EK quartet in British development squad
Youngsters meet stricter criteria to qualify forTeam GB
Four youngsters from East Kilbride Ice Figure Skating Club will fly the flag for Great Britain this season after qualifying for the national development squad.
Lia Wilson and Sarah Tunnicliffe are joined by Taylor McLeod and her younger sister Isla in the team for the 2018/19 campaign and their qualification is made all the more impressive after NISA, the National Ice Skating Association, introduced stricter criteria to become part of Team GB.
Recent rule changes required skaters to gain higher scores and perform more difficult jumps, spins and steps than before – but the EK quartet passed with flying colours.
Club coaches Yvonne and Silvanna Cameron said: “We are extremely proud of the girls for qualifying this year under the tighter regulations.
“All four girls have performed really well, showing great promise and working extremely hard.”
Taylor, at 14-years-old, is the oldest and longest serving member of the club in the squad. She is entering her seventh consecutive season and has also qualified for he UK Talent Potential Squad for the second year.
She competes at Advanced Novice and has competed internationally five times for her club and country all over Europe.
Sister Isla qualified for the development squad for the first time last year and has retained her place for another year.
Isla has been very successful from beginner to Basic Novice with a total of nine podiums over different levels.
Eleven-year-old Sarah has been in the squad for the last four years and is currently concentrating on the upandcoming British Championships.
This will be the level six, basic novice competitor’s third British Championships, where she is looking to improve on her score from last year and hopefully gain a top 10 national ranking.
Finally, nine-year-old Lia is making her second appearance in the squad.
She was selected for the Young Stars Squad in 2017/18, which is a new initiative by NISA to identify and nurture developing talent.
Two months into this she was selected to move to the GB squad and she has kept her spot for this season.
Lia, a level five skater at basic novice, has won medals 24 times for EK with 15 first places.
An exciting season now awaits for all four.