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

The Newfoundland contingent to the Canadian Precision Skating

Championships leaves today for Halifax. Over 300 Newfoundland precision skaters, their coaches, team managers and parents will be there from Thursday to Sunday for the event which is being held in Atlantic Canada for the first time in the 15 year history of the championship.

There will be six Newfoundland teams participating in the competition. In the novice category the Signals from St. John's FSC, The Icicles from Conception Bay North FSC and the Silver Sensations from the Silver Blades FSC in Corner Brook will skate.

In the junior event Friction on Ice from St. John's FSC, Ice Crystals from CBN and Junior Starlites from Mount Pearl FSC will take part.

All competition takes place in the Halifax Metro Centre while practices are in the Halifax Forum, as well as the Metro Centre.

The schedule for the Newfoundland teams is as follows :

THURSDAY, MARCH 6
     4:00 p.m.      Junior Qualifying Event

FRIDAY, MARCH 7
     2:00 p.m.      Junior Challenge Cup Short Program
     5:15 p.m.      Novice Qualifying Event

SATURDAY, MARCH 8
      8:45 a.m.     Novice Challenge Cup Final
     10:45 a.m.     Junior Challenge Cup Free Program
      2:15 p.m.     Junior Canadian Short Program
      6:15 p.m.     Novice Canadian Final

SUNDAY, MARCH 9
     12:30 p.m.     Junior Canadian Free Program

There will be close to 1,200 athletes competing, making up approximately 70 teams in the novice, junior, senior and adult categories.

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