Ice skating: Size no obstacle for Dunedin club

Otago's elite medal-winning speed skaters (from left) Grey Maslin, Rianna Mitchell, Matt Fuller,...
Otago's elite medal-winning speed skaters (from left) Grey Maslin, Rianna Mitchell, Matt Fuller, Abbey Heale and Caitlin Heale at Dunedin Ice Stadium.
The Dunedin Ice Skating Club, the smallest in New Zealand, punched above its weight when finishing second in the interclub competition at the New Zealand championships in Christchurch this month.

The club only had six skaters competing but the high standard and efficient technique led to the encouraging results.

The club also won the sub-junior relay over 1000m for under-13 skaters with its team of Caitlin Heale, Rianna Mitchell, Lily Taitimu and Grey Maslin.

The best skater is Matt Fuller (24), who competed in the New Zealand championships with an injury that troubled him early in the skating programme when he finished second in the 1500m.

But he comfortably won the other events - 500m, 1000m and 3000m - to take the men's title.

He was also instrumental in the success of the other skaters, providing invaluable tactical and technical advice to the younger skaters.

Fuller, an experienced international skater, will be attempting to qualify for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver over the next 12 months.

Mitchell (11), a member of the New Zealand development squad, pushed the overall winner of her grade in all of their races.

She finished the year in second and was also third at the Australian championships in Sydney in her first international competition.

Caitlin Heale (10) won every start but faded over the longer distances.

Her best finish was a silver medal in the 222m and a win in the relay.

The juvenile girls grade was dominated by Dunedin skaters, with Abbey Heale (7) winning the 111m race and finishing second to Taitimu in the other distances.

Heale finished third in the Australian championships and second in the New Zealand championships.

Taitimu (8) won the juvenile girls competition at the New Zealand championships and the nippers competition at the Australian championships.

She continues to skate for the Dunedin club despite shifting to Christchurch at the start of the year.

This team was coached by Fanis Shakirzianau.

The medallists
For the record

Lily Taitimu: Gold medal (nippers) at Australian championships, gold medal (juvenile) at New Zealand championships.

Abbey Heale: Bronze medal (nippers) at Australian championships, silver medal (juvenile) at New Zealand championships.

Rianna Mitchell: Bronze medal (midgets) at Australian championships, silver medal (junior) at New Zealand championships.

Matt Fuller: Gold medal (senior men) at New Zealand championships.

 

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