Irving helps skating champ's rise to the top
Sponsorship will help Kelsey McNeil during next year of high-calibre training
Assistance allows youthful talent to rise, to reach up, and out, and grab those golden rings, so thank you Robert Irving.
Irving, the chairman of Irving Group Moncton, a conglomerate of business establishments, extended a helping hand to Salisbury figure skating standout Kelsey McNeil here yesterday,
Only 15 and already a two-time Canadian champion, pre-novice in 2006 and junior in 2007, McNeil is on a fast-track to becoming an Olympian and Irving announced a one-year sponsorship package to help her along the way.
"Kelsey McNeil has proven at every stage of competition in her young life that she is a winner. That is why I am pleased to announce that Royale has become a major sponsor and supporter of Kelsey for the 2008-2009 season,'' Irving said.
"Kelsey is a New Brunswicker and we should all be proud of her. Winning a Canadian junior ladies championship was a major accomplishment, but I suspect it is only the beginning for this young lady.''
McNeil, coached by Kathy Grenier of Moncton, will train in Barrie. Ont., this summer with the focus of establishing her name in the elite senior class next winter.
She's on a fast-track with an outside chance to compete in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver but perhaps a more realistic goal is the 2014 Olympics.
Just like always, McNeil delivered a standout acceptance speech of the Royale sponsorship. She was sparkling as she donned Royale gear, and heck, she even skated for the enthusiastic audience in attendance.
"My dream is coming together,'' she said as her grandmother, seated in the front row, wiped proud tears of joy from her eyes.
"This sponsorship from Royale will allow me to focus on my training without having to worry about the significant cost associated with being a national calibre athlete. I have been very lucky to have supportive parents who understood my desire to pursue this activity, and great coaches who recognized a potential in me and encouraged it. I know not everyone is as lucky to have discovered their dream at such an early age, or to have had the opportunity to pursue it.''
McNeil is hopeful that by attending Mariposa Barrie, she might earn some Grand Prix assignments from Skate Canada.
In Barrie, she will work on gaining more consistency with her triples and adding speed to her program and more speed to her spins.
"There's so much I have to do,'' she said. "It's so exciting.''
McNeil's mother, Holly, was elated by the Royale sponsorship.
"When people and companies from the community offer assistance it's so special,'' she said. "We're so thankful for this help. Words can't express our thanks.''
As the years have passed, Holly now knows so much more about her daughter's desire.
"She's had a goal of skating at the Olympic Games since she was seven. Vancouver and 2010 might be tough but you won't hear Kelsey saying that. She has her special way of doing things.''
Holly said Stu Fraser, Kelsey's physical education teacher at J.M.A. Armstrong High School, got the sponsorship ball rolling.
Fraser approached Bill Whalen at Hawk Communication and Whalen worked on the project with Royale.
No figures about the sponsorship were revealed but Holly McNeil estimated the cost of training an elite calibre skater like her daughter is at around $35,000 per year.
Gary MacIntosh, the director of marketing for Royale, said the sponsorship was a natural fit.
"Both Royale and Kelsey McNeil are 'best in class' performers and we are excited to have her as part of the Royale family,'' he said. "Kelsey will be a wonderful ambassador for our brand.''
In addition to the sponsorship of McNeil, Royale is the title sponsor for the three national amateur golf championships for women, the Royale Cup Canadian women's amateur championship, the Royale Canadian Junior girls championship and the Royale Canadian women's senior championship.
Royale also sponsors those same three provincial events in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
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