Pictured above: Kelly Hemingway and Neil Chilcott
Former Olympic skater Kelly Hemingway, top coach Neil Chilcott
and rising stars of the ice, are preparing to wow Lincoln skating
fans.
They are promising to stage a dazzling performance to mark the
exciting return of the ice rink, which opens in City Square on
November 25 at 5.30pm
News follows hot on the heels of organiser Lincoln BIG revealing
that more than 2,000 local youngsters have already been
signed-up to take part in special skating sessions on the
attraction.
The guest performers all train at the National Ice Centre in
Nottingham, where Mr Chilcott - who coached competitors in the
Vancouver Winter Olympics, as well as skaters on the Dancing on Ice
show - is based.
Maxine Yu, Frankie Sirkett and Joshua Brown all represent Great
Britain and are members of the Regional Development Pathway Team
(RDPT). The RDPT is the National Ice Skating Association's gateway
into the National Squad, because of the way it identifies
up-and-coming talent.
They are appearing in Lincoln just hours after taking part in
the British National Ice Skating Championships in Sheffield, which
is the biggest event in the British skating
calendar.
Other RDPT members,Beth Whiteman, Elizabeth Bayliss, Lauren
Atkinson and Rose Happe have also competed abroad for Great Britain
in the International Judging System and Eleanor Hayes is one of the
youngest members of the development team.
Skating fans will also be able to see Evie Upton, Madeline
Vickers and Abigale Wagstaff - all relative newcomers to the sport,
although they have collected several medals at events around the
country and been earmarked as talented skaters for the
future.
Kelly said: "Joshua Brown and I both live in Lincoln, but we are
all thrilled about having the opportunity to help celebrate the
launch of the ice rink.
"Hopefully the young skaters will inspire other aspiring ice
lovers to have a go and thoroughly enjoy themselves, or even
encourage them to get more seriously into this sport."
This year it is hoped that the Ice Rink - which will be open
until January 2 - will attract many more individuals, families,
schools' parties and business groups, looking to take part in fun
sessions with their colleagues.
Children should also look out for a special posse of six
penguins on skies! This year Lincoln BIG has rounded-up a
clutch of the colourful skating aids, which children can hold onto
to help them to stay upright on the ice.
Lincoln Ice Rink is partly funded by the European Regional
Development Fund.