TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pasco News

Port Richey Rink Hosts Regional Championship

ADVERTISEMENT

By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: June 21, 2008

PORT RICHEY - All four-wheeled dancers, leapers and gliders with hopes of qualifying for next month's national figure skating championships converged upon Port Richey last weekend to compete in the Southern Regional Championships at Spinnations Family Skating Center.

A total of 123 skaters from seven Southeastern states - Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky - were registered for the three-day event that ended Monday, said Angela Serini, the regional event's coordinator and board member with the Florida Skating Academy.

Competitors' ages ranged from elementary to senior and inline and conventional roller skating disciplines were incorporated.

All 13 of the local Florida Skating Academy entrants qualified for nationals to be held next month in Lincoln, Neb., Serini said.

Also joining in anticipation for the regional meet is area business, according to Eric Keaton, public communications specialist for the Pasco County Sports Commission.

The skating championships, combined with May's speed skating event also at Spinnations, ranked No. 1 in the amount of total room nights spent in area hotels at this time last year, he said.

Attracting upward of 750 room nights during the 2007 regional earned event coordinators $5,864 in grant money to help advertise and promote for this year's competition.

Event coordinators take note

Keaton said that applications for events in the 2008-09 year must be received by July 31 if coordinators wish to be eligible for county grant money.

Existing events must also reapply yearly.

Eric Horchy can be reached at 727-815-1071 or ehorchy@suncoastnews.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT