Albie Barlow to open Junior World Cup season in Astana

Great Britain’s Albie Barlow will fly the flag for Great Britain against the world’s best junior short track skaters at the season-opening ISU Short Track Junior World Cup #1 in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 7–9 November 2025. The event is the first stop of the 2025–26 ISU Junior World Cup Short Track series and will see Barlow race in the Men’s 1000m(1) and 500m, taking on a stacked international field as the Junior World Cup season gets underway.

Barlow, a junior skater for Aldwych Speed Club in Guildford, represents Great Britain on the international junior circuit and has been steadily climbing the rankings over the past few seasons. He combines his training with full-time study and has spoken about his long-term ambition to compete at future Winter Olympic Games, making Astana an exciting early marker in his journey.

Earlier this year Barlow gained valuable experience on the world stage, racing across multiple distances at international junior events and contributing to strong relay performances for Great Britain. Coming into Astana he has set personal bests over both 500m and 1000m and will be looking to carry this form into the opening round of the World Cup season.

When Albie is racing in Astana

Racing at ISU Short Track Junior World Cup #1 runs across three days, with Barlow’s distances spread from Friday to Sunday. All UK times are shown in brackets .

Friday 7 November – Qualifying

• Men’s 1000m(1) heats – 10:18 local / 05:18 UK

• Men’s 500m heats – 13:28 local / 08:28 UK

  
  

Saturday 8 November – 1000m(1) finals day* (subject to qualification)

• 1000m(1) repechage quarter-finals – 11:00 local / 06:00 UK

• 1000m(1) repechage semi-finals – 11:51 local / 06:51 UK

• 1000m(1) ranking race – 12:12 local / 07:12 UK

• 1000m(1) quarter-finals – 14:50 local / 09:50 UK

• 1000m(1) semi-finals – 15:57 local / 10:57 UK

• 1000m(1) Final B then Final A – from 17:08 local / 12:08 UK

  
  

Sunday 9 November – 500m finals day* (subject to qualification)

• 500m repechage and ranking races – morning session (times TBC)

• Junior World Cup afternoon session – from 14:30 local / 09:30 UK, including 500m quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals.

  
  

*All times are provisional and subject to change as the competition progresses. Check the ISU event page and updated daily schedule closer to race time.

How to watch Albie Barlow

Short track fans will be able to follow Albie’s races live from the UK and around the world:

• Every session from Astana will be streamed live and free on the official Skating ISU YouTube channel. You can watch all of Albie’s races here: Skating ISU YouTube streams.

  
  

If you miss the live action, full replays are usually available on the same YouTube channel shortly after each session.

Follow the team

British Ice Skating will share updates, race reports and photos from Astana across our website and social media channels throughout the weekend.

Please join us in wishing Albie the very best of luck as they begin their ISU Junior World Cup campaign in Astana!