Despite a valiant attempt, the NSW team failed to take out the Duke Trophy at Erina Ice Arena On July 19-20, with Victoria emerging as winner.
More than 60 skaters from across Australia, 30 volunteers and a host of families and friends travelled to the Central Coast for the 2025 Duke Trophy as Masters, Seniors and Juniors battled it out for honours.
While it is a team event, there is recognition for individual skaters in various areas.
Since its inception in 1953, the Duke Trophy has been one of the most anticipated events on the sport’s calendar.
The competition sees Australia’s elite and most experienced short track speed skaters join forces with their younger developing athletes, all vying to win the gold and glory for their state.
It was first run in 1953, when Len Duke, the secretary/treasurer of the AAIRC (Australian Amateur Ice Racing Council) decided that there should be a separate event for interstate racing.
Duke donated the trophy and the event was born; it was originally known as The Australian Amateur Ice Racing Council Trophy for Interstate Racing.
In 1952 a bike accident left Duke with damaged discs in his spine and eventually he had to retire from skating completely.
In 1956, the decision was made to rename the event the Duke Trophy to honour his name in the sport.
The event sees skaters compete in teams of up to 20 athletes, all racing as part of their state of origin in five divisions.
This year saw the inaugural presentation of the Jenny Duke Encouragement Award for Young Skaters (named for Len Duke’s sister), awarded to Hyobynn Ahn of NSW.
It was presented by Jenny Duke’s daughter Megan Rowe.
With just over seven months until the next Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, in February 2026 short track speed skating is once again on Australia’s radar.
Next year’s Duke Trophy will be in Queensland.
NSW Ice Racing and Erina Ice Arena will be offering Learn to Skate and Ice Racing Development Sessions over the next few months.
AAIRC is keen to establish a team at Erina and will hold its next session on Saturday, August 9.
If you are interested in learning how to skate fast follow Erina Ice Arena on Facebook.
Well done to all the skaters, and thank you to Australian Ice Racing (AIR) and Erina Ice Arena for hosting the event. It is a high light of the Ice Racing Calendar.
Come along to our next Ice Racing Development Session at Erina Ice Arena on 9 August 2025, off ice from 14:30 and on-ice 15:15 to 16:15. If you can skate, you can learn to skate. fast.
We’d love to have an Ice Racing Club at Erina Ice Arena.
How refreshing to read about a sport that doesn’t involve getting wet and muddy or involve tackling someone else to get a point! Wonderful exercise and good on Erina Ice Rink for hosting this event.
It was such a fun weekend and so good to see so many young skaters doing so well and with such enthusiasm