Nearly 1,000 synchronised skaters from nine countries will compete in Sheffield this weekend as the Steel City Trophy combines with the British Championships.
The three-day event runs from 7-9 March at IceSheffield, drawing teams from as far as Canada, Australia, and Switzerland, a turnout that organisers say reflects the city’s growing reputation on the international skating circuit.
Amanda Hembrow-Jones, head organiser for the Steel City Trophy and head coach for The Sheffield Synchronized Skating Academy, said: “It’s exciting that teams trust us enough to bring their skaters from around the world.
“It’s always nice to know teams want to come here, and being in Yorkshire we’ve got a good reputation for being friendly.”
Among those travelling, Swiss coach, Annina Seiler takes her International skating team Starlight Jewels to compete this year.
She said: “Synchronised skating isn’t a big discipline in Switzerland, so there aren’t many teams in our category. That’s why we started competing abroad, to meet other teams and skate against people from different countries.
“There’s this shared passion that we all have, so even when you meet skaters from other countries for the first time, you already have something in common.”
Annina has been skating for 43 years, and will see all ages compete, from four-year-olds in the youngest categories to adults competing in their seventies.
The stakes are higher than usual this year, as the Steel City Trophy has merged with the British Championship for the first time. This means this year’s category winners will also be crowned British Champions.
IceSheffield regular Esme Charlotte is competing for Unum Sheffield Synchronized Skating Academy and said: “If we win the Steel City Trophy this year, it means we’ll also become British Champions.
“We’re going into this competition undefeated, so we’re really hoping to win.”
Growing up in Doncaster and training at IceSheffield since 2017, she is looking forward to competing on familiar ice this weekend.
“Competing in Sheffield is strange because it’s our home rink, so you feel like you should be good there, but that also adds a bit of pressure.
“It does help because we know the rink and the ice really well.”
The event is also being livestreamed on YouTube across the three days.