WA ice skaters dazzle
DAVID DARRAGH , The West Australian
20th April 1999

HARD work and the benefit of international expertise has paid off for three young WA ice skaters.

Claire Bilton, 16, Portia Jones, 11, and Leigh Edwards, 11, turned in dazzling performances in the 1999 Hollins Trophy, Co-operative Cup at the Canterbury Ice Rink in Sydney at Easter.

The three figure skaters are coached by Russian pair Irina Stavroskaia and Valentin Kadzevitch, who were brought to Perth by Tom Barrett, owner of the Cockburn Ice Arena, more than two years ago.

"I actually brought out four Russian coaches - apart from Irina and Valentin there is Andre and Maria Filippov, and another Russian arrived of her own accord," Barrett said.

"They (the Filippovs) have come initially on permit for 12 months but are hoping to stay and gain permanent residency."

Bilton came first overall after finishing third in the short section, which involves performing a compulsory set of manouevres, and first in the long section in which competitors are rewarded for adding their own elements.

She has been figure skating for five years and was a gymnast for nine years before taking up figure skating.

"Claire has aspirations to get to the top," Barrett said. "It's going to be harder for her because she started relatively late but she's very strong in her mind, she's very courageous and focused and she's not frightened to throw herself around."

Jones achieved first place overall in the primary women's division after finishing second in the short section and first in the long section. Jones is the reigning State champion in her age group.

Edwards won the overall title after achieving first placings in both the short and the long sections. Edwards has been State champion for his age for the past two years and finished first in last year's Co-operative Cup in Sydney in the juvenile division.

He also performed in "Cinderella on Ice" at the Entertainment Centre in March this year and was a finalist in the Westfield WA Sports Awards.

Barrett said the benefits of world-class coaching had facilitated the development of a significant group of young skaters in Perth.

"These three kids are just the tip of the iceberg," he said.

"At the next national competition it will be very interesting because the kids are at least on a par with the eastern States skaters."

The national figure skating championships will be held in Adelaide in July and WA will send a strong contingent.

"We will be particularly strong at the primary level, with Portia, Sophie Evans, who is only eight years old, and Emilia Borodatova all competing for two spots," Barrett said.

"I think in Perth within two or three years we will certainly have kids at international level and they should be ready, if they keep pace, to challenge for an Olympic berth in two to four years.

Barrett said Andre and Maria Filippov received a $4000 grant from ALCOA through the WA Institute of Sport coaches in residence scheme.