TWO FREE skaters at Basingstoke ice rink have just achieved second British gold medals of the year.

Shannon Loane and Alex Tait went to the British novice championships at Nottingham and came first from a record field of 10 pairs.

Loane, who is 13, and Tait, two years older, have been coached at Basingstoke by Fiona Dickson-Allen for just over a year.

Each of the successful duo won British gold medals last month as all three teams from Basingstoke carried off titles at the national synchronized championships.

Tait was a member of the junior team, Ice Illusions, and Loane in the novice team Team Sparkle.

At Nottingham, they followed up their gold success in the recent Bracknell Open.

Another Basingstoke skater qualified for the British solo championships. Claire Miller won the ice dance novice championship qualifier gold medal at Bracknell.

There were also a number of free skating successes for Basingstoke skaters.

At under-novice level 1, the nine and under age group saw Laura Freeman second and Rachel Blake third. The 10 and over class brought a Basingstoke one, two, three from Rachel Powell, Lauren Lewis and Hollie Eades.

Charlotte Jackson was the winner at 12 and over and Laura Webb at 10 and over, where Natalie Woodward was third.

Among the boys, Charles Howard-Jones won from Ben Snowball, Daniel Strachan and Oliver Davies.

Levels two and three saw Annabel Colenutt win at 10 and under with Lucienne Ahvee second.

Lynsey Horsfield was a winner at level six while Michael Wilkins was the novice men's winner.

In the novice ladies, Kerri-Louise Jackson was third. In the artistic classes, Natalie Woodward was second at 10 and under level two and Charlotte Jackson second at 11 yrs and over.

Antoinette Hempel and Kerri Pounds won the group artistic class.

The Edges and Bligh competition at Basingstoke saw the host club win the Edges Trophy from Isle of Wight, Bracknell and Guildford.

The prelim and under class saw Victoria Caine first with Lucienne Ahvee third. The bronze and under class saw a clean sweep from Basing-stoke with Alyson Kisiel first, Hayley McCole second and Kara Slaney third.

Charlie Jackson was second in the exhibition class.

Isle of Wight won the Bligh Trophy with Basingstoke second.

Hannah Loake was second in the prelim and under class and Lynsey Horsfield second at bronze and under. Fiona Piggott was second in the exhibition section.

At the Bristol Open, Rachael Jackson was second among the beginners aged nine and under while Laura Freeman was third. In the B class Rachael Blake was second. Liam Kayley was third among the boy beginners.

At level one 11 and under, Kirsty Blake was second and Charlotte Jackson third. The boys' section was won by Charles Howard-Jones with Ben Snowball third.

At levels two and three, Annabel Colenutt was second at 11 and under while Hannah Loake was the 12 and over winner.

Rosanna Littleton won the levels four and five class and Lauren Homer won at levels six and seven. Among the primary ladies, Antoinette Hempel was third.