The brother and sister duo of Adrian and Carmel Walker are more than well reknowned in the Irish dancing circles of Australia. Between them they can boast over 25 years of Irish dancing training and competition; and not many families can claim to achieving a massive 18 Queensland State Solo Championships Titles! Newly married, Carmel has decided that 1999 will be her final year of competitive Irish dancing; whilst Adrian will carry on the Walker name in competition for many years to come. In March this year, Carmel and Adrian travelled to Ireland to compete in their first World Championships. Both put in creditable performances; Adrian missing the recall by just one place, and finishing 16th in the World.

    1999 promises to be an exciting year for the Walkers; competitions, performances with the newly formed 'Jig Central' created by the Watkins Academy, and new beginnings. Adrian completed Year 12 in 1998 and has begun a course at the Queensland University of Technology studying Secondary Education with a major in Drama. Although this will be the last year that both Walkers will grace the competition floor; it may be only several years before they'll be debuting their own champions when they hope to open an Irish dancing school together.
 
 

Name: Carmel Allen (nee Walker)
Age: 22
Birthdate: 22/10/76

Dance School: Watkins Academy
Years of Dancing: 14 years
Favourite Dances: Slip Jig and Hornpipe

Dancing Achievements/Results:

* 1999 Australian National Championships - 8th place
* 1999 Queensland State Solo Championships - 2nd place
* 1999 World Irish Dancing Championships - Ireland

* AUSTRALIAN IRISH DANCING CHAMPIONSHIPS - Top 10 every year competed. Highest place of 5th!
* QUEENSLAND STATE SOLO CHAMPIONSHIPS - 1st PLACE! 1990 - 1998 inclusive!

Other Achievements:

* 1st place and Innargual winners (with brother Adrian) of the 1998 Gilhooley's Irish Dancing Competition

Interests and Hobbies: Carmel works full-time as an Accounts Clerk so Irish dancing IS her interest.

Aims in Life and Dancing: Carmel's aims for 1999 and beyond included competing in the World Championships; and she hopes to achieve her TCRG this year and eventually open up a dance school with her brother Adrian when he finishes his dancing career.

Name: Adrian Walker
Age: 18
Birthdate: 29/6/81

Dance School: Watkins Academy
Years of Dancing: 11 years
Favourite Dances: Hornpipe and Reel

Dancing Achievements/Results:

* 1999 Australian National Championships - 1st PLACE!
* 1999 Queensland State Solo Championships - 2nd place
* 1999 World Irish Dancing Championships, Ireland: 16th place

* 1998 Queensland State Solo Championships - 1st PLACE!

* 1997 Australian National Championships - 2nd place
* 1997 Queensland State Solo Championships - 1st PLACE!

* 1994 - 1996 Australian National Championships - 2nd Place (Runner-up)
* 1990 - 1996 Queensland State Solo Championships - 1st PLACE!

Other Achievements: 1st Place and Innagrual Winners (with sister Carmel) of the 1998 Gilhooley's Irish Dancing Competition.

Interests and Hobbies: Adrian lists Drama as his main interest aside from Irish dancing; and decided to focus on Drama as his future career.

Aims in Life and Dancing: Adrian hopes to be successful in competition for many years to come; and when he eventually makes the decision to retire he would like to gain his TCRG and join sister Carmel in forming their own dance school.