Artistic skaters on medal-winning roll

ALL SMILES:  The successful Whanganui artistic skaters after their medal haul at the Laurie Hastie Open Day in Palmerston North.
Photo / Supplied

The artistic skaters of Wanganui Roller Sports Inc came back with 22 medals from the Laurie Hastie Open Day in Palmerston North at the weekend.

The two day competition at the Pascal St Stadium incorporated both Speed and Artistic Skating disciplines.

Whanganui skaters competed in various grades over four different categories – Figures, Free Skate, Free Dance, and Solo Dance.

Club secretary Stephanie Rush said their final medal haul was six golds, seven silver and nine bronze medals.

"A fitting reward for the lengthy hours of training put in by all the girls and their coach Hannah Smith" (former student).

Callista Booth-Richards (WHS student) took gold in both the Preliminary Figures and Preliminary Solo Dance.

Emma Fawthorpe won gold in Preliminary Freeskate, and claimed silver in both Preliminary Figures and Preliminary Freedance.

Pippa McKee got the gold in Primary Freeskate and two bronze medals in Primary Figures and Solo Dance respectively.

Sophia Nevil earned the gold in Novice 2 Solo Dance, along with two bronze in Novice2 Figures and Novice Freeskate.

Teani-Jean Francis won gold in Novice1 Figures and also a bronze in Primary Freeskate 
Rush said this was the team's first competition for the year, as they are building towards competing at the NZ Artistic National Championships, held at Whanganui's Jubilee Stadium from July 16-21.

Next up is the Upper Hutt Open Day on March 23-25, followed by the Central Area Championships on April 20-22.

By Staff Reporter
Wanganui Chronicle 16/3/18