Savchenko and Morozov
Robin Hood - very good. Huge throw 2a and 3sal - she fell on 3toe at the
beginning and the double axel, then she did the most amazing throw 2a! Split
3twist was huge!
Marks 4.6-5.1 / 4.8-5.1

Berankova and Dlabola
in 10th at the moment, but under threat. Mask of Zorro. Like her red dress.
CLean 3toes, perfect synch - Just short of rotation on the 3twist, same
problem on the throw 3sal - she singled the axel, he fell out of his double.
She has the most amazing spiral, very Bobekesque....clean throw 3toe....She
really is amazingly flexible - think Kazakova like positions, even on the
hip lift, I can't tell you how straight her leg is, and the point of the
toe - Dick Button would love this girl. Double flip double toe, and I like
the death spiral, very nice. Nice on the pairs spins. Bit of a bump coming
out of a lift, nothing major. Another nice death spiral, and spin to finish.
I like her, she had charisma, but he's a bit of a plank I'm afraid. They
could be something if he'd just project! Simon says the choreography didn't
work for him, but there was guts there - when it was good it was very good.
Chris thoroughly enjoyed it. (this is his pet saying - I kid you not!)
Marks 4.8-5.2 / 4.7-5.2

Rodnionova / Kroukov
In 9th - Ever After sdtk - I like the costumes. she's down on the toe -
thought she had it. Double twist. Hands down on the throw 3sal - an age
going into it, her weight was just a smidge forwards. She singles her
axel...both do double loops. Nice star lift, clean throw 2a..backwards
upside down lift - unusual but nice dismount. Out of sync on the s/s spins
..... very slow to get down in the death spiral,....slow spins to end. She
looks crushed! She's very pale anyway and has white blond hair, natural with
her colouring, and she is just white! An inverted lift I have just learned
is the proper name for a backwards upside down lift -well it's easier to
type anyway
Marks 4.5-4.7 / 4.5-4.9
3rd overall and on the night with 9 to go - they're out of the top 10

Shklover and Mintals
Grease! She's 16 and tiny! Huge twist ! You're the one that I want = both
turn after 3toe - leaning all the way on the throw 3sal had to step out of
it. Chris has just annointed her a strong little cookie. fantastic lift -
double sal from her, think he did a triple. Change to slow piece....not sure
if it's from Grease.....throw 2ax landed on two feet. another big big lift,
unusual entrance, position and exit! Death spiral to please even me! Now
back to We Go Together.....Natalia death spin as part of pairs spin to
finish and I really liked it. Worth it for the lifts alone! This could be a
pair to look out for.
NOW....this chap is Estonian.....VALDIS MINTALS.....I know he used to skate
with someone else, but I can't remember her name,but I remember his and it's
driving me buggy! IF anyone, anyone knows who he used to skate with, please
please please tell me!
Marks - 4.2-4.8 / 4.3-5.0
4th overall.

Totmianina and Marnin
Much better costumes! Nice red dress for her, black tuxedo type thing for
him. Clean triple toes, although she might have doubled hers. Triple lateral
twist...step out of the throw 3loop....just couldn't hang onto it. clean
triple toe double toe....excellent death spiral, really low....deep landing
on throw triple loop...into Bechke and Petrov type death spiral, going in
and out of sync on side by side spins. Another great star lift, great lines,
same in the pairs camel spins. Very nice . that was class said Simon.
Rachmaninov.....Still haven't seen the opening jump again....Simon has said
it was a triple sal, I presume she got it.
Marks 5.0-5.4 she must have / 5.0-5.5 all 1sts, never a doubt.

Kautz and Jeschke
Very nice navy blue sparkly things....double twist to start...and she's down
on the 3toe....double the throw loop....pair combo spin looks dodgy,
hopefully the slow part of the music will let them get back on track.And it
doesn't because she's down on the 2axel...and he's skating great. Anyone
remember Wotzel and Steuer, Euros 95?? Throw 3toe, double footed. Just the
confidence is lacking.Really nice death spiral...step sequence the length of
the rink...2toe into 2sal.....lift that never got off the ground. I praised
these to the skys on Monday, I shoulda kept my big mouth shut. Nice sync in
s/s spins to end. Oh the poor girl, she kept trying bless her. Won't move up
from 8th. He took off before her on both s/s jumps, Chris thinks that might
have put her off.
Marks - 4.4-4.9 dropping like a stone / 4.3-5.1 3rd to 8th
5th on the night 4th overall at the moment.

