Bowmanville Figure Skating Club welcomes the challenge

COURTICE -- The hard work put in by the figure skaters, who will be showcasing their talents, as well as the organizing committee will be on display for all to see this weekend in Courtice.

The Bowmanville Figure Skating Club is hosting the 2009 BMO Skate Canada Sectionals for Eastern Ontario that opens with practice sessions on both pads of the South Courtice Arena on Friday morning, with the competition phase kicking in later in the afternoon. Practice sessions and competitions will continue on both pads throughout Saturday and Sunday.

The hours of planning and preparation that goes into hosting such a prestigious event will all come together in one nice package for those taking part.

"The club had to pull together their executive and members to put on a good competition that is well run," says Tracy Tutton, one of the coaches at the Bowmanville club that is serving as host. "It's a hard job to tackle. It's a lot of work."

A total of 175 skaters from a geographic area that stretches approximately from Whitby to the west, Haliburton to the north and all the way to the Quebec border to the east will be competing, with hopes of advancing to the next stage. First place in the Juvenile category will earn skaters a bye to the Junior Nationals, while the next three advance to the Ontario Winter Games. The top four in other categories will move on to the Eastern Challenge competition.

The Bowmanville club has about 15 skaters competing, with "most of them having a good shot" at advancing to the next stage, says Tutton.

Admission for adults is $6 per day, with a weekend event pass priced at $15. Seniors are $4 a day ($10 for weekend) while children are $1 a day ($2 for weekend).