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MEDLEY OF MEDALS FOR SKATERS

Friday, November 23, 2007
MEDLEY OF MEDALS FOR SKATERS
The medal-winning figure skaters at Planet Ice, from left, front, Nikita Heathfield, nine, Archie Bicknell, 11, and Jemma Southwell, nine; back, Gemma Marsh, 13, Maggie Read, 12, and Gemma Fishel, 12. Picture by Jennifer Burton.
Sport/Figure skating
ISLAND figure skaters enjoyed another successful week, taking six podium places at the Kent Opens in Gillingham and two in Oxford.
Jemma Southwell collected her first mainland free skating medal, achieving a bronze in the group for beginner girls aged nine and ten. Nikita Heathfield, competing for the first time at level one, took silver in the competition for girls aged nine and under.
Maggie Read, who has just moved up two classes, collected double silver medals, coming second in the Pauline Wood Trophy for Level 2 girls and in the Joanna Conway Artistic Cup.
Also competing at a new level this season was Gemma Fishel, who collected a bronze medal at Level 4. Gemma Marsh also won bronze at Level 6 with her new programme.
Tia Daley and Kirsty Atter finished in creditable fourth places, and Lucy Burns in fifth, completing a rewarding day for all Island skaters at Gillingham.
Archie Bicknell won at Level 4 in Oxford, another island skater to compete at a higher level with excellent marks. Maggie Read gained her third medal in one week, collecting bronze in Oxford in the Level 2 girls’ competition.
“I am very proud of all my skaters,” said head coach Terri Fleming. “Many of them have just moved on to compete at higher levels yet they continued to win medals and perform to a high standard. They are all working very hard.
“Although the free-skating season has come to an end, rehearsals for our annual Christmas show are under way and British Synchronized Championships are around the corner. So that means more rehearsals and practices at weekends, before and after school. Practice makes perfect.”