GREAT BRITAIN BACK ON THE MAP OF EUROPEAN ICE SKATING

The week commencing 19th January 2008, was probably the best week for British ice skating in Europe in the history of NISA with the following collection of medals and successes:

2 x gold medals
1 x silver medal
3 top 10 finishes
1 x top 20 finish

The role of Honour reads as follows:

Short Track Gold Medal (500m) - Jon Eley
Short Track Ladies Relay (3000m) Gold medal - Elise Christie, Sarah Lindsay, Alex Welbourne, Charlotte Gilmartin and Joanna Williams
Short Track Men’s relay (5000m) Silver medal – Jon Eley, Tom Iveson, Paul Stanley, Paul Worth and Anthony Douglas

6th Ice Dance - Sinead and John Kerr
6th Senior Paris - Stacey Kemp and David King
8th Ladies – Jenna McCorkell
18th Ice Dance – Philippa Towler-Green and Philip Poole

Also a big well done to Elliot Hilton competing in his first Senior ISU Championships on his 26th finish.

Not only were the results excellent but our figure skaters also recorded personal bests for all of their performances and it is worth noting that Sinead and John had the highest technical score of all competitors in the Original Dance and that Jenna McCorkell had the highest technical score of all competitors in the Ladies Short programme.

Do not let anyone tell you that British Ice Skating is under performing and generally disorganised. The foundations that have been put into place over the last 4 years are now beginning to show dividends and we are now in the very envious position of having 2 dance places, 2 pairs places and 2 ladies places at the 2009 European Championships. We therefore have a major task over the next 12 months to ensure that we have skaters who are able to fill these places and give credible performances at these Championships. However in the short term our Senior skaters are now concentrating their minds on the World Championships which will take place in Gothenburg, Sweden - 17th – 23rd March 2008.

Well done to all our skaters and for once we can bask in the glory of our success.