After just one week of training back at home and with a smaller team, five artistic skaters returned to Breydon Arena in Great Yarmouth for the Spring Figure and Free National Competition. This event serves as an important precursor to the British Championships, providing athletes with the opportunity to test their skills and gain valuable experience ahead of the prestigious competition in July.
The competition saw several standout performances, with notable achievements and promising results for the skaters, despite the challenges posed by moving up an age group. Here’s a breakdown of how the skaters fared:
Mini Ladies Figures: A Tough Challenge, But Hopeful Results
Amy, Bethany, and Esme all competed in the Mini Ladies Figures category. Having moved up an age group from the previous year, the trio faced a significant increase in difficulty. The judges’ marks reflected this tougher challenge, but the results look promising for the upcoming British Championships.
– Bethany demonstrated impressive consistency and earned a respectable 4th place.
– Esme, also moving up an age group, placed 5th, showcasing her ability to handle the increased difficulty.
– Amy, who performed admirably, finished in 7th, but the experience will only help her grow stronger for the future.
Although the scores were slightly impacted by the higher difficulty level, all three skaters showed potential, with their placements indicating a solid foundation as they look ahead to the British Championships.
Mini Ladies Free: Esme Shines with Personal Best
In the Mini Ladies Free event, Esme excelled, achieving a personal best score. Despite this fantastic achievement, there is still room for improvement, giving Esme something to strive for ahead of the British Championships. She finished in 10th place, and with continued progress, there’s much to look forward to in the coming months.
Youth Ladies: Kirsty Shines Despite Challenges
Kirsty, who also moved up an age group, competed in both the Youth Ladies Figures and Free events. The turnout for this age group was lower than expected, with some skaters choosing not to compete but planning to appear later in the year. Kirsty put out some solid practices in the Free event but couldn’t quite replicate that success in competition, preventing her from achieving a personal best score. However, she still earned a well-deserved 2nd place in the Free event.
In the Figures category, Kirsty was more consistent, and her efforts were rewarded with another 2nd place finish, mirroring her Free event result. The top two places were the same in both disciplines for Youth Ladies, with one of Kirsty’s friends from another club taking first in both events. Kirsty’s results are a strong indicator of her potential heading into the British Championships.
Junior Ladies: Sophie P’s Strong Performance
Sophie P, competing in the Junior Ladies category, gave a confident performance and achieved her highest marks to date. While the reigning Junior British champion was absent from the competition, Sophie’s performance stood out, earning her a well-deserved 2nd place. This result bodes well for her as she looks to defend her title in the upcoming British Championships in July.
Looking Ahead: Focus on Improvement for British Championships
Overall, the competition was an invaluable learning experience for all five skaters. While they encountered challenges, the results were promising, and the team has a clear understanding of what they need to work on over the next few months. With the British Championships fast approaching in July, there is plenty of time to fine-tune their skills and performances.
The dedication and hard work displayed at Breydon Arena have set the stage for an exciting lead-up to the national competition. With the lessons learned and the strong foundations they’ve built, we are confident that these athletes will continue to improve and achieve even greater success in the coming months.