While many sports are winding up for the year, the same can’t be said for the Penrith Valley Figure Skating Club, which is going from strength to strength as the year draws to a close.
Not only did members from the club sweep the pool at the recent Australian Masters Games in Adelaide but five of their skaters have received invitations to attend next month’s Australian Figure Skating Championships in Victoria.
Following outstanding performances at last month’s NSW State Championships in Canterbury, five local skaters received invites to represent Penrith Valley and their state on the big stage.
Sisters Rachel Fiutowski and Stephanie Fiutowski have been invited to compete in the Intermediate Division; Simone Aubrecht has been invited to participate in the Junior Ladies Division; Sharon Straub has been invited to strut her stuff in the Adult Silver Division; and, although she won’t be attending, Melinda Kennedy was invited to compete in the Adult Gold Division.
Penrith Valley Figure Skating Club Committee Member Nicole D’Costa said the club was thrilled with the amount of skaters chosen to compete at Nationals.
“It’s a tough competition but we all expect them to do extremely well,” she told the Weekender.
“We wish them the best of luck and we are proud of them to get to this point.”
Meanwhile, the local club is toasting the success of five of its skaters who recently competed at the XVII Australian Masters Games in Adelaide.
In the Technical program, Louise Grayson won the Copper Ladies 50 years and over event; Luciana Macedo finished first in the Bronze Ladies 30-49 years event; Melissa Pfitzner came first in the Silver Ladies 18-29 years event; and Sharon Straub placed second in the Sliver Ladies 50 years and over event.
In the Artistic program, Grayson took out the Artistic Copper Ladies 50 years and over event and finished second alongside Bryan Grayson in the Artistic Adult Pair event; Macedo won the Artistic Ladies 30-49 years event; Pfitzner came first in the Artistic Ladies 18-29 years event; and Straub won the Artistic Silver 50+ event.
It’s only the second time figure skating has featured at an Australian Masters Games, which is a national competition for mature age athletes.
“The club was very proud of all the skaters that participated, they all did a wonderful job not only representing Penrith Valley but the rest of New South Wales,” D’Costa said.
Nathan Taylor
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.