The 2013 Trophy D’Ecosse synchronized skating competition, organized by Sk8Scotland, takes place on 15 to 17 March at Dumfries Ice Bowl. Three IW synchronized skating teams will be taking part: Wight Jewels, Wight Crystals and Wight Sparkles.
For the Jewels it will be the last competitive outing for a number of team members at junior level, as age restrictions will require a number to retire, and others will being going on to further education. It’s also the end of a generation of synchronized skaters as the last three remaining skaters from the IW’s first synchro team, Wight Diamonds, formed in 2005, bow out. The Jewels will face only Dumfries team, Solway Stars.
Unfortunately, this ISU event has yet again attracted few teams from abroad, perhaps because it falls a week after the Junior World championships in Helsinki, the pinnacle of the junior team skating year. Zagreb Snowflakes this weekend in Croatia was similarly underwhelmed by prime representatives from the top countries at junior level.
The Crystals, skating at basic novice level, are in a class of their own, but will be skating to build their competitive experience. With team numbers tight, they will be hoping further injuries don’t affect their ability to compete. For this category at the Trophy D’Ecosse they must field a team of 16 skaters.
Advanced novice has attracted two teams in addition to locals Solway Eclipse, with Team Berlin from Germany and Team Silhouette from Cape Town, South Africa. The only other international presence is Dutch team Duke Town Twinkle Stars in the Intermediate 2 category.
Wight Sparkles compete at elementary level against four other UK teams: Fusion from Bracknell, Solway Lighting from Dumfries, Dominos from Birmingham and Starlight Blizzard from Stirling.
Up at senior level, UK teams Spirit from Cardiff (ex-Bristol) and Zariba from Aberdeen meet for the first time since last November’s British championships. Team Spirit scored 53.29 at Zagreb Snowflakes this weekend (57.21 at the British); British champions Zariba scored 64.57 at the 2012 French Masters in Compiegne (73.89 at the British).
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