NISA announces GB squad for World Short Track Speed Skating Championships

The National Ice Skating Association (NISA) has announced its squad for the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships 2010.

Seven of the country’s top skaters have been selected to represent Team GB at the prestigious event, which takes place in Sofia, Bulgaria from March 19 to March 21 2010.

Jon Eley and Tom Iveson from Solihull, Birmingham, Elise Christie from Livingston, Scotland, Sarah Lindsay from Kingston Upon Thames, and Anthony Douglas, Jack Whelbourne and Paul Worth from Nottingham make up the National Ice Skating Association (NISA) team.

The Championships come a month after the 2010 Winter Olympics, where the seven skaters proved NISA has made vast improvements.

Jon Eley travels to Sofia looking to improve on his successes in Vancouver, where he finished sixth place in the Men’s 500m.

He was also part of the sixth place Men’s 5000m relay team, along with Jack Whelbourne, Anthony Douglas and Paul Worth.

NISA are entering two men for each of the 500m, 1000m and 1500m individual races as well as one team for the men’s 5000m relay race, with final decisions about who will compete in which races yet to be confirmed.

Elise Christie and Sarah Lindsay have been picked for the female category and will both compete in the Ladies 500m, 1000m and 1500m.

19-year-old Elise Christie finished in overall bronze position in January’s European Short Track Championships after winning silver in the ladies 1,500m and 3,000m.

Keith Horton, chief executive for NISA, said: “The short track speed skaters’ performances at the Winter Olympics has given them a good foundation to build on in future international competition.

“The team has come on leaps and bounds in the last few years and now they have had chance for their experiences in Vancouver to sink in and see how they can improve further. I wish them all the luck for success in Sofia.”