Artistic styles skating all in synch

     Over 100 teams compete at the Bill Phillips Memorial Synchronized Skating

     Invitational the opening event of the Skate Ontario season

    Sunday, December 9, 2018

By Rob J. Ross 

DORCHESTER - Over 100 teams were on ice for the first event of the 2018-19 Skate Ontario synchronized skating season.

The North Dorchester Skating Club along with the London Skating Club hosted the Bill Phillips Memorial Invitational, at the Flight Exec Centre.

Over 2000 skaters traveled from as far away as Kincardine, Trenton, Peterborough and the province of Quebec, to compete in 10 divisions.

"The North Dorchester Skating Club's goal has been to promote the sport of synchronized skating and I believe this has been quite successful over this past weekend. I have had so many spectators say that they did not know what Synchro was all about and they are now a fan," NDSC president Tracey Robblee said. "The energy, enthusiasm and excitement from the teams created a buzz in our small community. It was so exciting to be a part of such as sport. Placing the medals on the competitors was also a highlight for me.

Complete results

Robblee estimates 3000 spectators attended the three day event, held in Dorchester for the first time.

"Hopefully this competition will help to promote our local skating clubs," said Robblee. "For many competitors, this sport starts at the grassroots level. Our goal is to try to get more kids involved in this sport as it promotes physical activity, team work, confidence and of course the love of skating."

Dorchester's own Dragonflies, skated in the Elementary division.

"They gave an awesome effort," said Robblee. "With a little more training they can only improve their performance."

The Port Stanley Skating Club had the top local performances. The Waves placed fifth in the Elementary division and sixth, in Pre-Novice.

St. Thomas Skating Club's EnergIce was sixth in the Adult II division and 10th, in Adult III.

Encore, out of the East Elgin Skating Club, was 12th in Adult III.

Dorchester's Teah Whitesell, was part of London's Synchronity's third place performance in the Juvenile division.

Tavistock's Team Unity swept all three adult divisions and won gold in Pre-Novice.

Burlington NEXXICE won gold in the Novice, Junior and Intermediate divisions.

The Skate Ontario provincial championships are in Aylmer, February 9-10.