More than 40 talented ice skaters competed at the Alexandra Ice Skating Club (AISC) championships during a beautiful winter morning on Sunday July 9.

Competitors came from AISC, Dunedin Ice Skating Club, Queenstown Ice Skating Club, Ice Sports Southland - Gore Ice Rink, and Centaurus Ice Skating Club (Christchurch). 

Two AISC members - Layla Golden and Bridey Sangster - have qualified for nationals to be held in Dunedin in September.

AISC club president Jon Foote said the weather gods played well for the club and he was very happy with how the event went. 

“There is a resurgence happening [in skating], and we’re seeing a lot of positivity… members are moving up into more advanced areas.”

Local competitive skater Arleigha (Arley) Blissett (12) said figure skating is a great sport to give a go.

“If you enjoy it you can keep going and get better as time goes on.

Arley Blissett won her category and a raffle prize

“Being in a club allows you to make awesome friendships for life. The older skaters tend to help out the younger skaters if they need it.”

Caitlin Ellett of AISC on the ice on Sunday

AISC has approximately 18 competitive skaters aged between seven and 18 years old. They are coached by Tash Woodacre (18) who also skates at a national level.  

Jon said he appreciates the work of the club committee who “put in a heap of hours” along with the other club members and volunteers who got involved, the testing competition secretary, and the judges (some of whom travelled for the event).

Fundraising raffle tickets were for sale and five baskets of goodies went to winners at the prizegiving. 

AISC thanked local businesses and members for their support including: Post Office Cafe & Bar, Clyde, Radiance Skin & Day Spa, New World Alexandra, Zain-Star Lashes, Olivers Restaurant Clyde, Four Square Clyde, Unichem Alexandra Pharmacy, Paper Plus Alexandra, Alexandra Chiropractic. and Shane Nyhon Fishing Ltd.

The AISC has been operating for more than 50 years, and moved from the Manorburn Dam to Ice Inline in 1993.

Club champs day dawns at Alexandra’s Ice Inline

It was the second competition of the season for Central skaters, following the Ice Sports Southland Club Championships held in Gore on June 25. 

Next up for Central’s skaters are the Dunedin Ice Skating Club (DISC) Championships (July 15-16) and the Otago Southland Champs in Gore the following weekend (July 22-23).

Figure skating is a minority sport in New Zealand with approximately 300 people across the motu (country) competing in singles, pairs, ice dancing and synchronised skating.

Are you into a lesser known sport? Let our news team know about it, email: [email protected]