A whopping 14 skaters have done the Penrith Valley Figure Skating Club proud after competing at the recent NSW Figure Skating Championships.
Skaters from across the state converged on Erina Ice Arena in late September to compete at the highly anticipated competition, which was held at the Central Coast venue for the first time.
The team from Penrith Valley picked up four podium finishes including two gold, one silver and one bronze medal. Three skaters picked up fourth place finishes, in what was one of the club’s best State Championships weekends in years.
Melinda Kennedy, who also coaches with the club, was crowned champion of the Gold Ladies division, while Crystal Hook finished first in the Intermediate Ladies category.
In the Advance Novice division, local teenager Simone Aubrecht came second in the short program and fourth overall, while Year 6 Penrith Anglican College student Seona Thornton finished third in the Preliminary division.
Hannah Kemp Burrows and Makaela Purdy also put on a spectacular show, finishing fourth in the Elementary and Intermediate Ladies division respectively.
Penrith Valley Figure Skating Club President, Natalie Quinn, said she was immensely proud of her team.
“We were really confident heading into the competition and everyone was really pleased with their results,” she said.
In further good news for the club, Kennedy, Aubrecht, Purdy and Hook will all represent their state at the Australian Figure Skating Championships in December at the Macquarie Ice Rink.
“We’ve done really well at Nationals in the past, and have high hopes Melinda will take out gold at Nationals as well,” Quinn said.
Also performing exceptionally well at the recent State Championships were the Southern Sky Synchronised Skating Team, who have been based at Penrith Ice Palace since 2017.
Teams finished first and fourth in the Basic Novice division, while the Advance Novice and Junior teams finished second. The Mixed Aged team finished third.
Meanwhile, local figure skating lovers will have the chance to witness some of Penrith’s and Sydney’s best skaters at this Sunday’s Penrith Valley Figure Skating Club 2018 Showcase.
Held at Penrith Ice Palace from 6.15pm, skaters from all divisions and ages will perform routines.
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender’s Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.
