Close to 100 skaters from the East and West Kootenays hit the ice in Fruitvale last week as the Beaver Valley Skating Club (BVSC) hosted the 2016 Kootenay Region Championships.
“With 96 registered skaters competing from the Kootenays, the event was a huge success,” said event chair Mandy Paulsen.
For the third year in a row, the BVSC took home the Barclay Trophy that goes to the team with the most points, while the Rossland Skating Club captured the award for the Most Sportsmanlike Club.
“They (Rossland Skating Club) had a lot of fun cheering on all the skaters, especially during the elements competition,” said Paulsen. “The pompoms and shakers were even out.”
Local mealists include: Claire Sibbald from BVSC captured gold in Star 5 Freeskate, while in the Sr. Bronze Ladies Freeskate, BVSC’s skaters swept the category with Brenna Paulsen winning gold, Yvonne Gregory silver and Taryn Verhelst bronze. Serena Deadmarsh claimed silver in the Jr. Silver Ladies Freeskate.
In Gold Interpretive Verhelst topped the podium, while in Bronze interpretive, Brenna Paulsen won her second gold, while BVSC’s Jillian Leslie placed third.
In Star 3 Solo Dance B.V.’s Jasmine Needham placed second, and Isabella Louwe came third.
In Gold Solo Dance Verhelst won gold, and Breanna Tomilin silver. In Sr. Silver Solo Dance, Paulsen claimed another gold, Gregory captured silver and Rossland’s Erin Flood gold, while in the Sr. Bronze Solo Dance Brian Chan of Rossland came first, Leslie of BVSC second and Flood third.
In the Jr. Bronze Solo Dance category Rossland’s Elle Bellendine took home gold, and Bree Fitzpatrick from BVSC claimed silver.
Jillian Leslie took first place in Intro Elements Group 1, with Fitzpatrick coming second, and Aiko Kreuzer of BVSC third. In Intro Elements Group 2, Rossland’s Morgan Corkill captured gold, while Chan claimed bronze in Intro Elements Group 3.
Paulsen claimed first place in Elements 2, with Sibbald placing third, and in the Elements 3 category Verhelst won bronze.
“The Beaver Valley Skating Club would like to thank the many local sponsors and volunteers that made the event possible,” said Mandy Paulsen. “Congratulations to all the skaters who competed over the weekend. The West Kootenays are well represented.”
Qualifying skaters will compete at the Super Series Final in Kelowna March 4-6.