Moray skaters make it lucky 13 at national championships

MORAY FIGURES SKATERS have once again returned with a large collection of medals from their latest trip to a national event in Ayrshire.

The Elgin-based rink picked up six golds at the Magnum National Opens – and added three silver medals and four bronze to take the total haul to a very lucky 13.

Elgin’s Vivienne Boyd won gold in the level five ladies event with teammate Elise Green also taking gold in the level four competition. The level three event was won by Lossiemouth’s Charlotte Wright with Buckie’s Kirsty Imlach winning gold in level one. Both girls were up against a field of eighteen skaters from all over the country.

Jim Parkinson took gold in the level one mens’ with India Hay also winning the beginner ladies against seventeen other skaters. Elgin’s two-time Scottish champion and international medallist Rowena Mackessack-Leitch, meanwhile, won silver in the level ten free program event against some of the very top international-level females in the UK.

Ruby Boyd also won silver in the level six ladies event in her first outing at this level, bypassing level five. She landed five double jumps in her program, including a double-double combination, as well as being the only skater in her competition to score a level two step sequence. The 12-year-old’s impressive score has qualified her again for the British Championships in Sheffield later this year.

Also taking silver was Mulben’s Kiernan O’Shea in the level two competition. Bronzes were won by Emily Lawson, Fern Smith, Philippa Adams and Josh Parkinson in his first national competition. Narrowly missing out on medal positions were Shelby Simmers, Elysia Glass, Madison Mitchell, Megan Armitt, Emma Marandola, Ellyn Smith and Natasha Morrison.

However, Shelby, who is from Keith, scored a personal best score in the level nine ladies short program competition after an impressive series of jumps and spins. The high score resulted in her being awarded the Junior Short Program test pass to add to her list of qualifications.

Strong performances were also given by Kirstin Macdonald, Louise McMann, Chiko Parkinson, Caley Stobo  and Ellis Cockburn.

The 13 medal wins follow on from more national successes recently in Bradford where Rowena Mackessack-Leitch won gold in the level ten free program, Madison Mitchell and Elise Green won gold and silver respectively in the level four ladies, Emma Marandola also won gold in the level three ladies and Kirsty Imlach won silver in the level one competition.

Moray Figure Skating Club prides itself on being a welcoming and inclusive club, providing skating tuition for all ages and abilities, raw beginners and leisure skaters as well as producing Scottish champions, members of the GB team, international medallists and sportMoray and sportScotland award-winners.

It has established itself as Moray’s top skating club and one of the most successful in the country. The club’s very existence was in doubt until recently because funding had to be secured for a new refrigeration plant at Moray Leisure Centre’s ice rink. Members range in age from two years to 82 years old, with many families skating on the ice together practicing their skating skills.

The club’s popular learn-to-skate classes are held every Saturday from 10.45am to 1.15pm at Moray Leisure Centre. Children and adults of all ages and abilities are welcome to come along, including raw beginners who haven’t skated before, and the first lesson is completely FREE.

The club also provides its own free top-quality figure skate hire. The classes place an accent on having fun in a friendly atmosphere while learning, and tuition is on hand from championship-level coaches and award-winning skaters.

For further details call Mike on 07974 387326, check out the club’s website or just turn up on the day.