Regional competition skates into Sackville this weekend

SACKVILLE, N.B. - Six local skaters will compete in a major regional figure skating event that will feature over 150 competitors this weekend at Sackvilles civic centre.

The kids are pretty excitedwe havent hosted a competition here in over 10 years, says Kally Eleotrivaris, chair of the Spring Skate competition and the Sackville Skating Clubs past-president.

Figure skaters from Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Maine and Quebec will hit the ice starting Saturday morning, competing in events varying from the pre-preliminary level up to the senior level. Local figure skaters, competing in several events, include Maggie Estabrooks, Kristy Wry, Emily Jarvis, Gabrielle Giroux, Carly Cousins and Jonathan Legris-Bradet.

Theyre really comfortable with the ice surface here so theyll probably be a bit more at ease skating in this competition, says Eleotrivaris. Plus its in their hometown so theyre excited their friends and family are going to come watch.

Throughout the weekend, the 2007 Skate Canada New Brunswick Spring Skate Competition will feature single events, pair events, dance events, interpretive events as well as a special Olympics category.

The competition gets under way on Saturday at 9 a.m. and runs until 11 p.m. and goes again on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Eleotrivaris encourages everyone to come and watch the skaters in action at any time throughout the weekend. Daily admission is set at three dollars while a weekend pass is five dollars; children under 12 get in free.

The Spring Skate event is expected to bring in skaters, families and friends, coaches and officials to the town, which will ensure a busy weekend for area hotels, restaurants and local merchants.

This will be great exposure for the club and great exposure for the town and is also a great way to raise funds for the club, says Eleotrivaris, who anticipates the competition will bring in about $2,000 for the local skating club.

An organizing committee was set up last year after the Sackville Skating Club was awarded the competition, and the members of that committee have had plenty to do to prepare for the event.

This is a very volunteer-intensive activity so we have a committee with people involved in different areas, says Eleotrivaris, who is herself in charge of admissions and generally ensuring the weekend runs smoothly.

Tim and Karen Long have been in charge of the registration process, including organizing which skaters are registered for which events and ensuring all the forms have been filled out properly.

Janice Estabrooks and Maritza Farina are in charge of recruiting the ice captains, volunteers who will ensure the skaters are ready to go on the ice when theyre supposed to, either for practice sessions or for their solos.

Angela Mundle is in charge of hospitality services, such as booking the meals and accommodations for the judges and other officials. Andrea Cassidy is in charge of the medals, while Judy Crossman is in charge of lining up announcers for the various events.

Lori McKinnon has taken on the task of recruiting people to be timers during the competition and Tracey Carroll has been in charge of the programs.

Weve been asking the community to sponsor our competition by running ads in our program, says Eleotrivaris.

Celia Schneider will operate the boutique at the civic centre, which will sell gift items, trinkets and flowers for the skaters throughout the weekend.

Geoff Martin is treasurer of the skating club and has been making sure all the money orders have been submitted for the registrants and all expenses have been paid, as well as collecting sponsorship money from the advertisers.