Figure skaters from across the province put on quite a show at last week’s Jingle Blades competition – with local competitors leading the way.
The White Rock-South Surrey Skating Club – which hosted the 20th annual event at Centennial Arena – had eight skaters finish on the podium at the three-day competition, which wrapped up Sunday.
Gold-medal winners included Samantha Ellis, in the junior silver ladies division; Hannah Phillips, who was first in the silver interpretative competition; Catherine Cox, in the Star 5 Girls 13-and-over group; and Laura Seyler, who won twice – in the introductory interpretative and Star 4 Girls 13-and-over divisions.
Three skaters from the host club picked up silver medals, and no performance was more impressive than that of Annika Ferronato, who fought through an injury earlier in her program to capture a silver medal – despite having received five stitches in her chin.
Other silver medallists from WRSSSC were Isabella Arney, in the Star 4 Girls 13-and-under Group 2; and Maria Maskall, in silver interpretive.
Rounding out the medal haul was Sydney Ellis, who won a bronze medal in the senior bronze women’s competition.
Nearly 500 skaters from 31 clubs took part in the event.
For most members of the White Rock-South Surrey club, the next big meet on the competitive calendar is Feb. 5 at Sungod Arena in North Delta, where the skaters will attempt to accumulate points in the Pond to Podium Super Series rankings.
Top skaters in the series qualify for the Super Series StarSkate which takes place in Kelowna on March 6.