A 15-YEAR-OLD figure skater from Four Marks has qualified to compete at the British Championships in Sheffield at the end of November.

Lucia Sancisi is one of only 25 girls in the UK, at her level, to have reached the top standards required by this prestigious national competition. This is an achievement that many young skaters aspire to, travelling all over the country to compete in qualifying competitions in order to attain the required scores, with only the best skaters succeeding.

Proud mum Suzanne Sancisi-Frey said: “Lucia is very determined, training and practising six days a week.

“She works with her amazing coach, Jenny Woolford, at Planet Ice Basingstoke, before school and at weekends. Some mornings Lucia gets up at 4am so she can fit in two-and-a-half hours of skating before school (Perins in Alresford)."

Lucia also has a regime of stretching and strengthening exercises she performs every day, she added.

Lucia will be competing at intermediate novice level against top skaters from around the country.

“She skates to beautiful classical piano music with a routine that is technically challenging and includes double jumps, intricate steps and amazing spins," said Mrs Sancisi-Frey.

“Although her programme is difficult, she makes it look easy and is lovely to watch.”