Success for Great Britain ice skaters

Feb 7 2008 Submitted by Paul Iveson

THE Great Britain Short Track team - including skaters based in Solihull - recorded their best ever results at last weekend's ISU Short Track European Championships held in Ventspils, Latvia.

Jon Eley achieved gold in the Men's 500m sprint beating last year's champion Nicola Rodigari of Italy into second place.

Jon then went on to join the men's relay team (5000m) along with Tom Iveson, Paul Stanley, Paul Worth and Anthony Douglas to achieve a Silver medal. They were just pipped at the finish line by Italy who took the gold with France coming third.

However, and not to be outdone the women's relay team (3000m) consisting of Elise Christie, Sarah Lindsay, Alex Whelbourne, Charlotte Gilmartin and Joanna Williams won the gold medal ahead of Bulgaria and Germany.

The GB Short Track squad are coached by Stuart Horsepool and Nicky Gooch at The National Training Centre in Nottingham and congratulations must go to not only the successful athletes but also the other squad members and support team of medics, Physios, Physiologist, Squad Doctors etc.

The team are now well placed and in excellent frame of mind ahead of their travels to Canada and America where they will compete in the next two rounds of the World Cups ahead of the World Championships which this year will take place in Korea, from March 7-9.

Paul Stanley, Tom Iveson, Jon Eley and Charlotte Gilmartin are all members of The Mohawks Ice Racing Club based at the Blue Ice Solihull Rink.

For further information on Short Track Speed Skating in Solihull contact Jean Iveson at mohawksirc@blueyonder.co.uk.

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