ICE SKATING: CHESTER and Wirral skaters collected medals at the British Novice Championships at Nottingham.
Gold at the National Ice Centre went to ice dancers Jessica Potter, 13, of Wallasey, and Simon Pougher, 16, of Chester, who won the novice couples competition.
Proud mums Alison Pougher and Helen Potter said that after all the many hours of hard work they were delighted that their children had won gold. 'That was their goal for this year, after winning silver last year,' said a delighted Mrs Potter.
In the free skating, Bethany Hitchmough, 13, of Ellesmere Port, and her partner Alex Demetriou, 15, of Black-pool, scooped the silver medals in the novice pairs competition, after skating together for only three months.
The bronze medals, also in the novice pairs, were won by Jennie Reynolds, 12, of Woodbank, and her partner Ben McNulty, 14, of Connah's Quay.
Not only was this the first time that Deeside club free skaters have qualified for the British Pre-Novice and Novice Championships, but Deeside fielded nine skaters at the event.
The others were three young singles skaters in the ladies pre-novice championships, Ashley Waterhouse, 11, of Ellesmere Port, who was fifth, Daisy Lloyd-Hazlegreaves, eight, of Prenton, Wirral, who was seventh and Chloe Walker, nine, of Llanfairtalhaiarn, Conwy, who was eighth.
