Annual figure skating event takes place this weekend

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RON WARD/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT

Jenny Hache from Shippagan works on her spins at the Tim Hortons 4-Ice Centre.

Famous champions of tomorrow could very well be in Moncton at the 2008 Skate Canada New Brunswick Spring Skate this weekend.

Upwards of 200 skaters, arriving from all parts of the Maritimes and Maine, are involved in the competition, the last on this spring's competitive schedule.

The classifications range from beginner, junior to adults and Special Olympians.

The Spring Skate begins tomorrow and runs through Sunday at the Tim Hortons 4-Ice Centre.

Truth is, it wasn't very long ago when today's champions were actually in the Spring Skate field.

Current Canadian junior women's champion Kelsey McNeil of Salisbury is a graduate of Spring Skate.

So is Maggie MacKinnon, a Moncton Mariposa Figure Skating Club member who competed in the novice ladies class at this year's junior nationals.

In fact, both McNeil and MacKinnon will serve as volunteer's at the weekend event.

McNeil will be involved in timing routines and MacKinnon will be an ice captain assisting skaters to prepare for their performances.

"It's special to have Kelsey and Maggie involved because kids see them and they know this is a part of moving along,'' said organizer Clorissa Gilligan.

"It's like take one of a driver's test. This is where you start and you move along.''

In all, eleven skaters from the host Moncton Mariposa club will be in the field.

"For some it's testing and for others it's displaying programs they plan to introduce next season,'' Gilligan said. "This is also a competition where you can move up and test another division. It's a very important event.''

The Mariposa skaters are Charlotte Chaisson and Tyra Dixon (pre-preliminary AA class), Hilary Robart and Robyn Slater (pre-prelominary A class), France LeBlanc, Janelle Cowper and Stephanie Gallant (preliminary A class), Sarah Casey and Jenny Hache (junior silver women), Zoe Gilligan (peewee A) and Lexi McGrath (pre-juvenile A).