Local talent shone through at the National Rollerskating Championships 2000 when Rollerworld team members scooped top awards.

About 100 top-class skaters from around the UK travelled to Rollerworld in Colchester for the prestigious championships.

Kym Marsh, of Herne Bay, won the senior solo dance championships.

And fellow Rollerworld skater Neil Emms, from Norwich, won the Richardson Cup for the combined title with his figure and free skating programmes.

Kym, 26, has been skating since she was eight and used to skate with her husband Keith before starting to perform solo last August.

As a couple they came second in the senior championships in 1996 and third the following year.

But this year, after skating the compulsory dance set elements to the Passa Doble and Westminster Waltz, she had straight firsts. And from that lead she went on to beat the other 13 skaters with her Tango performance.

"It's the best I've ever done. I'm on cloud nine!" she said.

She is now hoping solo sections will be introduced to the European and world championships.

One of only two skaters in Britain to have the gold standard award, she added: "It's brilliant that the local people have done well."

She and Emms often see each other when they are training and she said: "It was a nice team atmosphere."

She described Rollerworld as "the best surface in Europe".

The competition returned to the Colchester venue having been held elsewhere for the past four years.

Andy Starr at Rollerworld said: "It was an excellent day and definitely our best championship ever."

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