McArthurGlen's York announces first ever Ice Skating Championships

PRLog (Press Release) - Dec. 14, 2011 - The championships, spearheaded by Great British international skater Toni Murray will offer local skaters a platform to showcase their skating skills on The Ice Factor’s 900 sq/m ice rink found in the heart of Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland.

The Ice Skating Championships will take place over 12 days, from Monday 19th – Saturday 31st December, excluding Christmas Day, at The Ice Factor, located at McArthurGlen’s York. The Championships will start with a first round, where skate scouts will select one person daily during the 10.30am skating session to go through to the Ice Skating Championship Final on Sunday 8th January 2012.

The final round will see 12 competitors taking part in a freestyle skate off where they will compete in front of local skater Toni Murray, who ranked 2nd winning the silver medal at the 2010 British championships. Toni will judge the best of the 12 selected skaters to win a trip for two to watch The Imperial Ice Stars Swan Lake on Ice, a world-class award-winning adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s ballet, at the Royal Albert Hall, London. The prize will also include travel and accommodation for two.

Mike Thomas, Centre Manager at McArthurGlen’s York Designer Outlet, says: “Since Torvill & Dean opened Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland here at the centre on Saturday 26th November, we have welcomed over 10,000 visitors to the ice. We are delighted to host York’s first ever Ice Skating Championships to explore our shoppers’ skating talent and, with our huge selection of brands at up to 60 per cent less, the designer outlet is a fantastic winter destination for all the family.”

Toni Murray, local U19s champion figure skater and judge of the Ice Skating Championships, says: “I am delighted to be judging the Ice Skating Championships and, having joined Torvill & Dean on the ice for the launch of Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland, I am excited to discover and celebrate Yorkshire’s skating talent.”

McArthurGlen’s Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland is home to The Ice Factor’s award-winning ice rink, which has been named one of the UK’s Top 10 ice rinks in The Sun, The Independent and The Times. The expansive ice rink has a giant 30ft Christmas tree at the centre and is surrounded by 19 beautifully styled traditional log cabin stalls offering everything from handmade gifts to festive food. In addition, visitors can expect festive fun from an authentic British fun fair offering a variety of traditional fair rides, such as a chairoplane, games stalls and a ferris wheel, as well as the opportunity for children to visit Father Christmas in his grotto.

To take part in the Ice Skating Championships, entrants must be over 14 years. Tickets to skate on the ice during the scouting sessions at 10:30am range from £8.50 for children and concessions to £9.50 for adults.

For more information please visit www.Yorkdesigneroutlet.com or call: 01904 682 700
You can follow McArthurGlen’s York Designer Outlet on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/yorkdesigneroutlet


-ENDS-
McArthurGlen Group
McArthurGlen Group is Europe’s leading developer, owner and manager of designer outlets. The Group, which currently has 20 Designer Outlets, introduced the concept of designer outlet retailing to Europe in 1995. The 75 million consumers visiting McArthurGlen’s Designer Outlets annually are attracted by the year-round savings of 30-70 per cent on the top names in luxury, designer and mainstream fashion. McArthurGlen’s portfolio currently offers more than 500,000 sq m of retail space with a further 120,000 sq m under way, including the new McArthurGlen Designer Outlet in Neumünster, near Hamburg, due to open in autumn 2012. For more information, please visit www.mcarthurglengroup.com


McArthurGlen in the UK
McArthurGlen has seven Designer Outlets in the UK. As well as the UK’s largest and Europe’s first, Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet near Chester, these are Ashford Designer Outlet, Bridgend Designer Outlet (Wales’ largest designer outlet), East Midlands Designer Outlet, Livingston Designer Outlet (Scotland’s largest designer outlet), Swindon Designer Outlet and York Designer Outlet.

The Ice Factor

The Ice Factor is open from 9:30am until 9.15pm from Saturday 26th November 2011 until 8th January 2012, and is conveniently located at York Designer Outlet on the A64/A19 interchange. Tickets for a one-hour session cost £9.50 for adults and £8.50 for children and concessions.  Discounts apply for groups of 20 or more and special party packages are available.  Further details are available at www.theicefactor.co.uk or by calling 01653 619169.

Booking is advisable, through ticketweb on 0844 847 1523 or online at www.ticketweb.co.uk, though tickets can be purchased on site.