A FIGURE skater from Port Glasgow has earned some n-ice rewards for her impressive performances at a string of events - including a gold medal in the coveted UK championships.

Teenage rising star Ashley Mitchell claimed the gold medal at the British Junior Solo Ice Dance Championship which was added to the gold she already won earlier this month in Dumfries in the Scottish Junior Solo Ice Dance Championship.

The 18-year-old former Port High pupil has had a successful competitive year so far and attained second place in figure skating at the Magnum Open level 10 ladies and first at Kyle Open Ladies level 10 ladies event.

Ashley, from the Devol area of Port Glasgow, also attained first and third place at Aberdeen and second and third place at Murrayfield Junior Solo Ice Dance series events.

Her latest triumph at the British championships in Sheffield has delighted mum Joyce.

She told the Tele: "We are really proud of her.

"We think she's achieved such a lot considering she has to train in Sheffield and East Kilbride.

"We are up at 4.30am to go to training in East Kilbride.

"This is her just rewards for the effort she puts in.

"She performed exceptionally well and she enjoyed it." Ashley, an Inverclyde Sports Personality of the Year nominee, trains in Sheffield for ice dance with coaches Mark Hanretty, a professional on TV contest Dancing on Ice, and Kathy Hanretty.

She also trains for ice figure skating in East Kilbride with coach Yvonne Cameron.

The youngster's future challenges for the rest of the year are to compete at the Scottish and British Ice Figure Skating Championships.

As part of the International Development Team Ashley also hopes to be selected to represent Great Britain at an international later on in the year.

She will also continue to train for ice dance with the prospect to compete in senior solo dance next year and attain a partner to progress to ice dance pairs.

On top of all that she is also currently working towards her coaching qualifications so she can pass on her wisdom and share her success with the next batch of Inverclyde skaters.

Mum Joyce said: "She's doing her coaching badges so she can give something back and encourage children to do well in the future." Ashley would like to thank her coaches for their commitment, hard work and motivation they have given her throughout the year and to the Waterfront Leisure Complex and Sport Inverclyde for their support.