TWO Wilmslow skaters contributed significantly to a Great Britain success on the world stage.

Molly Troup, 15, and Felicity Little, 10, featured among the Silver Blades Altrincham members that represented Great Britain at the World Open Inline Skating Championships in Italy, where they secured team bronze.

Little, taking part in the event for the first time, finished fourth in her category, while Troup, who is also on the talented athlete programme run by Wilmslow Leisure Centre, secured seventh spot on her third outing in the worlds.

Team GB finished behind Russia and Ireland in the final reckoning after each skater’s finishing position was determined.

Head Coach Donna McCarthy said: “Each skater should be very proud of what they have achieved.

“They worked hard and impressed everyone with their performance and their team spirit.”

The pair experienced what was a bigger competition this time around, being among 20 other teammates and nearly 350 skaters from around the world.

Before the four days of skating began, they took part in an opening ceremony in Fasarno’s main square – an elaborate event in which each country’s skaters entered the square behind their flag during a show of Italian history through music and dance.

Their GB teammates won four gold, four silver and two bronze medals and were inspired by captain Eleanor Cameron, 21.

She encouraged all the older girls to mentor the younger skaters who had not been to this level of competition before.

And Cameron helped to ‘further foster the family atmosphere the club has always had’.

Much of the training was completed at Winsford Lifestyle Centre.