Edinburgh Skating Club facts for kids
_Skating_on_Duddingston_Loch.jpg)
The club's most famous member, The Skating Minister
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| Formation | 1742-1744 |
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| Dissolved | 1966 |
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The Edinburgh Skating Club was a very special group of skaters. It's known as the world's first organized figure skating club. Imagine, a club just for skating, way back then! It started in Edinburgh, Scotland. Most people agree it began around 1742 or 1744. The next oldest club didn't even start until 1830 in London. The Edinburgh Skating Club stopped meeting in 1966. This happened when interest in their special kind of skating went down.
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The Edinburgh Skating Club
The Edinburgh Skating Club was a pioneering group. It was the first of its kind anywhere. This club helped shape early figure skating. It showed how skating could be an art form.
When Was the Club Formed?
There's a bit of a mystery about when the club started. Some old records from the club say it began in 1642. But this date appeared in records much later. The oldest actual club papers are from 1778.
A famous book, the Encyclopædia Britannica, helps us out. In its 1783 edition, it mentions the club. It says the club started "about 40 years ago." This means the club likely began around 1742 or 1744. Most historians agree with these later dates.
What Kind of Skating Did They Do?
The Edinburgh Skating Club was all about figure skating. This is different from speed skating. Figure skating focuses on graceful moves and patterns. Speed skating is about going as fast as possible.
Club members practiced a special kind of group skating. They would choreograph their moves together. This made their skating look like a dance on ice.
How Did You Join the Club?
Joining the club wasn't easy! You had to pass a tough test. First, you had to skate a full circle on one foot. Then you had to do it on the other foot. This was like making a figure eight on the ice. But the circles didn't have to be connected.
Next, you had to show how brave you were. You had to jump over a hat placed on the ice. Then you jumped over two hats. Finally, you had to jump over three hats stacked up! This showed you had both skill and daring.
Where Did They Meet?
The club members loved to skate on Duddingston Loch. This is a beautiful lake near Edinburgh, Scotland. It was their favorite spot when the ice was thick enough.
After skating, the club often had a special dinner. They would eat "sheeps-heads and trotters." This might sound a bit unusual today! It was a traditional dish. Perhaps it was a nod to the local Sheep Heid Inn in Duddingston.
The Famous Painting
Today, the club is best known for a famous painting. It's called The Skating Minister. The real title is The Reverend Robert Walker Skating on Duddingston Loch. It was painted by Henry Raeburn. The painting shows one of the club's most famous members. It captures the spirit of the club perfectly.
