The Swiss Standard Championships in Kirchberg/BE were once again unbeatable in terms of excitement; as in the previous year, Volodymyr Kasilov/Yulia Dreier (DUZ) won the championship title in the main category ahead of Davide Corrodi/Maja Kucharczyk (TSCZ) in extremis. David Büchel/Flavia Landolfi (TDSC) secured bronze by a clear margin. The audience celebrated the couples with a standing ovation at the end.
The Zug challengers Corrodi/Kucharzyk made a lightning start in the final, winning the first two dances. But then the defending champions turned up the heat and evened the score again until the fourth dance. As in the previous year, the Quickstep decided victory and defeat. The 4:3 verdict of the 7 international judges showed how close the two best couples are at the moment.
Corrodi started the competition weakened by his health, but didn't let on. "I was able to completely block it out, but now I'm completely knackered," he stated. And for Kasilov/Dreier it was an emotional climax of a crazy year, which was initially marked by the turmoil of war in Ukraine. Only when Vova's parents and relatives had been safe in Switzerland did he resume regular training with Yulia. "Winning here in front of the whole family was a wonderful experience for us," they rejoiced.
The third-ranked Büchel/Landolfi did not know until the evening before whether they would be able to start at all. Both had fallen ill with Corona after the German Open and had a negative test only two days before the SM. They did not show any signs of illness in the Kirchberg hall, which was an ideal venue for a dance championship - and they also only managed to get past Antonini/Castaldi in the final in the Quickstep.
Marotta/Drukarova - first start, first win
Mirco Marotta/Anna Drukarova (TSCZ), competing with a Swiss licence for the first time this year, showed their great class ten days after their place in the final at the German Open and won the Senior I category in a highly superior manner. Beat Künzi/Barbara Kaufmann from the organisers Tanzsport Bern sold their skin as dearly as possible and won the silver medal just as clearly. Also winning their first SM gold medal in the Seniors II category was the TTZ duo Helge Uhrig/Désirée, who edged out Martin and Astrid Vogel for second place.
Jürg Briner/Katarina Egli (DUZ) seem to be two perennial winners who, as deserved winners in the Seniors III, claimed the top step of the podium for the 13th time. In the Seniors IV, Beat Schmid/Monika Schmid (TSBE) also defended their title.
In the junior categories, Mikhail Pikulin/Eva Pikulina (TTZ) won the youth category, the Ukrainians Oleksandr Afanasiev/Yaroslava Chelombitko the junior category and Mihail Novikov/Polina Trehub (DUZ) the student category.
