Monnier is skating at the moment...he went down on the quad, landed 3a/2t,
just stepped out of the lutz. Just held the loop...fell on second 3a after 3
minutes.

Hernits is in the lead - he landed 7 triples but not much in between
Murvanidze (GEO) and Davies (GRB) both did very little in the opening 2 and
a half minutes, then landed 4 and 3 triples respectively at the death.

Grzgorecyzk (POL) whose name changes every time I spell it was absolutely
astounding. Landed 5 triples, including 3a/2t and a corker of a lutz, and he
was thrilled.

Not sure who else was good - Eurosport didn't show the first group because
they had to show the last group of the OD (email later) which they didn't
show live because they showed football instead. Don't ask!

Monnier is finished, landed three triples in all, and Simon and Chris are
less than enthused.As am I.
Marks4.7-5.0 / 4.7-5.1
3rd at the moment probably 15th by the end

Ice resurface...back soon with Michael Tylleson!

Michael Tylleson
HAs gone back to his Right Stuff program from 98 - if he does a routine
like he did in Nagano I'll be thrilled! We saw him backstage during the last
group, he looked happy and relaxed. He's 9th at the moment. just df the
3a...and it was so good! He just couldn't stop! Yes!! Clean 3lz.....nice
camel spin,...doubled the flip...triple toe double toe...spin....nice camera
close up, excuse me while I swoon, and a lovely spreadeagle, I swoon again.
Sigh. same thing on the 2nd axel...got the turns no conviction on the
landing. Amazing close up! He looks pooped! which might explain why he
doubled the loop.....3sal.....3toe on its own.....nice step
sequence.....forward camel to sit change sit, upright spun to
finish......oh.....bless him. Four triples, but amazing choreography....if
only Simon says....but it just doesn't matter what he does or doesn't do,
you can still sit and look at this routine. It doesn't matter that the jumps
didn't work. THe axels were both near the barrier smack in front of the
judges....he will be in worlds, but Simon and Chris say this is his last
year
Marks 4.6-5.1 / 4.9-5.3
He's first overall, but behind Hernits on the night


Sabolcs Vidrai
In 12 place....Black Machine. This chap has a weird hairdo...he needs
something done with it. Very techno, poppy weird music....quad! slightly
double footed,but only by a smidge! 3a/2t, but the left foot was low on the
axel.....no doubt on the loop although ice flew up. slow camel spin! i
dunno, he looks to me as if he's crawling around the ice....and he pops the
axel to a single. camel to sit change sit....his hair looks like someone
picked it up and put it on his head....triple lutz....3flip....straight line
step....3sal, triple no 5....another triple, possibly the toe? ....well he
is happy with that! Very clearly said "Wow" at the end....flowers galore on
the ice and the audience just love him. Outfit is odd...black trousers,
black jacket, white trim, with a red and white striped t shirt underneath.
Quad was double footed by the way,as was the axel ,so I am expecting huge
boos on the marks.
Marks 5.2-5.5 / 5.0-5.5
He's first on the night second overall.

Stannick Jeannette.
Black trousers cream shirt, braces. Elegant, understated costume. Especially
compared to the short.Piano music....triple axel double toe to
start....triple flip....camel to sit change sit....not as smooth on the
change as the others have been....triple lutz and the crowd alive. Amazing
spins.... he just bends all over the place! How does he keep his balance?
Nice slow part....splat goes the axel and it could have something to do with
the gombeen in the crowd whose mobile phone started to ring and now he's
down on the triple whatever that I missed....and he doubles the loop...sit
change sit....music picks up and the crowd are in it, and he lands the 3sal!
\amazing footwork! Almost does the splits to end it! That was great - I take
back everything I said about the short! First three minutes were
great....then it just went towards the end. If he does some work on his
strength and conditioning, it could be great . Chris reckons he needs a bit
of a breather in the middle of it.
Marks...5.1-5.4 / go up! 5.0-5.6!!!
3 have him second, but he's leading overall, and on the night.

Stefan Lindemann
Now, not to run down our Larry, but blue velveteen just doesn't suit
everyone. SDTK Rudy. Touchdown on the 3a, did the 2toe and he didn't get the
height on the axel....huge triple lutz! straight line step, crowd clap for
all they are worth....sit spins.....ok this costume makes him look 10. I
know he normally only looks 12, but come on! 3ax, triple toe loop! You go
on you good thing ya! 3loop! combo spin....double the flip, no speed, and
double the toe loop? 3sal....spreadeagle.....spins....Simon thinks he might
throw a triple......step sequence....and he tries the flip but he has to
step out of the landing! And he does look tired! It was a program of
halves....Simon says the women just want to take him home and mother him!
He's 19 going on 14 in terms of looks, but a real man in terms of skating.
And his coach could hardly watch halfway through, she just turned away!
Marks 5.3-5.5 / 5.1-5.5
Beaten on night by Jeanette, but leads overall
3 judges had him first.

