The Williams Lake Skating Club played host to 15 figure skating clubs from around the province over the weekend for the Cariboo North Central Regional Championships.
From Williams Lake, 12 skaters competed at the competition, with events ranging from individual solo performances, to elements (skills), to pairs skates.
Joanne Macnair, head coach of the WLSC, said she was extremely pleased with how everyone skated, and added it was an exceptional weekend for the club, who was hosting the regional championships for the first time in the event’s existence.
“We had a great weekend of skating,” Macnair said. “Great performances by all the girls and I’m very pleased with my five intermediate girls who were either just first- or second-time competitors.They’re confident, they’re skating well, and that’s tough when you’re new because there’s a lot of pressure out there.”
Those skaters — Ryanne Jones, Annaliese Hunter-Owega, Jessabelle Atkinson Trelenberg, Emma Penner and Georgia Jacobson — each medalled in their respective divisions.
Penner and Jones skated to silver medals in the Star 1 division, while Atkinson Trelenberg and Jacobson each won bronze medals in Star 2. Hunter-Owega, meanwhile, won a silver medal in star two, and a gold medal in elements. The WLSC’s Rebecca Fraser (bronze, Star 2), Kailey Champagne (silver, Star 2) and Nathalie Sylvain (star 3, bronze; elements, fourth) also medalled at the event. The club’s senior skaters — Alanna Walters, Jade Johnson, Amanda Lane and Dawn Henley — were also successful.
Walters picked up a silver medal in Star 5, a silver medal in Pre-Intro Interpretive and a fourth-place result in elements. Johnson added a gold medal and a silver medal in Star 5 and elements, respectively.
In Pre-Juvenile Silver Lane skated to a silver medal, while also taking a gold medal in elements. Henley won gold medals in both the Pre-Novice and elements divisions.
Macnair added the volunteer support for the event was tremendous as the competition ran in both rinks all day Saturday and all morning Sunday at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex.
“Thanks to all the parents and volunteers from past and present who put in many hours to make a very successful weekend,” Macnair said.