A YORK couple have quick-stepped their way into a national ballroom dancing competition final.

Christopher and Christine Lonsdale, of Grassholme, Woodthorpe, will be gliding across the dance floor at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool next April after Christine became medallist of the year for the North East area in the International Dance Teachers' Association competition.

The couple performed in the over-50s section of the competition, which sees dance teachers throughout the region choose their best students to represent them, and they both qualified to compete in the final against dancers from across the UK.

Men and women are judged separately, and Christopher made it into the semi-final of the men's section at the regional competition, held at The Spa in Bridlington in November. Dance teacher Denis Cole, who runs the Cole School of Dance in Bishophill Junior with his wife, Rita, said he was very proud of the couple's achievements.

He said: "They are quality dancers, trained by quality teachers."

Updated: 11:04 Wednesday, December 19, 2001