Young skaters reaping rewards of PEAK practice

Three young skaters are looking forward to the 2019 season after topping the leaderboards in their respective categories.

The trio – all members of the Stirling New Figure Skating Club based at The PEAK – are 12-year-olds Libby Aitken and Robynne Hendrix and 13-year-old Monica Kerr.

The girls have been skating for a number of years having learned to skate on the NISA Skate UK programme, which is delivered at The PEAK, and they practice on and off the ice four to five days a week.

Hard work has seen Libby, coached by Fiona McGiff, become top scorer in Level 1; Robynne with coaches Rhiannon Scott and Rowena Mackessack-Leith, heads the rankings at Level 2, and Monica, mentored by Fiona McGiff and Gemma Chaddock, lead sthe way in Level 3.

The girls have set their goals for the year and will continue to practise with their coaches’guidance. They have each moved up to the next level of ability and difficulty for their upcoming competitions. Robynne said: “The lub is a great place to skate and we are lucky to have a lovely facility and wonderful coaches. The atmosphere at competitions is so exciting and the support from our club members is fantastic.”

And Libby said:“It has been great to see the hard work in practice pay off in competition.

“Our coaches put so much effort in to help us become better skaters and it’s great to achieve something for them and the club who are so supportive.”

Stirling New Figure Skating Club has 80 members and eight coaches with a large number of members taking part in competitions throughout the UK.

Many of them had success in 2018, ranging from moving up levels of skating ability, through achieving new personal best scores, and winning podium places in competitions.

For more details on the club log on to www. snsfc.org.uk.