Figure skating – DUMFRIES, Scotland – NEXXICE from Burlington, Ont., built a big lead in the senior level event after Friday’s short program at the Trophy d’Ecosse synchronized skating competition.

NEXXICE, fourth last weekend at the French Cup, totalled 64.10 points with Team Del Sol of the U.S. second at 39.16 and Zariba from Britain third at 29.24.

The skaters for NEXXICE are Cassandra Black, Madina Asrorova, Nadine Banholzer, Kelly Britten, Sarah Burns, Laura Emery, Ariana Gould-Tasoojy, Celina Hevesi, Emma Kim, Jamie Kosonic, Jenna Mackenzie, Megan MacLellan, Caroline Marr, Courtney McNaughton, Morgan Dykstra Stang, Kiersten Tietz, Alessandra Toso, Victoria Smith, Taylor Walker and Brooklyn Williamson.

NEXXICE won this competition in 2015. Last season, the representatives of the Burlington Skating Centre placed fourth at the ISU Shanghai Trophy, and seventh at the 2016 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships. The 2016 Canadian silver medallists are coached by Shelley Simonton Barnett and Anne Schelter.

This is a big year for synchronized skating in Canada with the world junior championships set for Mississauga, Ont., March 10-11 at the Hershey Centre.

Full results: http://www.iceresultsuk.org.uk/TrophyD’Ecosse/2017/index.htm