Eastern Ontario skating competition hosted in Belleville this weekend

By Dan Pearce

Emily Siegner, 10, does a split jump during figure skating practice on Feb. 22, 2012 at the Memorial Gardens in Trenton. Siegner will be competing, along with three other skaters, in the Eastern Ontario STARSkate Invitational Championship at the Yardmen Arena in Belleville from Feb. 24-26, 2012. Photo by Dan Pearce.

Spins, jumps and intricate footwork will be on display by some of the best figure skaters in eastern Ontario this weekend.

The Yardmen Arena in Belleville will play host the Eastern Ontario STARSkate Invitational Championship from Feb. 24-26.

Figure skaters from Whitby to Ottawa will compete in the annual competition.

Lauren McLean, Emily Seigner, Renada Barnable, Maddie Callaghan of the Trenton Figure Skating Club, or TFSC, will all be competing.

TFSC coach Ida Klemencic said the girls are between 10 and 12 years old, and each has been figure skating for around five years.  Seigner is competing in the championship for the second time. For the rest of the girls, it’s a brand new experience.

“This is the biggest competition for these girls. It’s what they’ve been working towards the whole season,” said Klemencic. “This is the biggest competition that they compete in at this level.”

Klemencic has been coaching figure skating for 24 years in Frankford and Trenton.

She said, for now, this is the biggest competition for these girls, but in years to come, they’ll be able to qualify and compete at the all-Ontario level.

“Everyone’s been working really hard to get ready for this competition,” she said. “Ultimately that’s what they want to do, qualify for all-Ontario.”