Solway Sk8ing Club – Report by Russell Stuart, ANCBC Vice-Chair

In September 2019, Solway Sk8ing Club received a grant of £5,000 from ANCBC towards the costs of sending four synchronised skating teams to participate in the British Championships Britannia Cup in Nottingham in January 2020.

A few weeks after the Championships, as a representative of the ANCBC Board, I was invited to attend an international synchronised ice-skating competition at the Dumfries Ice Bowl on Saturday 8th February 2020. I was able to see the Solway Sk8ers in action at their home competition, meet some of the team and listen to their feedback.
I was introduced to the team captains of each grade who each reported on their successes and importance of their attending the Britannia Cup earlier this year. All the young athletes acknowledged the importance and benefit of receiving the ANCBC grant to help them attend the meeting to represent their sport, their club and their region. Indeed, they had a very successful meeting in Nottingham with three of their teams winning UK gold medals.

The gathering at Dumfries Ice Bowl comprised of 40 international teams of 16 skaters plus their supporters over two days. The success of the Solway Sk8ing Club and the prestige of holding international competitions in Dumfries augments the economy building capacity in the local area and promotes sport, health and well-being of young people in our communities, thereby fitting in well with the aims of ANCBC.

I thoroughly enjoyed my day at the competition and wish to thank Lindsay Henderson and her colleagues for the invitation, hospitality, and opportunity to meet their dedicated club members.