Ian started dancing as a medallist in 1984 and won the prestigious nationwide “Medallist of the Year” competition for both Ballroom and Latin at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool in 1985. He continued his dancing career into the open competition circuit, eventually reaching a world ranking of 37.

Before leaving the UK to live in Mallorca, he was ranked at number 7 in the UK, winning numerous competitions including the City of Manchester and the Commonwealth Games Championship in 2002 with his former partner's, Anne Mawson and Julie Hembry.

Ian has also represented England in the well established Maltese Open Championships where he and his partner were runners up in 2002 and 2004.