Following the Dunedin Ice Skating Championships back in July, Columba College is very proud to acknowledge the success of three Columba College students who are going from strength to strength in the world of competitive ice skating.

Year 11 student Rebekah Sime is part of the Dunedin synchronised ice skating team 'Cutting Edge', coached by former Columba College student, Megan Kliegl. The team has remained together over the challenging years of Covid-19, and through commitment, dedication and many hours of training on the ice together, they recently claimed victory at the New Zealand Figure skating championships in Auckland. Topping the table by a significant margin, and gaining a personal best score of 59.08, Cutting Edge easily achieved the technical score required to represent New Zealand on the international stage. The team is now making plans to compete in England in March 2023! What a fantastic achievement by Rebekah and her talented team. Congratulations! 

Year 9 Columba student Selina Zeng also had the opportunity to compete at the NZ National Figure Skating championships in Auckland, and her technical score achieved successfully qualified her for the NZ International rep team and NZ figure skating development squad!  What an amazing accomplishment! Selina set a goal this year to qualify for NZ representative honours, and she has achieved this goal in style! Selina could now get the chance to compete for NZ at the Oceania Figure Skating Championships in May next year. Well done, Selina!  

Young rising star Madison Bryce (Year 7) has had a stellar year on the competition stage and has achieved results of which Columba College is extremely proud. Backing up her 3rd place at the Otago-Southland Championships in July, Madison gained first place in the Dunedin club champs in August and 2nd place at the South Island Ice Skating Championships in Queenstown. Madison was awarded a special trophy in August by Dunedin judges naming her as the 'Most Promising Skater' and she confirmed this accolade by winning her grade at the North Island Ice Skating Championships in Auckland in September. Amazing results, Madison! Hours of hard work and dedication to her training culminated in Madison achieving the title of NZ Figure Skating Champion in the Juvenile U12 grade in Auckland with a personal best score of 22.61. This is an incredible result that has also lead to her inclusion in the NZ Development Squad. Congratulations, Madison!

What fabulous results for our figure skaters. The endless hours of hard work and commitment have certainly paid off, and our Columba Community is immensely proud of you all!