All Weather Ice Skating Comes To Wrexham’s Eagles Meadow

Cara McGovern, 18, with Tom Gregory, 21 practise at Deeside Leisure Centre before appearing at Eagles Meadow in Wrexham next month.

Wrexham is set to get its very own synthetic ice skating rink next week thanks to the company which provided a skating rink for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

The rink, situated in Eagles Meadow, will be fit for all weather and is being officially opened next Wednesday by the Mayor and Mayoress of Wrexham, Cllr Ian Roberts and his wife, Hilary.

To celebrate the occasion the region’s brightest young ice skating stars which include Maise Jones, 13, Cara McGovern, 18, and her partner Tom Gregory, 21, who are all set to put on a spectacular show.

The Reading based manufacturers, Ice Magic, installed a skating rink on the roof of the Harrods in London’s Knightsbride for their popular Christmas TV advert and have also supplied several of the Harry Potter films.

Worldwide Sales Director, Trevor Collins, says Ice Magic even provided one for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

He said: “This is as close as you can get to real ice but without the need for gas guzzling generators to keep everything frozen.

“Our skating rinks are also more user friendly as you don’t get a film of lying water on top which leaves anyone who falls down soaked to the skin.

“And as we supply the product to many professional skaters it shows it is as near as you can get to real ice.”

“At Eagles Meadow, we will also have plastic penguins which toddlers can hold onto and be pushed around the rink. It’s a family friendly experience that will make shopping days that bit more fun.” ”

First to get her skates on at the Eagles Meadow rink will be rising British ice free skating starlet, Maisie Jones, of Mancot, in Flintshire.

Maisie, who is set to qualify for the British Championships, says she is looking forward to her first experience of skating on synthetic ice.

She said: “I’m really looking forward to it. I love Eagles Meadow at the best of times. I’ve had a terrible year with injuries including stress fractures in my feet and a nerve problem which is slowly clearing up.

“I understand synthetic ice is really good for skaters returning from injury as you have to work a bit harder to complete complex routines.

“I’m hoping to be 100% fit for Mid-March and April as I go to London to complete my qualification for the British Championships.

Cara McGovern, 18, of Hope will then take to the rink with her partner, security guard, Tom Gregory, 21, of Blacon, Chester.

The boyfriend/girlfriend team hope to join a professional ice touring company in the near future.

Cara, who is currently studying law and physiology at Yale College in Wrexham, said: “We perform in the Adagio style, similar to what they try to replicate on TV’s Dancing on Ice. I have been skating for just over three years while Tom has six years of skating experience under his belt.

“We train and are coached at Deeside ice rink. We are delighted to have been asked to perform at the opening of the skating rink in Eagles Meadow.”