T.D. Richardson
Encyclopedia
Thomas Dow "Tyke" Richardson OBE (16 January 1887 – 7 January 1971) was a British competitive pair skater
, author and judge.
With his wife, Mildred Richardson, he represented Great Britain at the 1924 Winter Olympics
, where they placed 8th. In 1958, he founded the Commonwealth Winter Games
in St Moritz, Switzerland
, and served as chairman of the Games until his death.
He was elected to the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame
posthumously in 1976.
and died in London
.
He was educated at Cambridge where he was an outstanding oarsman and boxer, and was married to his former ice skating partner Mildred "Wag" Allingham, who survived him on his death.
He served in the British Army
in World War I
, attaining the rank of Captain
.
T.D Richardson first took to the ice in 1891 at the age of four, during the winter known as 'the great frost'. He began skating pairs in 1911 with his future wife, Mildred Allingham, and together they made a substantial contribution to the development of modern pair skating
, particularly in the unique form of "mirror" or shadow skating.
After active service in World War I
on the Western Front
, Richardson resumed competing with his wife. They were the 1923 British silver medalists
and competed at the 1924 Winter Olympic Games.
(ISU) Championship (World) Judge. They also served as referees and judged many national and international championships. Richardson was a judge at the 1927 World Figure Skating Championships
and 1928 Winter Olympic Games. He was also instrumental in obtaining the adoption by the International Skating Union
of a rule limiting a country to one judge in each event in which it has entries.
During the 1920s, Richardson carried out the research that culminated in his famous book, Modern Figure Skating, first published in 1930. This book represented his revolutionary concept of the "Theory of the Sixteen Positions" in compulsory figures
. It was a fundamental and practical approach to the execution of compulsory figures
, which remained valid for many decades.
He went on to write ten more books, of which The Art of Figure Skating, published in 1962, reflected the mature development of his theories about figure skating
. He was the definitive reporter of the sport for many years as correspondent for The Times
of London and Skating World magazine.
Richardson long advocated the addition of new compulsory figures to the International schedule and established the Star Class Test in England, including the new compulsory figures. His proposals never gained international acceptance, however, a factor that contributed to the eventual disappearance of compulsory figures from international competition.
The Richardsons served the National Skating Association (now the National Ice Skating Association
) of Great Britain in many capacities. Richardson was chairman of the Ice Figure Committee of the NSA for 11 years and was vice chairman of the NSA Council. He and his wife were elected to honorary life membership of the NSA in 1967, and Queen Elizabeth II awarded him the Order of the British Empire
(OBE) for services to figure skating in 1955.
On his death in 1971, Cecilia Colledge
, the great British, European and World Champion skater said of him: "He acted always for what he knew was right. He would not submerge his principles in order to be popular. He would not compromise in order to be elected. He would not curb his independent courage. He served 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,...
, author and judge.
With his wife, Mildred Richardson, he represented Great Britain at the 1924 Winter Olympics
Great Britain at the 1924 Winter Olympics
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland competed as Great Britain at the 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France. Based on medal count, this was Great Britain's best ever performance at a Winter Olympic Games.-Medalists:- Bobsleigh:...
, where they placed 8th. In 1958, he founded the Commonwealth Winter Games
Commonwealth Winter Games
The Commonwealth Winter Games is a multi-sport event comprising winter sports which is designed as a counterbalance of the Commonwealth Games, which focuses on summer sports. This is analogous to the Winter Olympics augmenting the Summer Olympic Games....
in St Moritz, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, and served as chairman of the Games until his death.
He was elected to the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame
World Figure Skating Hall of Fame
The World Figure Skating Hall of Fame serves as a repository for the sport of figure skating. The World Figure Skating Hall of Fame is where the greatest names in the history of the sport are honored...
posthumously in 1976.
Personal life
Richardson was born in YorkYork
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
and died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
He was educated at Cambridge where he was an outstanding oarsman and boxer, and was married to his former ice skating partner Mildred "Wag" Allingham, who survived him on his death.
He served in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, attaining the rank of Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
.
