Former IW skater Charlotte Aiken and her ice dance partner Josh Whidborne have been chosen to be part of the Olympic Ambition programme. They are joined by 2011 British junior champion Katie Powell and coaches David Hartley and John Dunn.

The programme aims to give young talented athletes the chance to experience the Olympic Games environment first hand and prepare them for competition at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Participants will have access to Team GB’s preparation camp at Loughborough University, the Olympic village in London as well as being able to watch two competitions and tour around Team GB House in Westfield Stratford City.

Charlotte and Josh were British junior ice dance champions for 2009/2010 and 2010/2011. Originally based at Deeside, they moved to Madrid in Spain to train with John Dunn: this year they moved back to the UK to train with him at Lee Valley, London. Charlotte learned to skate on the Isle of Wight, and although she later moved to Guildford where she focused on ice dance, she often returned to perform in Christmas shows at Ryde rink. Charlotte was British solo ice dance champion in 2007 before she teamed up with Josh.

iowskaters.com hopes to see Charlotte and Josh begin an assault on the British senior ice dance title this year.

NISA link: www.iceskating.org.uk/node/5514

Charlotte & Josh’s site: www.aiken-whidborne.ice-dance.com