Catherine and Damien are dance champs!

Light-footed couple Catherine Lyness and Damien McCourt gave a 'superb performance' last Friday to be crowned the winners at the first night of Strictly Come Dancing.
Catherine Lyness and Damien McCourt. INPT19-004Catherine Lyness and Damien McCourt. INPT19-004
Catherine Lyness and Damien McCourt. INPT19-004

The pair wowed the judges with a cha-cha, followed by the Charleston, with Tracie Jenkinson of Portadown Cares describing it as a “real showpiece”.

Catherine set up the Stephen Lyness Memorial Fund after the death of her son 11 years ago, while Damien is a youth football coach.

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The Portadown Cares event, which was held at the Seagoe Hotel, was watched by a sell-out audience of around 400.

And tomorrow (Saturday), the second and final night is also sold out, with the 12 couples again competing, but this time the winners will have a points handicap.

Second place on Friday night went to Roisin Hagan, a teacher at Presentation PS, and Portadown Cares volunteer Jonny Surgeoner.

Third went to Brodie Adair, a customer care officer at High Street Mall, and Lisa McGuckin, who works for Cots and Tots, Portadown.

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The couple who raised most money were Maxine Chambers, a volunteer with Goal Line Youth Centre and Portadown Cares, and Ian Flack, Drumgor PS principal.

Each of the 24 dancers will donate whatever they raise to a charity of their choice, with Tracie pointing out that so far around £12,500 has been raised among all the competitors.

Proceeds of tickets sales will go to Portadown Cares to enable them to continue their community work.

The judges tomorrow night will be dance teacher Pamela Cassells, Tracey Jackson of sponsor High Street Mall, Kirstie McMurray of Downtown Radio and Clifford Forbes, community development officer at ABC Council.

James Dunbar and Lauren McCann will be the hosts.

Said Tracie, “It was such a huge success that we are already taking names for next year.”