THERE was huge local success at the 2018 British Short Track Speed Skating Championships at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham.
British women’s number two Charlotte Gilmartin, from Redditch, retained all four of her titles as she triumphed in the 500m, 1,000m and 1,500m events to also capture the overall crown.
Meanwhile, it was also an Easter to savour for Inkberrow’s Adam Hill Jnr who was crowned national champion in the Junior D (12/13-year-olds) category.
Hill dominated the boys’ competition, comprehensively winning all three distance finals. This is his fifth podium finish in a row at the annual championships and completes his most successful season ever.
The 13-year-old has won every event he has entered on British ice this season and had a very successful Star Class competition in Germany in January when he raced the best skaters in Europe – finishing in the top ten in the 500m, 777m and 1,000m distances and setting personal best times in each.
Gilmartin, Jennifer Pickering and Helen Kirby finished one, two and three respectively across all three senior ladies’ distances and overall.
Both Gilmartin and Hill are members of the Solihull Mohawks club, for whom it was a championships to savour as fellow member Farrell Treacy, from Henley-in-Arden, swept the board in the senior men’s event before Mohawks finished the event with victory in the 5,000m relay.
Hill’s father Adam Snr trains with his son at Mohawks’ Planet Ice home in Solihull and is one of the club’s assistant coaches.
“Ad has exceeded all expectations this season and never ceases to impress us, not only with his performances in competition but also with his focus and attitude to training,” said Adam Snr.
“He continues to improve week on week. Roll on next season!”
