Her free skating program was described as "exhausting". The stars of the free skating were Helli Sengstschmidt and Jana Mrazkova, who both reportedly did triple salchow jumps

Salchow jump

The Salchow is a figure skating jump with a takeoff from a back inside edge of one foot. The rotation in the air is made in the direction of the curve of the take-off edge. The landing is made on the back outside edge of the foot opposite the one used for take-off. One or more rotations may be...

 in their programs.

Alain Giletti

Alain Giletti

Alain Giletti is a French figure skater. He is the 1960 World champion, the 1955-1957 & 1960-1961 European champion and is a ten-time French national champion. At the age of 12, he represented France at the 1952 Winter Olympics, where he placed 7th...

 likewise assured himself of victory by winning the figures by a large margin. All three medalists in the men's division gave fine free skating performances.

Men

Rank	Name	Nation	Places
1	Alain Giletti Alain Giletti Alain Giletti is a French figure skater. He is the 1960 World champion, the 1955-1957 & 1960-1961 European champion and is a ten-time French national champion. At the age of 12, he represented France at the 1952 Winter Olympics, where he placed 7th...		9
2	Alain Calmat Alain Calmat Alain Calmat is a French former competitive figure skater, surgeon, and politician. He is the 1964 Olympic silver medalist, the 1965 World Champion, the 1962–1964 European Champion, and the 1958 & 1962–1965 French national champion.-Career:Calmat started skating at the age of nine...		11
3	Manfred Schnelldorfer Manfred Schnelldorfer Manfred Schnelldorfer is a German figure skater, and a World and Olympic champion.-Career:...		23
4	Peter Jonas Peter Jonas (figure skater) Peter Jonas is an Austrian figure skater. He is the 1965 European bronze medalist. He represented Austria at the 1960 Winter Olympics, where he placed 13th, and at the 1964 Winter Olympics, where he placed 7th....		37
5	Emmerich Danzer Emmerich Danzer Emmerich Danzer was an Austrian figure skater and multiple European and World Champion.-Career:Emmerich Danzer began to skate at the age of five. He attended a Catholic school in Vienna...		51.5
6	Robin Jones		55.5
7	Sepp Schönmetzler Sepp Schönmetzler Sepp Schönmetzler is a German figure skater, coach, and journalist. He is the 1962 and 1965 German national champion and placed 12th at the 1964 Winter Olympics...		65
8	Bodo Bockenauer		80
9	Heinrich Podhasjski		79
10	Per Kjølberg		87
11	Peter Krick		91
12	Wouter Toledo Wouter Toledo Wouter Toledo is a former Dutch figure skater.-Results:-Navigation:...		111
13	Michael Flebbe		112
14	Giordano Abbondati Giordano Abbondati Giordano Abbondati was a former Italian figure skater and seven-time national champion from 1961-66 and 1968...		122
15	Ragnar Wikström		135

Judges were

• Hans Meixner 
• P. Baron
• E. A. Voigt
• K. Beyer
• Pamela Davis 
• Ferenc Kertész 
• G. De Mori
• C. Benedict-Stieber
• A. Jaisli

Ladies

Rank	Name	Nation	Places
1	Sjoukje Dijkstra Sjoukje Dijkstra Sjoukje Rosalinde Dijkstra is a Dutch figure skater. She is the 1964 Olympic champion in Ladies' Singles, the 1960 Olympic silver medalist, a three-time World champion , five-time European champion , and the six-time Dutch national champion .Following the retirement of Carol Heiss in 1960, who...		9
2	Regine Heitzer Regine Heitzer Regine Heitzer is an Austrian figure skater who competed at the 1960 Winter Olympics and 1964 Winter Olympics.She skated professionally, in the Vienna Ice Revue and Holiday on Ice, from 1967 to 1971 until sidelined by a medical condition that left her without feeling in one of her feet after a...		21
3	Jana Mrazkova		26
4	Karin Frohner		49
5	Dany Rigoulot Dany Rigoulot Dany Rigoulot is a former French figure skater who competed in ladies singles. She is the 1958-59 and 1961 French champion.-Results:-Navigation:...		57
6	Helli Sengstschmidt		58
7	Eva Grozajova		77
8	Nicole Hassler Nicole Hassler Nicole Hassler was a French figure skater. She was the 1963 World bronze medalist, the 1963 European silver medalist and the 1964-1966 European bronze medalist...		73
9	Diana Clifton-Peach		66
10	Jitka Hlavackova		83
11	Anne Reynolds		85
12	Karin Gude		90
13	Fränzi Schmidt		115
14	Christa Fassi-von Kuczkowski		136
15	Daniéle Giraud		141
16	Urusla Barkey		147
17	Eva Czoma		162
18	Helga Zöllner		175
19	Dorette Bek		169
20	Silvana Saccozzi		179
21	Gabriele Seyfert Gabriele Seyfert Gabriele Seyfert is a retired German figure skater. She is a two-time world champion , and the 1968 Olympic silver medalist.-Biography:...		178
22	Sandra Brugnera		190
23	Heidemarie Steiner Heidemarie Steiner Heidemarie Steiner married Walther, is a German figure skater and coach. She competed in pair skating and ladies singles....		188
24	Willie ten Hoopen		216

Judges were

• Martin Felsenreich 
• E. Skakala
• N. Valdes
• A. Walker
• G. S. Yates
• Ferenc Kertész 
• Grazia Ferrari-Barcellona 
• C. Engelfriet
• Karl Enderlin
  Karl Enderlin
  Karl Enderlin was a Swiss figure skater. He was a four-time Swiss national champion. He represented Switzerland at the 1948 Winter Olympics where he placed 14th.-Results:-References:...
  
