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North-east ice rink back in action

Free taster sessions offered after £1.45million revamp

ABERDEEN’S only ice rink has opened its doors to the public for the first time in over a year, as part of a series of free taster sessions.
The Linx Ice Arena closed in March last year as part of Aberdeen City Council’s £27million budget cuts – forcing skaters to travel to Elgin and Dundee.

During the 18-month closure the rink underwent a £1.45million refurbishment, which members of the public and skating groups are now being asked to test ahead of next month’s European Curling Championships.

Among those on the ice yesterday was ice dance coach and Scottish champion Gillian Smith, who was sharing her expertise with youngsters.
The 26-year-old, of Mosside Drive, Portlethen, has been travelling to Dundee five times a week to practise her skating, and said she was delighted the Aberdeen rink is reopening.

She added: “It’s great. Aberdeen Figure Skating Club had a lot of interest over the weekend, with more than 200 people signing up to become members.”

As part of the renovations a new refrigeration system and flooring was installed, along with a new floor of ice. The barriers around the rink have also been replaced and the walls repainted.

Aberdeen’s Synchronised Skating Club and Ice Hockey club will take to the ice later this week, and another set of public sessions will be held on Friday, from 5.30pm-7.30pm and Sunday, from noon-2pm and 3pm-5pm.

Free tickets are available from the Beach Leisure Centre on a first come, first served basis.

Kevin Stewart, deputy leader of the city council, said: “I am chuffed to bits that the Linx Ice Arena is reopening and that skaters can get on the ice in an improved venue, which will be appreciated by the award-winning skaters who have continued to do well even during the closure period.”

The European Curling Championships will be held at the Linx Arena from December 5 to 12. The rink reopens on December 19.

Shona Gossip - The Press and Journal(Published: 09/11/2009) Read more (Press and Journal).

Dumfries to get second Ice Pad

Sk8scotland is delighted to report that Dumfries & Galloway Council has approved a £2.5m plan to refurbish the Dumfries Ice Bowl and to convert the adjoining indoor bowls hall into a second ice pad, specifically dedicated to curling. As a result, Dumfries ice bowl will become the only facility in the south and west of Scotland with an ice surface to be used exclusively for figure skating and ice hockey throughout the year, something only currently enjoyed at Murrayfield in Edinburgh. The move, which was strongly supported by Sk8scotland, will strengthen Dumfries as a venue, not only as the base for the Scottish Championships since 2001, but will also open up huge opportunities for development, and the centre has the potential to grow into an important training facility. This is further strengthened by news that Dumfries is set to become a regional centre for the Scottish Institute of Sport.

Although there was some concern at the plans raised by a nearby private curling facility in Lockerbie, Dumfries & Galloway Council has undertaken an in-depth study to assess the impact of the second pad proposals and is confident that all ice sports in the region, including curling, will benefit from the development at Dumfries. In Sk8scotland's view, not to proceed with the plans would have simply continued the current severe restriction on development of skating sports caused by the pressure on available ice time during the winter months due to curling.

Other concerns against the plans reported in the local press, were that the Dumfries Ice Bowl currently operates at a substantial annual loss (circa £300k). However, through these plans the facility would divest itself of the heavily loss making indoor bowls activities (membership has dwindled in recent years from over 1,000 to just a couple of hundred), to concentrate on providing continuous opportunity for curling, skating and ice hockey, all of which have been demonstrating considerable growth potential. As for figure skating, Sk8scotland alone is responsible - through the annual Scottish Championships - of generating between £250 - 300k for the local Dumfries & Galloway economy each year, and has done so for the past 8 years. Last year for example, nearly 1,000 skaters, coaches and officials were registered at the Championships, a majority spending 2 or more nights in the region, and each skater on average, is accompanied by a further 2 persons (parents, siblings, etc). Put in this context, the financial support for the facility from the local Council is virtually balanced by the Scottish Championships alone.

 

Holly meets the Duchess of Cornwall

Murrayfield ISC member Holly McNiven (13yrs), had a thrill when she was presented to the Duchess of Cornwall during a recent visit to her school South Queensferry High, for a celebration of talent which showcased pupils sporting and academic achievements. Holly, coached by Lorraine Smith, showed off her trophies and displayed photo's and a video of her skating in a Murrayfield competition. Holly, who has been skating for 3yrs, also won a Level 2 event at the Lee Valley Open in May.