Vlaschenko
Black trousers, blue flappy jacket/shirt thing, with silver spangles. Just
open low enough to show his manly chest....there are some things I never
wanted to see, thank you. over-rotates 3a, turns out of it, gets 3toe
in.....3toe where it looks like he has room for another turn. doubles the
flip, very near the barrier. lutz, little lean but no problems, he has it
clean. Sit spin....step sequence does nothing for me, and he falls out of
the solo triple axel....clean on the loop....camel spin....layback spin that
would have Dick Button grinding his teeth, and I ain't far behind....clean
on the flip....fast rocky music, gets the crowd going, and he mimes playing
the piano as he flies along, doing a clean sal, I think, spins all around
the place to finish, seven triple jumps Simon says. Plenty of
interpretation, yes whatever Simon. He's had a knee injury which is why he
missed nationals. Simon has him in the top 10 - the last triple was a sal ,I
was right!
Marks - 5.3-5.5/ 5.4-5.7
On the night he's first, but he's second overall, Lindemann leading

Vincent Restencourt
Thank God, he ditched the red trousers. Nice normal black... and splat goes
the quad, and nearly into the boards. As the music guy pumps up the volume
on Mask of Zorro he lands a triple axel double toe. Restencourt now, not the
music guy. Spins, and the choreography into the steps includes incitement to
the crowd. Which doesn't work. Down down on the flip - never looked right,
and a bad bad fall. Now choreography hints that crowd should clap, but
nothing doing. clean triple axel...ouchie! leaning all over the lutz, and he
almost did the splits there. If this is the French great hope, they must be
praying for Tobel to change his mind. Doubles and blows the
loop....3flip....3sal....sit spin....and he's done. Five triples in the end
says Simon...I only have four.....maybe it was a 3ax/3toe......and it was!
Sorry! Question, what's the marking like if a guy does 2 3axels and only a
couple of other jumps? I thought the axel was all he could land!
Marks...5.0-5.5 / did he have any presentation?? 4.9-5.3 guess not
Fourth overall

The next group are warming up.....back as soon as it's over!

Abt
See last email with regard to barechested look....and it;s Irish folk
music....which explains the Michael Flatley wannabe look, leather trousers
and bolero jacket etc ....and he's down on the quad. 3ax 3toe....huge toe
loop it was too......another huge triple axel....spins
combination....stumbles out of the triple lutz, which was also meant to be a
combination.....straight line step into Riverdance which Simon incorrectly
classifies as Lord of the Dance...Skating through the music, but lands a
triple loop,,, flying sit spin....the worst impersonation of step dancing I
have ever seen, including drunken Saturday nights at college
parties.....hand down on the triple flip.....triple toe......and he's done
and that did not a dog-gone thing for me. Simon is admiring his
perseverance, his injuries and so on and so forth. However, Jeanine, who is
totally qualified to talk about Irish folk music and it's interpretation,
which Chris says is wonderful and I say huh???, thinks that especially in
the step sequences he skated **through** rather than to the music. I think
Simon and Chris were looking at another routine, either that, or there's
something in their coffee.
Marks 5.3-5.7, they're on about a Russian sweep...5.3-5.7
Bulgarian and Swiss have him in 3rd, everyone else first. I know who I agree
with.

Ivan Dinev (BUL)
Again, much better costume. The beige is gone and it's black vinyl trousers,
with a see through black top with white piping. Drum heavy music starts.
Triple axel triple toe.....nice blonde highlights....triple toe, should've
been the quad but he was off axid in the air. Great position on his camel
spin though...Pops the lutz in midair and goes down on it, and SImon thinks
he's hurt.....looks as fine as he can to me.....just hangs onto triple axel,
stumbles of landing of 3loop, leaning in the air both times. Spread eagle
into flying sit....mimes playing drums...on the spot footwork.....circular
step into triple flip.....flying camel....into sit, don't start me on the
position, I just want to push him down lower! More
footwork....3sal.....2ax.....sit change spit, slow as bedamned, and he's
done.
Simon says good but not good enough. Did 6 triples.....Chris annoints it as
disappointing. Chris says the time was 4.08...it's either short or the clock
was wrong. Conferring is going on - how could he possibly be ten seconds
short?? I dunno, but I'd believe anything right about now.
Marks... 5.2-5.7 / 5.4-5.6

