BASINGSTOKE skater Jessica Gill has got off to a great start with a full set of podium finishes after her first competitions of the year, including her first international.

The 14-year-old from Rooksdown is a member of the Basingstoke Ice Skating Club, who independently arranges training activities both on and off the ice for Basingstoke skaters.

She also trains with her coaches Peter Baekgaard and Michael Jaye a further five days a week using Basingstoke, Bracknell and Guildford rinks.

Gill started the year by gaining a third place at the Oxford Opens in January, where she skated a new program which was choreographed by Baekgaard to music from the film Cloud Atlas.

A month later, in Denmark, Gill competed in the Flyver Cup in the Novice K2 category against skaters across Europe and Gill brought home the gold medal with a score of 39.97.

This was the first time she had ever competed abroad and travelled with her coach Peter Baekgaard, and a small team of four other skaters including Eliza Hubbersty who also trains at Basingstoke.

She then continued on to train in Sweden for three days along with the other UK skaters.

Gill’s winning streak continued at the Slough Opens just a week after her return from Denmark. This time in the Level 7/Novice B category with a score of 31.14 which was a UK personal best.

Fellow British Championship skater Kirsty Isaac, coached by Jenny Woolford, also competed at Slough and won in the Level 6 category.

In March, Gill maintained her streak of podiums with a third place at the Skate Southern international IJS held at the Lee Valley Ice Centre.

This has been a fantastic start to the year for Gill who is a member of the NISA development squad. At the Basingstoke and Deane Sports awards she was recognised and awarded with a scholarship by the Basingstoke and Deane Community Leisure Trust which allows her free use of the Aquadrome facilities.

Next up for Gill is the Bracknell IJS Opens and then the Guildford IJS Opens in May.