IW junior synchronized skating team the Wight Jewels were first to skate in the free programme, with a deficit of 0.98 to make up after the short. A potentially unsettling change to the routine after the official practice, however, was successfully accomplished, and the Jewels scored 48.86. Their overall total of 70.65 left the IW supporters camp on tenterhooks as Nottingham Icicles prepared to take to the ice.

Technical problems with the software, however, delayed the start of the Icicles’ free programme. None the less, the team continued to demonstrate the improvements they have made since Deeside, turning in a polished and error-free programme that earned a score of 46.00. Their overall total of 68.77, while not quite enough to end the Jewels’ reign as junior champions, promises some thrillingly close contests between the two teams in future.

Wight Jewels have now won the junior title at the British championships four years in a row.

The British championships continue all week in Sheffield, but no other current IW skaters are involved.

The championships are being broadcast live through NISA TV, access to which can be bought at: http://nisastore.org.uk/nisatv/media/226-28/Full_Event

Official results: http://www.johnds.org/British-11_12/

NISA link: http://www.iceskating.org.uk/node/4058