Australia next after NZ title

Reuben Dougherty displays his gold medals from the national figure skating champs last week. Photo by Gregor Richardson.
Reuben Dougherty displays his gold medals from the national figure skating champs last week. Photo by Gregor Richardson.
A Dunedin skater will take to the ice in Australia after winning gold at the New Zealand Ice Figure Skating Championships earlier this month.

Reuben Dougherty (17) will skate in the Australian championships in Melbourne next month.

The year 12 pupil at Kavanagh College was more than pleased about qualifying. He was up against some tough competition but came through to finish at the top of his grades.

Despite a fall, Dougherty came first in the intermediate men's category at the national championships in Christchurch.

He also came first in pre-primary pairs with skating partner Hannah Sime. However, Dougherty only qualified to go to Australia individually.

He has been skating for nine years but Australia will be the first time he has skated internationally.

He got into the sport in a rather unconventional route.

A primary school quiz was all it took to get the schoolboy involved.

''I won the quiz and the prize was a free skating session and I just got hooked,'' he said.

His mother was extremely proud of his achievements.

''I am just thrilled. He has worked so hard this year and he has improved a lot,'' Christine Dougherty said.

Dougherty thought skating would be a big part of his future. He had recently taken a coaching course to teach ice skating.

''I would hope that in the future I would be able to do it as a career.''

Dougherty will spend 15 hours a week training in preparation for his trip to Australia.

-By Fleur Mealing

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