Whitley Bay Ice Rink is a popular venue in the North East of England and is home to Whitley Bay Ice Skating Club. The rink is privately owned and provides opportunities for skaters of all ages and abilities, whether you want a fun family activity or more competitive skating.
Whitley Bay Ice Skating Club has supported figure skaters for many years and this year sees a brand new committee who are keen to continue to help skaters to develop and to reach their full potential.
Each year we host 2 ‘quarterlies’ competitions and an annual competition, which gives our skaters the chance to experience competition life in their familiar rink, in preparation for entering Open competitions. Many of our members take part in Open competitions, demonstrating much talent and showing a real enthusiasm for this sport.
The club has no funding and therefore relies entirely on generating income through sponsorship and fundraising. To this end we host a number of events throughout the year.
The committee comprises of volunteers who strive to make the club successful and an asset to the local community; to represent Whitley Bay Ice Skaters proudly up and down the country. We welcome at any time your thoughts, ideas and contributions – to achieve success the club requires the input of many people.
A thought from a previous member:
I became a member of Whitley Bay Ice Skating Club when I was 8 years old. My father had taken me to the ice rink when I was 7 and from my first visit I was hooked on skating and never wanted to do anything else.
I started with group lessons at the polar club and soon moved into private lessons and remember so well the joy and pride as the number of badges took up more and more room on my track suit top. The sense of achievement when I achieved my first clean jump, won my first medal etc. was unforgettable and alongside this was the pleasure of being a member of Whitley Bay Ice Skating Club. The Club ran regular competitions, some of which I was lucky enough to win – Spin, spiral & jump, the annuals & festival trophy to name a few. These competitions gave me and my fellow members’ confidence in our abilities and certainly helped me greatly to face large crowds in bigger competitions as I got older. It was also a great privilege to judge some of these same competitions when I was a senior skater. To be part of the Club gave me a true feeling of belonging to the ice rink, of being part of it and through the Club I made many friends, one of whom many years later was a bridesmaid at my wedding.
I was lucky enough to be very successful in my skating career, becoming British Senior Pairs Champion and taking part in the 1991 Winter Olympic Games, World Championships and European Championships and it all started at Whitley Bay Ice Rink and the Skating Club.
I now teach at Blackburn Ice Rink where there is a Skating Club and I hope very much hope that my pupils and members of that Club find the same pleasure, fun and friendship that I did during my years at Whitley Bay.
Kathryn Hudson (nee Pritchard)
Hello, could you please keep us informed of any news on your mailing list
Thanks
Hi, the email we hold on file for your skater is different however I can add your email on to the member’s details so you will receive member updates as well for this year. You can also follow this blog which will update you whenever we publish a new post on this website. Hope that helps?!