Dmitrenko
Scent of a Woman....black crushed velvet suit....3ax, 3toe..df........greeny
accents on the white shirt....3toe, was going for the quad. He's in third so
that could be right, as Dinev was 4th...nice spin....yes! clean
3lz....2flip.....camel, sit change sit......nice step.....down on the 2nd
triple axel.....gets the triple somethingorother.....tango music, and he's
miming dancing with a partner....3loop, really weird entry! Not the usual
long sit on the x.......not that's a layback! spreadeagle.....3sal, half
loop double sal.....flying sit.....ends in front of the judges, really well
, and he's smiling. He might just have a medal Chris and Simon think, and
Simon is in raptures once more. A real original and so on and so
forth.....if he's in first, he should have bronze
Marks..5.3-5.7..he's nervous, can't look! 5.5-5.7....he's in first! He
thinks he's done enough....you guys have to see the reaction, I've never
seen a man so nervous!

Vitaly Danilchenko
In 6th....Mask of Zorro....again!!!.......black blousy effort with red
undershirt......how many times must I hear this music? triple toe, in
perfect time....triple axel, but with that landing not a combination. He
made the right choice! Camel spin.....3lz.....sit change sit......3ax,
2toe.......back spiral, don't see that enough....leaning all over on the
loop, just got it....and down on the flip.....into the straight line
step...crowd clap...triple sal.....double something......I'm getting nervous
for the final two and my eyes are going! Spin combo... cross foot spin to
finish..6 triples, damn all presentation in my humble opinion. Not a hope of
overtaking Dmitrenko, for whom I am just thrilled, in case that didn't come
across.
Marks 5.2-5.6, Simon says no, calming my nerves! 5.1-5.6.
He's fourth.
Dmitrenko has the bronze, oh happy day!!

Plushy
White shirt, trousers, gold waistcoat. DOn't like the outfit. Trad Russian
folk music. Steps to schmooze the judges.....quad, triple toe, just stepped
out of the double loop! The first two will count, and the crowd are
clapping....huge triple ax triple toe....blinding camel spin and that is a
spin! Slow part to judges...second 3ax right in front of them, and it looked
so easy! 3lz.....I definiitely don't like the outfit....mind you with jumos
like that....Biellman position in a spiral! 3flip...sit spin....and I see a
hint of bare chest, why??? 3sal....3loop....incredible! into blinding step
sequence,, spins, including the biellman....finish, and people are on their
feet! Standing O.....Yags will have to go some to better that, and if he can
it's gonna be one heck of a routine. Simon and Chris are in full gush
mode...how can he lose skating like that? And no sign of Yags.....here he
is....he kept well away. Aside from the step out of the loop at the start,
that was it. Chris mentions a df landing somewhere, not sure where. 8
triples, plus the quad, 2 triple toes in combination
Marks....5 5.9s, 4 5.8 / same for presentation.
IN the lead. Duh.


Yags
Big huge nope for the costume....grey with bits of red and concentric
circles....Broken Arrow......I can hardly watch let alone type! Hard to do
when hands are shaking! Quad first....yes! But not in combination and that
could be crucial! leaning on the lutz, but landed it! dunno how! 3ax 3toe,
little stutter at the end though....not enough to matter.....triple
flip.....triple axel on its own.....flying sit....circular
step.....3loop.....sit, layback...spiral....besti squat.....and he falls out
of the triple salchow! SImon thinks the gold is gone now.....he could be
right.....hydroblading move.....combo spin ....and we;re done.He puts one
finger to his head, miming gunshot.....I think he thinks its gone.....they
are wondering if he's beaten Plushenko...he could have if he went clean, but
with the quad not in combination and the mistake on the sal where he never
looked like getting anything out of it, I think it's gone.
Marks he's gone beffore they're up 5.7-5.8 / he's not even sitting
there...5.7-5.8
Very bad sportsmanship there I reckon....he should have stayed in kiss and
cry


Plushenko\
Yagudin
Dmitrenko!! <YAY)
Abt
Dinev
Danilchenko
Vlaschenko\
Lindemann\
Jeanette
Restencourt
Vidrai
Tylleson\
Hernits
Grzgorcyzk
Monnier
Murvanidze
Rylov
Davies
Schmerkin
Dolfini