OXFORD-BASED figure-skaters were among the medals after their first taste of international competition.

The youngsters came back with two silvers and a bronze medal from the Lea Valley Ice Arena in London.

They took part in the Skate Southern Club International, coming up against a field of 20 skaters, including competitors from the USA, Norway, Latvia and France.

Maeve Hastings, 12, from Summertown, won silver in the Novice B ladies’ category, and her training partner, ten-year-old Alicia Boyer, from Marlborough, the bronze.

Fifteen skaters of all ages contested the Level 3 ladies’ competition, and ten-year-old Halah Thomas, from Abingdon, captured the silver medal.

All the girls train with Tammy Sear and Jane De Lange, senior coaches with the Oxford School of Skating at Oxford Ice Rink.

Meanwhile, Emily-Kate Barnett, from Botley, and Yarnton’s Ceri Kearney, both 11, finished first and third respectively at the Lee Valley national open for solo dance.

This is the first national qualifier for the Novice Solo Dance Championships later in the year.

The main championships will be in July and in their section, only the top 20 skaters under the age of 13 will go through to the finals.

Emily-Kate is at Headington School in Oxford , and Ceri goes to Bartholomew, Eynsham.