YOUNG members of the Isle of Wight Ice Dance and Figure Skating Club ended the synchronised skating season with their heads held high with great performances at the recent Sheffield Steel City Synchronised Skating Trophy.

The second annual event, an international competition, saw the Isle of Wight enter a trio of teams.

Competition was very tough, with 71 teams entered from as far afield as Russia, Australia and Europe, as well as from across the UK.

Isle of Wight County Press: The Wight Sparkles, who have had one of their best seasons ever, won silver in Sheffield.The Wight Sparkles, who have had one of their best seasons ever, won silver in Sheffield.

The Wight Crystals were first to compete — up against ten other mixed age teams from the UK, Germany, Norway, Belgium and Sweden.

They had a solid skate, despite having been forced into making a couple of team changes since the recent Trophy D’Ecosse in Dumfries, achieving a highly respectable 32.65 in a very tough category.

This season, the Crystals have skated to their full potential, gaining a personal best score of 42.79 at the Trophy D’ Ecosse — an amazing achievement considering their unique training schedule which takes them off the Isle of Wight.

Isle of Wight County Press: The Wight Crystals performed well in a very tough category at the the 2020 Steel City Synchronised Skating Championships, held in Sheffield recently.The Wight Crystals performed well in a very tough category at the the 2020 Steel City Synchronised Skating Championships, held in Sheffield recently.

The Isle of Wight’s youngest team, the Wight Sequins, skated in the pre-juvenile category.

The Sequins have gone from strength to strength this season.

Having started in November with nine points at their first competition, they went on to achieve a decent personal best of 20.24 in Dumfries.

Although they did not match the PB in Sheffield, they did win bronze with a score of 18.78 — adding to their other bronze and silver medal this season.

The Wight Sparkles, competing in the basic novice category, have had one of their best seasons ever — winning a medal at every competition they competed in.

They had another amazing skate in Sheffield, scoring 29.55 to take silver — just beaten by the Dutch team.

The Island’s coach, Terri Smith, said: “It was an amazing achievement, considering the Sparkles and the Crystals share one hour of ice time on a Sunday morning, making it much harder to do all the training required to be successful.

“I am so proud of all of our skaters. Not only are their results impressive, but the dedication and commitment the skaters and their parents show to their teams is amazing and unwavering.

“We have had a great season and I look forward to seeing what next season brings, with new programmes and costumes.

“Thank you to Wightlink for their continued support — helping Isle of Wight skaters travel to Gosport — and to everyone else who has helped us to keep skating against the odds.”