Queensland Figure Skating Championships: Local stars shine

A select number of local stars are on their way to the nationals following this weekend’s Queensland Figure Skating Championships. We have all the winners listed here.

Emily-Jean Kelly was second in the Queensland Queensland Figure Skating Championships. Picture, John Gass

Darian Kaptich produced a great all-round senior performance, the Shimogaki sisters shined while Luna Shimogaki was among the local stars at the Queensland Figure Skating Championships staged at Iceworld Boondall over the weekend.

More than 100 competitors competed for qualifying scores ahead of at next month’ national championships to be staged in Brisbane, with Queensland talent setting the highest of standards.

Kaptich, a St Patrick’s College Shorncliffe old boy, was outstanding in the senior all-round performances, landing a triple axel in his free skate to delight the home crowd.

RELATED LINKS

BOONDALL FIGURE ICE SKATING CLUB’S CRYSTAL CHALLENGE EFFORT

It was the first senior state title after winning the junior title back in 2018, a cherished moment given he grew up just down the street from Iceworld.

Darian Kaptich competing earlier in this career. Picture: Powerplay Photographics

The 2020 State champion Charlton Doherty also skated well for Queensland but had to settle for second, while Victoria’s Juan Camilo Yusti finished third.

Another local Boondall skater Emily-Jean Kelly, led after the short program in the seniors but had to settle for second after she was pipped overall by Victoria’s Amy Avtarovski.

Emily-Jean Kelly was second for Queensland. Picture, John Gass

Felicity Smyth recorded her best score for the year to finish in third place ahead of Isabelle McKewen in fourth.

The future talent of the sport certainly didn’t disappoint with some amazing skills on display in the junior women and advanced novice divisions.

Isabelle McKewen from Queensland Queensland Figure Skating Championships 2022 Saturday October 22, 2022. Picture, John Gass

Luna Shimogaki, 13 from Acacia Ridge, skated a personal best to win the junior women ahead of Vlada Vasiliev from NSW in second and fellow Queenslander Sienna Kaczmarczyk in third.

Tia Hochmann from Victoria. Picture, John Gass

Andrea Guo and Renee Tsai finished in fourth and fifth respectively, both with 100+ point scores to achieve season bests for them.

The advanced novice women was won by the younger of the Shimogaki sisters, with 10-year-old Kalyn edging out Ariel Guo in one of the toughest divisions with 13 competitors.

The standard of these two youngsters was fantastic and they’re ones to watch for in the coming years.

Athena Avci from Victoria. Picture, John Gass

Finishing in third place was Pauline Gorelik while Shuri Tomihara from Boondall made up a lot of ground in her free skate to finish fourth.

In the Men’s Advanced Novice Division Victoria’s Patrick Hardy won ahead of Kryshtof Pradeaux from NSW.

Emily Laing and Zachery Churton from Victoria dazzled the audience in the Advanced Novice Ice Dance Pairs and finally, the senior synchronised title went to Ice Storm from Acacia Ridge for the fourth year in a row with two hugely entertaining performances.

Tamara Abagi from NSW. Picture, John Gass

In second place was the 2018 state champions, Nova from Boondall.

All this was a stepping stone for many toward the Australian Figure Skating Championships which will be held at Iceworld Boondall, November 25-December 2.

Queensland championship results

Senior Men:

1. Darian Kaptich (171.13)

2. Charlton Doherty (149.61)

3. Juan Camilo Yusti (127.79)

Senior Women:

1. Amy Avtarovski (95.38)

2. Emily-Jean Kelly (90.55)

3. Felicity Smyth (87.70)

Junior Women:

1. Luna Shimogaki (122.38)

2. Vlada Vasiliev (116.37)

3. Sienna Kaczmarczyk (113.77)

Advanced Novice Women:

1. Kalyn Shimogaki (86.22)

2. Ariel Guo (85.54)

3. Pauline Gorelik (73.91)

Amy Avtarovski from Victoria. Picture, John Gass

Advanced Novice Men:

1. Patrick Hardy (85.19)

2. Kryshtof Pradeaux (79.28)

Intermediate Women:

1. Kathrin Macak (34.83)

2. Hidaya Rane (32.55)

3. Nia Doherty (31.25)

Intermediate Men:

1. Mark Waris (32.66)

2. William Payne (31.45)

Intermediate Novice Girls:

1. Lara Cai (35.94)

2. Claire Wei (34.15)

3. Hayley Cheung (34.11)

Basic Novice Girls:

1. Mia Zeng (42.01)

2. Amber Fu (35.21)

3. Miandri Korf (32.10)

Emily-Jean Kelly from Queensland. Picture, John Gass

Basic Novice Boys:

1. Osborn Wang (30.97)

2. Timothy Wang (17.26)

Adult Silver Men:

1. Kevin Layt (27.52)

2. Matthew Barden (25.46)

3. Pax Lunawirl (23.71)

Adult Elite Masters Women:

1. Jessica Rotondo (52.06)

Isabelle McKewen from Queensland. Picture, John Gass

Adult Masters Women:

1. Emily Phillips (36.28)

Adult Gold Women:

1. Cailin Fitzwell (31.77)

2. Makenzie Moor (31.11)

Adult Silver Women:

1. Courtney Mackay (28.93)

2. Jeanette Tseng (28.47)

3. Sarah Crisp (28.20)

Advanced Novice Ice Dance:

1. Emily Laing / Zachery Churton (69.12)

Tia Hochmann from Victoria. Picture, John Gass

Adult Silver Ice Dance:

1. Isabelle Martino / Kevin Layt (39.01)

Basic Novice Ice Dance:

1. Kat Florey / Charlie Wilcox (48.48)

Senior Synchronised:

1. Ice Storm (131.72)

2. Nova (114.66)

Junior Synchronised:

1. Ice-skaters Elite (89.79)

Basic Novice Synchronised:

1. Aquila (34.85)

2. Ice Pizzazz (31.75)

Mixed Age Synchronised:

1. Phoenix (48.44)

2. Apollo (38.58)

3. Ice Vivacity (29.21)

Isabelle McKewen from Queenslan. Picture, John Gass

Advanced Novice Synchronised:

1. Ice-skaters (48.67)

Adult Synchronised:

1. Evolution (27.83)

2. Elara (17.53)

Advanced Adult Synchronised:

1. Solstice (41.32)

2. Ice Classics (39.92)

Originally published as Queensland Figure Skating Championships: Local stars shine