ST. MARYS - The Pyramid Recreation Centre is the setting for the Western Ontario Boston Pizza Starskate championships and Adult Showcase here this weekend, Feb. 19-21.
Hosted by Interclub North Region, consisting of 13 skating clubs including Stratford and St. Marys, the town will see over 400 figure skaters, along with their coaches, trainers, friends and family members move into the area from Friday to Sunday. Named thus because Boston Pizza is a national sponsor of Skate Canada, this championship event is a qualifier for the provincials.
A total of 424 skaters from the Pre-Preliminary to Adult divisions will compete for the Gold in their respective categories during this three-day period. Categories include singles freeskate and interpretive, as well as pairs, dance, biathlon and triathlon.
Sue Fowler, chair of the local organizing committee, looks forward to the event with a sense of pride and anticipation.
“This is a big undertaking for our organizing committee and host clubs,” Fowler says. “It’s an opportunity to showcase our beautiful new Pyramid Centre, as well as bring a good number of people into our community during a time when visitors to our town are traditionally lower in numbers.”
Both ice pads in use
Both ice pads at the PRC will be utilized for the competition, as well as the full community centre hall and several rooms within the local seniors’ Friendship Centre.
Local competitors have been working diligently to train themselves for their skates, practicing hours each week in preparation for the intense battle for the podium. Skating in qualifying flights, the top three winners from each flight go on to skate at the provincial championships being held in Kingston, March 13-14.
Connie Gozzard, a member of the St. Marys Skating Club and a former 2008 provincial gold-medal winner in the Pre-preliminary category, sums up her outlook. “This is my third time going into Boston Pizza. I am nervous but very excited, especially seeing as it’s in St. Marys.”
Gozzard skates four days a week in both St. Marys and Plattsville, under the direction of coach Cindy Brick, who also coaches in both clubs.
Tickets can be purchased at the door each day of the event. Admission is $5 a person, with children five and under free. The skating runs Friday, Feb. 19 from 3:30-9:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 20 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and again Sunday, Feb. 21 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
More information can be obtained by calling Sue Fowler, competition chair, at 519-272-6961.
