The following is being distributed at the request of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador:

Patricia Clarke and Roland Dawe, co-chairpersons for the CHVO All Newfoundland Free Skate and Dance Invitational Figure Skating Championships, have announced that 250 skaters will participate at the Bay Arena in Bay Roberts.

Eleven figure skating clubs will participate including St. John's, Bell Island, Mount Pearl, Prince of Wales, Conception Bay South, Southern Breakers FSC in Witless Bay, Flying Blades FSC in Clarenville, Trinity Placentia in Whitbourne, Ice Crystals in Marystown and the host Conception Bay North Club. In addition 29 skaters will travel from St. Pierre to take part.

Skaters will be on the ice Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. in elementary, pee-wee, preliminary, pre-juvenile, juvenile, pre-novice, novice and open categories in ladies and men singles and dance.

Sandi Facey is the chief referee for the competition and she will ensure that the event is conducted in accordance with the rules of the Canadian Figure Skating Association. She will have the following judges assisting her: Rhian Walthers, Agnes Thistle, Lindsey Redmond, Beth Moores, Lisa Clarke, Caroline Webber and Susan Ivany.

Chief accountant for the event is Marie Morris who, with her accounting staff will be responsible for the correct tabulation of the judges marks and determine the skaters' placings following their performances.

This competition forms part of the first annual Bay Roberts Winter Carnival festivities which will be underway this weekend.

Contact: Judy Mugford, (709) 781-2036.

1996 02 21 11:15 a.m. /md