Louise, 25, and Owen, 22, are ranked among Britain's best and will be heading out to Vancouver in February if they are ranked in the top two at the British Ice Figure Skating Championships in Sheffield. And training is going well for the pair.

Louise said: "We're well prepared. We've done two internationals in two weeks and then went back to Lyon. But there's always more to improve, and we're on form."

The current British champions are expected to retain their title, but Louise, a former Corpus Christi High School pupil, said there is a chasing pack battling for second place.

She and Owen, 22, from Wrexham, came third in the competition last season and are hopeful of improving their position.

Louise, of Squires Wood, Fulwood, added: "We could be second, but we could be down to fifth place. I'd like to think we can keep the third place but three couples are eligible for the other place and there's a one in three chance."

The former Preston College student, who is also studying for an Open University degree in French and media studies, started skating at the age of 11 and was previously a member of the British junior team.

She and Owen, who have been together for three years, put in about 34 hours a week in training to get their skating up to scratch.

When training in the UK, they use facilities in Deeside, North Wales, or Blackburn.

But if they are not able to win a place for the games in Canada next year, they are hopeful of a place in the 2014 squad.

Louise added: "If we don't get through this year, we're young enough to get through next time. But we would be lying if we said we didn't want to go."

• Anyone interested in sponsoring Owen and Louise can e-mail louise_walden@hotmail.com

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