Young artists are on a roll at club’s first competition
AROLLER skating club where skaters dance on the rink has held its first ever club competitions.
MAC Artistic Roller Skating, based at the MAC Multi-Activity Centre on Goodall Street in Macclesfield, began in March and earlier this month youngsters donned fancy dress to compete in the sport for the first time, taking part in Glide Waltz and Freestyle dance contests.
The club’s head coach Caroline Harper competed in regional and national competitions as a child and her passion for roller dance led her to approach Andy Brooks, who runs MAC Activity, with the idea of offering artistic skating sessions.
She said: “Artistic roller skating tends to go under the radar a bit, with ice skating generally taking the limelight, but artistic roller skating is a thriving sport in this country and worldwide. MAC Artistic Roller Skating’ is, to my knowledge, the first club of this type in the Macclesfield area.
“The competition went fantastically well and was a really enjoyable event for the skaters and their families. Every single skater skated brilliantly and gave their best performances and they all put a lot of time and effort into creating their routines, practising and preparing their costumes. Considering none of them had done any artistic skating until we began the lessons at the MAC, and some had never even skated until this year, they all did really well.”
Competitors who took part were Joelle McGann, Oliver Gotts, Emma Meehan, Elodie Hawarth, Erin Luther, Thomas Harper, Evie Brooks, Emma White, Aiden Brooks and Flavie Gordobil.
Thomas Harper scooped the Junior Glode Waltz trophy, with Evie Brooks winning the Senior Glide Waltz, Emma White the winner of the Junior Freestyle and Aiden Brooks awarded the Senior Freestyle trophy.
Flavie Gordobil was awarded Star Skater on the night.
The club runs two lessons every Tuesday evening during term time from 6pm to 6.50pm where skaters work towards earning Federation of Artistic Roller Skating (FARS) grade badges.
Caroline is also planning to add a third club session in September.