THEY were merely a twinkle in their parents’ eye when Torvill and Dean skated into Olypmic stardom.

But Leticia Marsh, 12, and Elliot Crook, 15, have their sights set as high as the famous duo.

The pair are representing Oxfordshire at the British Figure Skating Championships and will be the youngest of five couples competing in the Advance Novice Ice Dance category, which is similar to figure skating, at the event in Sheffield.

And they’ve only known each for a year.

Leticia, who goes to Headington Girl’s School, said: “I am really excited. I’ve been skating since I was seven, so I feel like I have got a real connection with it.

“My mum calls me an adrenaline junkie. I just like doing all the really daring moves, and when my coach says Elliot has to chuck me up in the air I’m like ‘yes!’.”

Elliot, who lives in East Hagbourne, near Didcot, has been training with Leticia while taking his GCSEs at King Alfred’s in Wantage.

Training involves taking time off school and getting up at 4am to travel to Slough for professional coaching sessions.

Elliot said: “After all the hard work in the past year aiming for that target, it is a massive achievement just to get this far.”

If the couple win the competition at iceSheffield on November 29 and 30, they will automatically be entered into Team GB’s Olympic performance squad.

Leticia’s mum, Denise Marsh, said: “That is what the kids are aiming for.”

Leticia was born in Singapore, where the family moved for her dad Ray’s job as a banking consultant.

She grew up there, and decided to go ice skating for her seventh birthday party. After that she took lessons, and ended up skating around Asia representing the UK in competitions.

The family moved to Marsh Baldon three years ago.

The main difference between ice dance and figure skating is that it doesn’t involve as many big jumps.

The championships will require them to demonstrate their skills in a tango and a “blues” dance followed by a free dance interpretation of Henry Mancini’s Pink Panther theme tune.

Leticia and Elliot train together for more than 12 hours every week at Oxford Ice Rink.

They have been sponsored by South Oxfordshire District Council, the AMCO Trust, GLL Sports Foundation and SportsAid, and Elliot has received support from his school and Wantage Rotary Club.