AT 72-years-young, roller skater Annie Clements is on top of the world after her team - The Pacemakers - were crowned Australian Champions.

Annie, ne Reynolds, emigrated to Oz in 1960 with her late husband John, but she fondly remembers her skating days as a youngster in Burnley at the Empress Ballroom.

At 56, she decided to take up the hobby again and joined The Pacemakers who skate at a park in her adopted home-city of Melbourne.

The 20 skaters, aged 34 to 72, were recently named Australian Champions and Groovy Granny - as Annie is known - was delighted to have helped them earn the accolade.

She wrote to her sister, Mrs Kathleen Littler, 78, of Adlington Street, Burnley, saying: "I have no intention of hanging up my boots for many a year - I am not ready for the rocking chair. 1999 is the year of the old person and I want to set an example to keep fit and well and keep putting my best foot, or wheel, forward!"

Kathleen used to join her sister at the Empress but she said: "I couldn't skate. It wasn't my scene. They used to have a team in Burnley and Annie was a member of that.

"I have been over to visit her once since she emigrated and I went to see the skating rink where she goes.

"We keep in touch by letter. Many of her friends will remember her as Annie Reynolds and it is nice to tell them that she is still skating after all these years."

Annie has a daughter, Susan, and two grandchildren.

Next year the Olympics? Well they are in Sydney so she won't have too far to go!

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