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

Four hundred thirty skaters, coaches and team managers will converge on the S.W. Moores Memorial Stadium in Harbour Grace this weekend for the start of the 1997 Newfoundland Sectionals and the 1997 Adult Precision Skating Championships. This is the 16th consecutive year for this competition.

Twenty teams of skaters will skate off in five events for the right to represent the province at the national championships to be held in March. Practices start early Saturday morning with 1,200 people anticipated for the Opening Ceremonies which will get under way at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Competition schedule is as follows:

• SATURDAY
  3:30 p.m. Junior event short program (4 teams)
  4:15 p.m. Senior short evaluation
  4:45 p.m. Juvenile event (4 teams)

  SUNDAY
  9:00 a.m. Novice event (6 teams)
  10:15 a.m. Junior event free program (4 teams)
  11:15 a.m. Senior event free evaluation
  11:30 a.m. Adult event (5 teams)
  12:45 p.m. Closing ceremonies and medal presentations

The Ice Crystals team from the host Conception Bay North club in the junior event, last year attended the Canadian Championships in Hamilton and had their best ever showing. The host CBN club hopes to send two teams to this years national event.

The Friction on Ice team from the St. John's Figure Skating Club in the junior category is coached by Jean McCloy. This team had taken home the gold medal in this category for the past three consecutive years which was the first time in Newfoundland history.

The juvenile event is comprised of teams of 12 to 24 skaters who are under 12 years of age.

The novice event is comprised of teams of 12 to 24 skaters who are under 15 years of age.

The junior event is comprised of teams of 16 to 24 skaters between 12 and 18 years of age.

The senior event is comprised of teams of 16 of 24 skaters, 12 years or age or older.

The adult event is comprised of teams of 12 to 24 skaters, 21 years of age or older.

The top three teams in the juvenile, novice, junior and adult events will earn the right to represent the province at the 1997 Canadian Precision Skating Championships to be held in Halifax, March 5 to 9, 1997.

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