Natasha sixth in the Netherlands

Dundee figure skater Natasha Mckay finished sixth in her last event before next month’s World Championships.

Competing at the Challenge Cup in the Netherlands, the two-time British champion earned a personal best in the short programme, finishing that segment in fourth.

Natasha, 23, then dropped two places after the free programme.

In the mens’ event, Conor Stakelum, 24, also achieved a personal best short programme score and finished 12th overall.

The Dundee-based skater will head to his last event of the season, the Irish Figure Skating Championships, in the second week of March.

Coach Simon Briggs said: “Natasha has shown once again that she is able to compete with the very best skaters in the world, and place high at International events.

“She is as prepared and ready as she needs to be at this point in the season. We will now continue put in final preparations ahead of the World Championships in late March.

“We are also pleased with the skates that Conor put down at this event. A PB in the short program and overall is another positive step forward. He is ready to compete at the Irish Figure Skating Championships in a few weeks’ time which will be his final event of the season.

“After that we will concentrate on new programmes, training camps and working towards the new international season after the summer.”