Competitive career
He first learned the English style of skating, but was soon attracted to the International Style, to which he contributed greatly throughout his life. He took lessons from Bernard Adams, the first great British skating teacher of the International Style, and from Bror Meyer of Sweden. He eventually earned his gold medal in the International Style and the Bronze medal in the English Style.T.D Richardson first took to the ice in 1891 at the age of four, during the winter known as 'the great frost'. He began skating pairs in 1911 with his future wife, Mildred Allingham, and together they made a substantial contribution to the development of modern 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,...
, particularly in the unique form of "mirror" or shadow skating.
After active service in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
, Richardson resumed competing with his wife. They were the 1923 British silver medalists
British Figure Skating Championships
The British Figure Skating Championships are a figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United Kingdom...
and competed at the 1924 Winter Olympic Games.
Judging and publishing career
The Richardsons became active judges, both reaching the rank of International Skating UnionInternational 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...
(ISU) Championship (World) Judge. They also served as referees and judged many national and international championships. Richardson was a judge at the 1927 World Figure Skating Championships
1927 World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion....
and 1928 Winter Olympic Games. He was also instrumental in obtaining the adoption 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...
of a rule limiting a country to one judge in each event in which it has entries.
During the 1920s, Richardson carried out the research that culminated in his famous book, Modern Figure Skating, first published in 1930. This book represented his revolutionary concept of the "Theory of the Sixteen Positions" in 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...
. It was a fundamental and practical approach to the execution of 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...
, which remained valid for many decades.
He went on to write ten more books, of which The Art of Figure Skating, published in 1962, reflected the mature development of his theories about figure skating
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...
. He was the definitive reporter of the sport for many years as correspondent for The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
of London and Skating World magazine.
Richardson long advocated the addition of new compulsory figures to the International schedule and established the Star Class Test in England, including the new compulsory figures. His proposals never gained international acceptance, however, a factor that contributed to the eventual disappearance of compulsory figures from international competition.
The Richardsons served the National Skating Association (now the National Ice Skating Association
National Ice Skating Association
The National Ice Skating Association is a British organisation that is responsible for the development of ice skating careers. It is known as the biggest ice-skating company in the UK...
) of Great Britain in many capacities. Richardson was chairman of the Ice Figure Committee of the NSA for 11 years and was vice chairman of the NSA Council. He and his wife were elected to honorary life membership of the NSA in 1967, and Queen Elizabeth II awarded him the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(OBE) for services to figure skating in 1955.
On his death in 1971, Cecilia Colledge
Cecilia Colledge
Magdelena Cecilia Colledge was a British figure skater. She was the 1936 Olympic silver medalist, the 1937 World Champion, the 1938-1939 European Champion, and a six-time British national champion....
, the great British, European and World Champion skater said of him: "He acted always for what he knew was right. He would not submerge his principles in order to be popular. He would not compromise in order to be elected. He would not curb his independent courage. He served skating."
Further reading
- T.D. Richardson - Modern Figure Skating (1930)
- Dr Manfred CurryManfred CurryManfred Curry was a German born American scientist, physician, inventor, sailor and author. Born in Munich, Germany to American parents.An accomplished olympic yachtsman he sailed more than 1400 regattas many of which he won...
- The Beauty of Skating (John Miles Ltd, 1935) - E.R. HallE.R. HallEdward "Eddie" Ramsden Hall was an English racing driver. He was born in Milnsbridge into a wealthy Yorkshire family in 1900, the heir to a successful textiles business which funded his motor racing and other sporting exploits...
& T.D. Richardson - Champions all: camera studies by E.R. Hall (Frederick Muller, 1938) - T.D. Richardson - The Complete Figure Skater (Methuen & Co, 1948)
- T.D. Richardson - Ice Rink Skating (1949)
- T.D. Richardson - Skating with T.D. Richardson (Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, 1952)
- T.D. Richardson - The Girl's Book of Skating (Burke Publishing, 1959)
- T.D. Richardson - The Art of Figure Skating (1962)
- T.D. Richardson - Your Book of Skating (Faber and Faber, 1962)