Roller skaters whizzing their way to competitions

These roller skaters are whizzing their way to competitions after decades of skating for fun.

Published Mar 2, 2020

Niamh Watkinson, aged nine, with her coaches Jenna Williams and Paul McIlhome. Niamh was selected to try out for an international competition. She is pictured with fellow skaters at West Walsall E-ACT Academy, Walsall

Walsall Artistic and Chase Roller Dance have recently joined to form Fusion Artistic Roller Skating Club.

The groups still are based separately, Walsall Artistic at Walsall E-ACT Academy and Chase Roller Dance at Cheslyn Hay Sports Centre, but they meet up regularly.

The Walsall club has been running for about 40 years and the Chase club has been going for about nine.

One of the coaches, Jane Guest, has three generations of her family involved in the club.

She said: "The two classes have about 80 members between them, we've got a class for three-year-olds, right up to somebody who is learning to skate at the age of 58.

"The classes have got on really well since joining up.

"We had a nine-year-old girl, Niamh Watkinson, try out for an international competition in Peterborough recently, but she didn't quite make it.

"We have got basic classes but have also started competing and have a lot of young skaters coming through." For more information, or to enquire about joining, visit https://walsallrollers.co.uk/