History of the Preston Figure Skating Club
The Preston Figure Skating Club has trained competitors at the Olympic Winter Games, the International circuit and the World events since 1974. Much of this representation has been in the pairs category. Without the fantastic coaching staff of the Preston FSC, we would never have been able to accomplish these results!
In the Beginning...
The Preston FSC was formed in the fall of 1958 with a membership of about 50 skaters and quickly grew from there.
Under the careful direction of coach Fay Love, the club grew as skaters displayed their talents in their first carnival in 1961, "Rhapsody".
The coaches for the 1964-1965 season were Bonnie Goss & Kerry Leitch who trained the first team of 13 skaters for a Western Ontario Sectional Competition.
The Start of the Podium
In 1965-1966 the sectional team grew to 29 members and the first gold medals were won by Jane Patterson in novice ladies and Barbara Schilling in junior ladies.
The 1970’s
The first medal at a Canadian Championships was brought home by Janice Maikawa & Reed MacDonald, who took second place in the 1971 novice pairs.
The first skaters from Preston to win a national title at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships were Kathy Hutchinson & Jamie McGragor. In 1973 they were the junior pair champions. As senior pair in 1974, the couple placed 3rd in Canada and won berths on the Canadian World Championships team. In 1975 they won silver at the Canadian Championships and were 14th at the World Championships.
Sherri Baier (Phelan) and Robin Cowan quickly followed the club's championship trail. After capturing the Canadian novice pairs title in 1975, they maintained their winning streak the following year at Canadian Juniors, when they captured the World Junior Pairs title. At the Senior level, they won the pair title and represented Canada at Worlds in Ottawa. In 1977 Paul Mills & Josie Franc (Jamieson) moved onto the scene capturing the junior world title. In 1978 Llyod Eisler was just starting out and paired with Lorri Baier they took silver in junior pairs at the Canadians. The following year they won Junior Canadians. Beccy Gough (Magliarisi) and Mark Rowsom went on to compete at the World Juniors finishing third.
Sherri Baier (Phelan) & Robin Cowan
Josie France and Paul Mills
The 1980’s
In 1981 Lorri Baier and Lloyd Eisler finished ninth at the World Championships. Two years later Eisler and his new partner Katherina Matousek were 10th while Cynthia Coull and Mark Rowsom were ninth. Eisler and Matousek at the 1984 Olympics finished 8th while Melinda Kunhegyi and Lyndon Johnston were 12th. Eisler and Matousek would continue to improve in 1985, capturing a bronze medal at Worlds, while Kunhegyi & Johnston would finish 5th. Coull & Rowsom finished skating together with a bronze medal at the 1986 World Championships. Denise Benning & Lyndon Johnston finished sixth in the 1988 Calgary Olympics and fifth at Worlds, while Christine Hough & Doug Ladret were eighth in Calgary and ninth at Worlds. Cindy Landry teamed up with Lyndon Johnston for the 1989 World Championships where they captured a best performance ever at the level, winning a silver medal.
Katherina Matousek & Lloyd Eisler
Melinda Kunhegyi & Lyndon Johnston
Christine Hough & Doug Ladret
Jodeyne Higgins & Sean Rice
The 1990’s
At the 1991 Worlds, Hough and Ladret finished 11th and finished ninth at the 1992 Olympics. In 1992 Jodeyne Higgins and Sean Rice finished third at Canadians while Kevin Wheeler and Michelle Menzies finished fourth. In 1993 Higgins and Rice advanced to the World Championships finishing 10th but missed Worlds the following season, with a 6th place finish at Canadians. They jumped back onto the Medal podium with a bronze at the nationals and grabbed 14th at the worlds in 1995. The 1997 Novice Pair Bonze Medallist were Ashley Daly and Greg Moore. At the 1998 Canadian Championships, Samantha Marchant won the bronze medal in the junior ladies event. Elisabeth Rumble & Mathew Hickey missed the podium by one placement finishing a respectable 4th place in the Novice Pair Event. Melissa Mazzon & Mark Leslie finished 1st at the North American Challenge in pairs, while Matt King finished 3rd in the men's competition. In 1999 Krista Ricciatti & Shawn Verasammy won the Pairs title at the Juvenile Canadian Championships. Melissa Masson & Mark Leslie were named to represent Canada at the Junior Grand Prix event in Ostrava, Czech Republic, finishing in the gold medal position.
Preston still showcasing skaters in all disciplines
At the 2000 Canadian Championships, Alyssa Wise & Ricardo DiNucci finished 4th at the Novice level, while Mazzon & Leslie finished 3rd in the junior ranks. That summer Shannon Smith & Chris Hube finished 2nd in the North American Challange. In 2001 Krista Ricciatti & Shawn Verasammy finished third in pre-novice at the Junior Canadian Championships. In 2002 Carolyn McEwen & Gord Willemse finished 4th in Junior at the Canadian Championships. In their second year together, Aimee Collier & Chris Richardson represented Canada in Phoenix Arizona at the 2002 North American Challenge. Also in their second year together Claire Daugulis & Bryce Davison competed at their first junior grand prix event in Phoenix Arizona. At the 2003 Senior National Championships Aimee Collier & Chris Richardson, both home club Preston Members placed 3rd in the Junior Pair discipline. Bryce Davison moved up the ranks to finish 3rd at the 2003 Junior National Men Championships. This team, Taylor Steele & Dan Jackson travel to train at the Preston FSC on a weekly basis. They finished 3rd in the Pre-Novice Pair event at the 2004 Junior National Championships. The Preston Figure Skating Club is proud to have had these skaters represent their community over the last 4 decades.