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

Amy Nelson, 15, and Olivia Smith-Hughes, 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.

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.”

Nelson came ninth in third division ladies, a category so fiercely contested that there was less than two points dividing the gold medal winner and Nelson.

Smith-Hughes came eighth in third division cadets which was a new higher category for her after her win in the same competition last year in Cork.

Nelson was also the unofficial make-up artist, helping many of the other skaters with their competition preparation and acting as a role model for some of the younger skaters.

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.

Much of the training was completed at Winsford Lifestyle Centre.