Killarney Guide

BY KIM LANGEN

Inside it was a full house, while outside the frozen parking lot was like an ice rink, during last weekend’s high energy synchronized skating event held at the Shamrock Centre.

It was the 2020 Prairie Regional Synchronized Skating Championships, and it drew around 900 skaters, coaches, adjudicators, family members and supporters to Killarney.

“We had 315 skaters, with around 850-900 people attending in total,” said Kim Webb, event chair.  “We had amazing community support, with sponsorships, spectators and volunteers. I know the girls loved competing in front of their hometown crowd. They could not have enjoyed a skate more than on Saturday.”

Local synchro skating coach Kayla Taylor said the Killarney teams delivered excellent performances on the ice, and had a blast doing it.

“Our teams had great skates,” she said. “The Beginner 2 Gravity finished with a silver ribbon. The pre novice skaters skated their best skate Saturday, and were awarded their season’s best score.  Competition was tight in the pre novice event, with only points separating teams between 1st and 5th. It was a very tight competition, and it was determined by who laid down two clean skates.” 

Hosting and performing on home ice definitely helped the girls secure their wins, she added.

“It was great to skate in our home rink,” said Taylor. “The girls had many fans and people to support them. They were very excited to hear all the cheering for them. Hosting the competition also brings more pressure to do well.”

A well-known rink and friendly faces also spurred the girls on, she said.

“Hosting a competition is always a huge advantage,” said Taylor. “You know your landmarks on the ice, and are just more comfortable when you skate in your home rink. We also get to meet a good chunk of the judging panel throughout the year at test days and other competitions, so the skaters do become more comfortable performing for familiar faces.”

The Killarney Figure Skating Club, in conjunction with Skate Canada Manitoba, hosted the busy two-day event, held on Saturday and Sunday, February 1 and 2, at the Shamrock Centre.The competition, which drew teams from across both Manitoba and Saskatchewan, provided a chance for synchro skate teams to enjoy a developmental, cultural, and competitive experience. It was also an opportunity to qualify for the Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships, in Novice, Intermediate, Open, Junior, and Senior categories, to be held February 21-23 in Calgary, Alberta

GLITZY GRAVITY PERFORMANCE – Killarney’s Gravity Pre-Novice team points out their skating prowess to the crowd at the Prairie Regional Synchronized Skating Championships held last weekend at the Shamrock Centre. Gravity placed fifth in the Pre-Novice Synchro category. For full results from the weekend go to: mbskates.ca/competitions/prairie-regional-synchronized-skating-championship.

SECOND PLACE SKATE – Killarney’s Beginner 2 Gravity team, consisting of (front row, from left) Anna Archambault, Logan Guenther, and Chelsea Martens, (middle row) Teagan Guenther, Lily Groening, and Monique Quirante, and (back row) Claire Archambault, Kailey Bekiaris, and Violet Sawatsky, picked up silver ribbons after their second skate of the weekend on Sunday. Below, the girls receive their silver ribbons during the medals presentation. 

SILVER SUNDAY – Skating coach Kayla Taylor (background, left) watches on proudly as her Beginner 2 Gravity team performs their final skate for silver on Sunday at the Shamrock Centre. Up next for the Beginner 2 Gravity girls is the Killarney Ice Show on February 23, Cartwright Ice Show on March 8, and the Boissevain Ice Show on March 18. The Gravity Pre-Novice team will also skate at the Killarney Ice Show, followed by the Regina Invitational Competition from March 13 to 14.

WHEAT CITY WIN – Brandon’s Wheat City ConnXion took first place in the Adult SYS 1 Synchro category, with three Killarney girls on their team.

KILLARNEY CONNXION – Killarney’s Noilah Oddleifson (right) is a member of the winning Wheat City ConnXion, along with fellow Killarney Figure Skating products pictured below: Karlee Little (far left) and Daelyn Howarth (far right).

ICE INTREPID OFF TO NATIONALS – Hazelridge, Manitoba’s Ice Intrepid team won the gold medal in the Open Sychro – Free Program 2 category, and will be attending Nationals in Calgary, Alberta from February 21-23.

JAY STRUTH/KILLARNEY GUIDE PHOTOS