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Victoria skaters qualify for nationals

Local figure skaters on the podium at BC sectionals in Parksville

A group of Victoria skaters qualified for the Skate Canada Challenge next month with medal-winning performances at the BC/YT Sectional Championship in Parksville, from Nov. 8 to 11.

Ice dance team Ravie Cunningham and Cedar Bridgewood of the Saanich Skating Club of Victoria won bronze in the pre novice category. It’s only the second year together for 14-year-old Cunningham of Vic High, and 16-year-old Bridgewood of Spectrum Community school, and it’s the second year winning a medal at the BC/YT sectionals.

Last year they were the top ice dance team for the juvenile age group at the BC/YT sectionals. But this year Cunningham and Bridgewood had to make the jump to pre-novice, against skaters who are a little older and a little more experienced.

Getting an edge on the Saanich duo was Carlissa Lem and Le Vu of the Juan de Fuca Skating Club, who won silver.

Lem and Vu will duel it out with Cunningham and Bridgewood for the pre-novice national championship, which will be declared at the Skate Canada Challenge Cup in Regina, Sask., from Dec. 5-9.

Five more skaters from the Racquet Club of Victoria also qualified to compete in Regina.

Andie Lynn Gingrich and Liam Kinrade, the Vancouver Island novice dance champions, won bronze in Parksville. Junior dance pair Eric Streichsbier and Jessica Jiang (Inlet SC) continued their strong run with  a silver medal. And Tessa Jones and Matthew de Boer won silver in pre novice pairs.

Racquet Club skater Jillian Noel won the BC/YT Edward S. Barton Memorial Award for musicality for junior and senior women.

sports@vicnews.com