A YOUNG skater has set her sights on stardom after being awarded a trophy at a national competition.

Jade Martin, 12, trains at Blackburn Arena and competed against more than 100 other young ice-skaters at the Bradford Opens.

Judges awarded her the trophy for the skater showing the best potential in the two-day competitions.

Her father John, of Worthy Street, Chorley, said: "Jade was very pleased with the trophy but she's very level-headed and now she's just getting on with the next thing.

"She's taking more ice-skating exams this year and is hoping to compete in the British Championships in Chester either this year or next. Her ultimate aim is to skate for Britain."

Other figure-skaters from the Blackburn Skating School are heading for the national championship finals after booking their places in a regional qualifer.

Sixteen-year-old Hayley McDonald won the intermediate section at the Altrincham Ice Dance Festival after gaining top marks in the compulsory and original dance sections. She pipped Katie Ferguson, a 14-year-old who travels from Dumfries to train in Blackburn, who finished second but also qualified for a place at the finals in Swindon in July.

Also heading for Swindon is 12-year-old Michelle Royds who won the junior section. Royds, who also trains at the Blackburn rink but is not a member of the club, made it a twin success as she followed up her recent second-place in the Welsh ice dance championships.

In the novice section at Altrincham, Emily Yates finished eighth in her first competitive appearance on the ice and is planning another attempt to qualify for the national finals.

And the Blackburn school also had success in the couples, Katie Ferguson and 15-year-old Gareth Yates winning the Burgess Waltz Trophy in ice dance.

In the Taylor Webster Trophy, 12-year-old Chloe Millward and her partner David Davies, who travels from Wrexham to train with the school, took second place.

The youngsters are all coached by Neil Chilcott and former British ice dance star Karen Barber.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.