Local Solway Sharks Junior ice hockey player Lewis Houston headed to Vierumaki in Finland this week to compete in the International Ice Hockey Federation Global Skills Challenge.
Lewis, who beat off competition from all over the UK to win his place representing Great Britain, is up against athletes from 37 countries, competing in a series of trials designed to test athletes in a variety of skills and disciplines. The challenge continues until Friday, determining the top 15 male and 15 female athletes, who will be going on to represent their countries at the Youth Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway in February 2016.
Lewis is joined by the GB female representative, Verity Lewis from Bracknell, who is competing in a field of 31 female athletes, also striving to win a place in the last 15. They will both be doing their best to follow in the footsteps of Lewis Hook and Katherine Gale, who represented Team Great Britain at the first Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck in 2012.
Solway Sharks Juniors coach Joe Coulter, who has coached Lewis all season said, “It is a testament not just to Lewis’s skill that he has been so successful, but also to his commitment and hard work, and sheer determination to be the best he can be. Everyone at the club is extremely proud of Lewis, and we all wish him every success in Vierumaki.”
FROM DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY TO GREAT BRITAIN FOR YOUNG SHARK LEWIS
