Olympic medalists mark return of York’s ice rink (From York Press)
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Olympic medalists mark return of York’s Ice Factor skating rink
12:01pm Thursday 8th November 2012 in News
By Jennifer Bell, jennifer.bell@thepress.co.uk
Olympic medalists mark return of York’s ice rink
THREE Yorkshire medalists from the 2012 London Olympics will help mark the return of York’s ice rink at the city's Designer Outlet this winter.
Olympic Gold Medallist Boxing Champion Luke Campbell from Hull, Double Olympic Champion Ed Clancy from Barnsley and Team GB’s first medallist of London 2012 Lizzie Armitstead from Otley will be launching the third Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland at McArthurGlen’s York Designer Outlet, on Friday November 23.
The evening will begin at 6:30pm as the Yorkshire Olympic medallists take centre stage on the ice to turn on the 30ft Christmas tree lights, at the centre of the North of England’s largest ice rink.
Following this, visitors will be treated to exclusive performances from The Imperial Ice Stars - the internationally acclaimed Russian ice skating troupe. Fans of the Olympic athletes will also have the opportunity to meet them in the VIP area of the Ice Factor café between 7.15pm and 8.15pm.
Mike Thomas, centre manager at McArthurGlen’s York Designer Outlet, said: “It has been a great year for Britain and we are particularly proud of our Yorkshire athletes.
"We wanted to keep the spirit going by inviting Yorkshire-born Olympians Luke Campbell, Ed Clancy and Lizzie Armitstead to open our spectacular Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland at McArthurGlen’s York – the ultimate destination for Christmas shopping and a festive family day out.”
James Cundall, chief executive at Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, organisers of The Ice Factor, said: “Last year, Torvill and Dean drew in huge crowds for the launch of Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland. However, this year we expect to surpass that by having Yorkshire’s very own Olympians as well as performers from the world-renowned ice skating troupe, The Imperial Ice Stars in attendance for the opening of the Ice Factor’s third season at the centre.”
The Winter Wonderland will be at the outlet from November 24 until January 6, with an illuminated reindeer forest and an authentic fun fair offering a variety of traditional fair rides, such as a Carousel, a 1930s Speedway, a helter skelter and many other rides and games. In addition, there will be festive food and drink stalls, along with Santa's grotto.
The Ice Factor will be open from 9.30am until 9.15pm daily, except Christmas Day. For ticket details visit www.theicefactor.co.uk or call 01653 619169.
Comments(4)
Buzz Light-year
says...
6:28pm Thu 8 Nov 12
The Head of Marketing said "The 2012 Christmas ice rink has been a fantastic success and everyone has really enjoyed themselves"
Buzz Light-year
says...
7:20pm Fri 9 Nov 12
I'm a fan. I'm part of your readership, I'm a customer of yours. I'm one of those who comes here every day and generates page visit numbers that you can sell to advertisers. I accidentally click on some of those ads. Sometimes I'll even buy a paper.
My comments contain no malice, they are mostly humour.
I understand local news media face a difficult time with the transition to digital, economic downturn and all but...
Guys, you blatantly pre-wrote a PR piece and were well and truly caught out doing it.
To add insult you made no attempt to hold your hand up.
Fair enough. That's your right. It's your paper. We're in your garden here.
It's also your reputation.
You could have come out of it a lot worse but these days people have short attention spans. They can't be bothered with the IPCC, sending off emails and whatnot and rightly so, life's too short, after all X Factor is on in a minute or something.
So the very least you could expect after such an obvious gaffe is a few light-hearted comments on your web facility gently ribbing you, with things like "Was this article written before or after the..." and "Press reports Christmas 2012 Ice Rink big success" y'know, stuff like that.
When you removed those light-hearted comments, the ones I wrote here and on another article, you told your readership that you don't give a monkey's about them or your reputation.
You reinforced the impression of you that people took from *that story*
Why do you think that's a better strategy than having the humility and self-knowledge to let it ride? I know from experience which one gets the respect of customers.
Respectfully yours,
Buzz
Buzz Light-year
says...
7:25pm Fri 9 Nov 12
The comments weren't here till I posted another.
I'll hold my hand up.
Apologies Press, you didn't remove them.
But your site is a bit knacked.
moose says...
6:14pm Thu 8 Nov 12