Track ready for skaters

Hamilton Roller Skating Club president Kathy Moody (left) and inline speed coach Eileen Hughes at the new international banked track. Photo / Ged Cann

The Hamilton Roller Skating Club has just completed their international banked track for inline speed skating, and the children already have their own unofficial ranking system.

The track allows speed skaters to accelerate up to 50 kilometres per hour, which can lead to some nasty grazes when you're only wearing lycra.

Hamilton Roller Skating Club president Kathy Moody said it was a long process, taking about two years to get the track through Hamilton City Council, but she was thrilled with the final result.

"I'm a figure skater so I thought there wasn't that much work to it, putting a circle in the ground, but it's a lot of work," she said.

The banked track allows for further development of the skaters after the indoor rink.

"We don't let the kids outside until they can actually skate," she said.

Ms Moody said fears the track would disturb the Hamilton Dog Obedience Club next door had not materialised.

Speed skating instructor Eileen Hughes said the outdoor track was international spec, meaning national and even international competitions may be held there in future.

"There's a national road championship and a national road bank track development that occurs next year, it means as our athletes get to that level they can prepare," Eileen said.

The track was constructed by Fulton Hogan, and Eileen Hughes said her son, who trains in Europe and had given the track his stamp of approval, putting it on par with similar facilities that had cost millions.

"He was really impressed, he said it was a top class track."

Eileen said the Oceania championships moved annually from New Zealand to Australia and she hoped to be able to host the event at the new track every few years.

"Our hope it to host the next national championship next year," she said.

The new track was constructed with the help of a number of lotteries and charity groups, including Southern Trust, Sky City Community Trust, WEL Energy Trust, Trust Waikato, Lion Foundation and the Gallagher Trust.