Sheffield skaters set for World Championships

Sheffield skaters Katie Powell and Lawrence Evans have been selected as part of the GB squad for the World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2010.

Katie and Lawrence, who train at iceSheffield, are included in the National Ice Skating Association (NISA) team for the prestigious event, which takes place in The Hague, from 7 – 14 March 2010.

Ladies skater Katie, who competed at the Youth Olympics in 2009, and Lawrence, who competes in the Men category, are both in the reserve squad for the Championships.

Peter Morrissey, ice development manager at iceSheffield, which is operated by Sheffield International Venues (SIV), said: “It is a fantastic achievement for Katie and Lawrence to be included in the GB squad for this prestigious event. We are extremely proud of them both and it will be wonderful to see them flying the iceSheffield flag.”

Amongst the other skaters competing for titles will be British Junior Ladies Champion Charlotte Robbins, who lives and skates in the USA and Bradford’s Harry Mattick, who won junior gold at the British Ice Figure Skating Championships at iceSheffield in November 2009

British Junior Pairs Champions Catherine Clement and James Hunt, from Chelmsford, and British Junior Ice Dance Champions Charlotte Aiken and Josh Whidborne, from Deeside, make up the main GB squad.

Keith Horton, chief executive of NISA, the national governing body responsible for the development of the sport throughout Great Britain and Northern Ireland, said: “Congratulations to all the skaters selected to compete at this prestigious event.

“We have some excellent youngsters coming through the ranks and this will be a great opportunity for the skaters to test themselves against the best in the world and gain valuable major event experience.”