Two skate wins for Nicky at national champs
‘‘The great thing about skating is people can compete at any age from tots to people in their middle age.’’
Nicky Cho, 12, shows her style. Nicky Cho loves roller skating.
A member of the Hamilton Roller Skating Club for about a year, she beat the competition at the New Zealand roller skating champs in Auckland to win the novice free skating and novice dance sections.
Coach Russelle Knaap said the weeklong champs attracted hundreds of competitors from all over New Zealand. Training was compressed this year after a decision by the sport’s national organising body to move the competition for- ward by three months, Knaap said.
‘‘This meant a number of our skaters faced the additional hurdle of being moved into higher and more difficult grades for the first time and with a short preparation period.
‘‘But the great thing about skating is people can compete at any age from tots to people in their middle age. It’s fun, challenging and people learn all sorts of other life skills on the way.’’
Nicky’s little sister Anita, 7, was placed second in the primary freestyle.
Dad Darren Cho said that the win was ‘‘excellent, a lot of enjoyment and hard work, a good effort’’.
Other Hamilton club members to place in the champs include David Whitters, who gained third placing in the men’s masters international ‘‘figures’’ discipline, while Neil Palmer and Kendra Gleeson came second in the masters international dance section.
However, the club faced disappointment when strong gold-medal prospect Tegan Gilliver broke her ankle three weeks before the competition.
The Hamilton Roller Skating Club runs public sessions from 10am to noon on Sundays from 7pm to 9pm on Thursdays. For further information call Pearl 8474527 or Kathy 855 2523.