There will be Irish interest in the second stage of the International Skating Union (ISU) Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series 2016/2017 this weekend when Sam McAllister takes to the ice in Ostrava, Czech Republic. The competition marks the international debut for the Coleraine native as an Irish national team member.
McAllister has travelled from his training base in England to compete in the short programme on Friday, 2 September and in the free skating on Saturday, 3 September. He will be accompanied to the Czech Republic by Margaret O’Neill, his mother and coach.
McAllister is the first Irish male skater since 2012 to participate in an ISU Junior Grand Prix.
“I’m very excited to be making my Junior Grand Prix debut and I am looking forward to showing what I can do in Ostrava,” McAllister said.
The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series started in 1997 and has become one of the most prestigious events to which young figure skaters can be invited. There are seven Grand Prixs annually and each skater will normally compete at two of these to accumulate points in order to qualify for the Grand Prix Final in December.
The Junior Grand Prix in the Czech Republic will be broadcast live online on the ISU’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/ISUJuniorGrandPrix) from Thursday, 1 September.
