A GIFTED Irvine skater hit the highest point of her career at Nottingham on Sunday.

Aimee Loach (23) was a member of the Starlight Rain Synchro Skating team who took the top prize in the British Synchronised Skating Adult Championships at the prestigious National Ice Centre.

Teams from across the United Kingdom converged on the Midlands venue for the event, in which there was a very high standard of competition.

And the competition went right to the wire, with Aimee's team, who had competitors from throughout the country, edging to victory.

The former Greenwood Academy pupil was delighted with the success and said: "It was great to finally win it because we were runners-up last year. We had been preparing for it for a long time. and worked really hard in the run-up to it. The competition was strong and 13 teams were involved. We got some very good marks from the judges but we only won by 0.44 seconds from the second-placed team the Blade Runners who are from Altrincham.

"It's a great feeling to win a British title and we worked hard for our success."

Aimee, who is a member of the Magnum Ice Dance and Figure Skating Club, has another major event coming up next month.

She heads with the team to Dumfries Ice Bowl on Friday, February 6 until Sunday, February 8.

for the Trophy D'Ecosse 2015, a three-day international synchronised skating event.

"Hopefully

This weekend, Dumfries Ice Bowl will host Trophy D’Ecosse 2015, a three day international synchronised skating event from Friday, February 9 until Sunday, February 11.

"Hopefully we are in with a chance of winning something there," Aimee added.