Last Update

September 25, 2007

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Club History

The Berkley Ice Arena opened in November of 1974. The first Ice Show with the theme "Love Makes the World Go Round" was held in the 1976-1977 season. In 1978, Diane Brietzke and a group of parents established the Berkley Figure Skating Club. At that time, the club had approximately 130 members, and also held an Ice Skating Institute of America membership. The members of the club were from various cities in the community, with a large number of precision skaters from the Royal Oak area. In 1983, Nancy Neikirk, Heather Bradshaw, Jo Walkowiak, Jan Stimac, Leslie Hinson, Linda Bailey and Bev Koester set to the task of writing the constitution and bylaws so that the club could receive USFSA status. The club's name was then changed to the Berkley Royal Blades Figure Skating club to recognize both the home rink city, and the large number of skaters from Royal Oak. In May of 1984, the Berkley Royal Blades Figure Skating Club was given its sanction from the USFSA. Over the years, many families have given countless hours of dedication to our club. At the end of every skating season, we honor one special person - Mr. Rossi, the grandfather of one of the founding club members - with a memorial exhibition in remembrance of all the time, effort and encouragement that he put into our club. In 2005 the Berkley Royal Blades will celebrate its 20th anniversary!

Special thanks to Jo Walkowiak for her oral history of the club.

In Memory of Sally Louise Jinks

In the summer of 2007, we lost one of our Adult Skaters to cancer. Sally will be missed on Friday nights at the rink, and in the Monday night Adult Class, and in the Ice Show!

Always smiling, always cheerful, Sally truly embodied skating for the joy of skating. She will be truly missed.

Berkley Royal Blades
Figure Skating Club
Berkley Ice Arena
2300 Robina
Berkley, MI 48072
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