   

Pairs

Rank	Name	Nation	Places
1	Marika Kilius Marika Kilius Marika Kilius is a two-time Olympic silver medalist and two-time World champion in pair skating....  / Hans-Jürgen Bäumler Hans-Jürgen Bäumler Hans-Jürgen Bäumler is a German pair skater, actor, singer and television host.- Biography :...		13
2	Margret Göbl Margret Göbl Margret Göbl is a former German pair skater and roller skater.Margret Göbl is a multiple German champion in pair figure skating with her husband Franz Ningel. She also won several medals at Worlds and Europeans with her partner...  / Franz Ningel Franz Ningel Franz Ningel is a former German pair skater and roller skater.Franz Ningel became World and European champion as a single roller figure skater in 1956 and 1957...		14
3	Margit Senf Margit Senf Margit Senf is a former pair skater who represented East Germany and the Unified Team of Germany in competition. With partner Peter Göbel, she won the gold medal at the East German Figure Skating Championships in 1960, 1961, and 1963...  / Peter Göbel Peter Göbel Peter Göbel is a former pair skater who represented East Germany and the Unified Team of Germany in competition. With partner Margit Senf, he won the gold medal at the East German Figure Skating Championships in 1960, 1961, and 1963...		38.5
4	Rita Blumenberg / Werner Mensching		36
5	Diana Hinko / Heinz Döpfl		43.5
6	Hana Dvorakova / Karel Vosatka		52.5
7	Valerie Hunt / Peter Burrows		69.5
8	Gerda Johner / Rüdi Johner		74.5
9	Irene Müller Irene Müller Irene Müller is a former East German pair skater who competed with partner Hans-Georg Dallmer. They won the gold medal at the East German Figure Skating Championships in 1965 and 1968 and finished ninth at the 1968 Winter Olympics...  / Hans-Georg Dallmer Hans-Georg Dallmer Hans-Georg Dallmer is a former East German pair skater who competed with partner Irene Müller. They won the gold medal at the East German Figure Skating Championships in 1965 and 1968 and finished ninth at the 1968 Winter Olympics...		75.5
10	Renate Rößler / Klaus Wasserfuhr		78

Judges were

• Hans Meixner 
• E. Skakala
• N. Valdes
• E. Bauch
• Theo Klemm 
• Pamela Davis 
• G. de Mori
• C. Benedict-Stieber
• A. Jaisli

Ice Dancing

Rank	Name	Nation	Places
1	Doreen Denny Doreen Denny Doreen Denny is a British ice dancer. With partner Courtney Jones, she is the 1959 & 1960 World champion and 1959-1961 European champion.After the 1961 season, Denny and Jones announced their retirement from competitive skating, as Denny planned to marry Italian dance champion Gianfranco Canepa...  / Courtney Jones Courtney Jones Courtney John Lyndhurst Jones OBE is a former British ice dancer. With partner June Markham, he is the 1957 & 1958 World champion and European champion. With partner Doreen Denny, he is the 1959 & 1960 World champion and 1959-1961 European champion.Jones and Peri Horne created the Starlight Waltz...		7
2	Christiane Guhel Christiane Guhel Christiane Guhel is a French ice dancer. With partner Jean Paul Guhel, she is the 1962 European champion, 1962 World silver medalist, and 1960 World bronze medalist.-Ice Dance:-References:...  / Jean Paul Guhel Jean Paul Guhel Jean Paul Guhel is a French ice dancer. With partner Christiane Guhel, he is the 1962 European champion, 1962 World silver medalist, and 1960 World bronze medalist.-Ice Dance:...		14
3	Linda Shearman Linda Shearman Linda Shearman is a British retired competitive ice dancer. With partner Michael Phillips, she is the 1963 European Champion and World silver medalist.-Results:-References:* *...  / Michael Philipps Michael Phillips (figure skater) Michael Phillips is a British retired competitive ice dancer. With partner Linda Shearman, he is the 1963 European Champion and World silver medalist.-Results:-References:* *...		25
4	Mary Parry / Roy Mason		26
5	Eva Romanová Eva Romanová Eva Romanová is a former Czech figure skater. Together with her brother Pavel Roman, she won four World Figure Skating Championships titles in ice dancing.- Career :...  / Pavel Roman Pavel Roman Pavel Roman was a Czech figure skater. Together with his sister Eva Romanová he won four World Figure Skating Championships titles in ice dancing.-Career:...		33
6	Rita Paucka / Peter Kwiet		46
7	Olga Gilardi / Germano Ceccatini		47
8	Maria Grazia Boccacci / Gianfranco Canepa		63
9	Armelle Flichy / Pierre Brun		65
10	Jitka Babická / Jaromír Holan		73
11	György Korda / Pal Vásárhelyi		72
12	Christel Trebesiner / Gerald Felsinger		87
13	Margo Nissen / Klaus Ebel		87
14	Marlyse Fornachon / Charly Pichard		95
15	Martha Schamberger / Hans-Jürgen Schamberger		98

Judges were

• W. Malek
• E. Skakala
• L. Lauret
• Hermann Schiechtl 
• H. Lawrence
• Ferenc Kertész
• C. Benacchi-Bordogna