Abitbol and Bernadis
Excuse any typos. She wears the mostly blousy gapey white yoke - yuk! He
looks good in burgundy. Angel and the Devil. If she wants to look angelic
she needs a nicer dress. And what is with the trousers, are they allowed??
OOOh she was leaning on the 3toe, but they both got it. She struggled to
land the axel ,and he fell out of the 2toe on the end. Nice triple twist....
perfect throw 2ax. easy as you like, she just flew! Star lift....I really
don't like her outfit. Step out of the throw 3loop....not sure about the
dismount of the lift...she just dropped. Good low death spiral but. Straight
line step...got the spins back....good lift....besti squat spread eagle
thing that is the ugliest thing I've ever seen in my life...and answers my
question as to why she's not wearing a skirt....Not bad overall, great
choreography. Simon is in full gush mode...That throw 2ax is amazing, can't
wait to see the throw 3ax they're working on. Oh she stabbed him! THe
miracle of camera angles!
Marks 5.2-5.6 / 5.5-5.7 Russians have them in 2nd - can you say national
bias?

Obertas and Palamarchuk
I gush, I like these two. Nice silver costumes, looking better on him than
on her little blond self. We have Strauss. We have a fine looking man here!
And a fine looking 3toe from him, she's down! Clean throw 2ax....she
travelled miles! clean s/s double axels.....Perfect triple twist....Viennese
Waltz....really fast death spiral into pairs spins....they have amazing
speed. Chris is gushing the program isn't even finished yet! Seamless
transitions and another great death spiral...can you tell I'm happy? Their
lifts are great too, good speed and line. And there I go again! She's down
on the throw 3 sal, from now on I"m not saying a thing! Double sals into
double toes....spins to finish. Not bad at all...she looks exhausted. And
she took a bad fall which wouldn't have helped. I loved it though I must
say. They have great charisma - she can just sell a routine. I remember two
years ago, their first Europeans, she was just the size of the boards...mind
you she's not that much bigger now! You can see her fight for the sal all
the way along...
Marks 4.9-5.5 / 5.1-5.6
Mostly third, which is where they are, they should finish 7th.

Break for ice resurface.....
A&B
T&M
O&B

Chris promises magnificence in final group - B&S go last, P&T right before
them. This is drama!

Some deep thoughts from a shallow mind here....since they are going last,
unless they have a disaster, my thoughts is that it's B&S's title to lose -
although with P&T going right before them, I'd sell my granny to be in the
arena for that! Well maybe not my granny - I'd give away my class though. In
fact if anyone wants to take them...hard to call the bronze medal
though....I'd love if the Poles got it because I love them, but S&M are in
good position for it....of course if they both scrw up then it'll go to the
French....

And they're on for the warm up! Did you know that for the last 18 years,
17times a Russian or former Soviet has won at Euros? ONly time it didn't was
Wotzel and Steuer...who won in 95 and self destructed at worlds last year,
disregard my last email.

Jeanine's Best Dressed List......
B&S are in whitey-grey things. The Poles are wearing Colgate green and
**that** is now the ugliest thing I've ever seen. S&M are
browny-purpley....and isn't Elena's dress pretty? P&T are in black and light
purple...quite nice on her...can't see him at the moment. Simon and Chris
replay the tragic ELena story for the 5billionth time....and the Poles have
really really horrible costumes. Block Colgate spearmint green, no break in
it at all...no-one can carry off that colour! Ooh, I do like Elena's dress.

Simon has mentioned how B&S were just pipped at the last Olympics.... I
think I speak for us all when I say HUH??

And they're off for warm up....cross the fingers....

Zagorska and Siudek
It's hard to type with crossed fingers. Same music as last year, Dvorak, New
World Symphony. The Hovis Ad. yes! Huge throw 2a....yes! clean
3toe....please god....very low split twist, she singles her axel I'm almost
sure.....double toes....good unison in step....gor the spins back....they
lose unison in every transition..upside down entrance to star
lift......another lift with Meno Sand dismount....costumes aside this is
nice. Beautiful arch of the back in the death spiral, everyone should see
this! throw 3sal and she was leaning all the way but she held it! spiral
sequence......great change of positions in lift and the crowd love it....o/s
death spiral at least she dind't fall this year.. PAirs spins to
finish...andtoher o/h lift.....yes!!!!!!!!! oh yes!!!! I am happy happy
happy!!! That was breathtaking Simon says and Simon is right! Class and
elegance and if they had nicer costumes, I'd be holding 6.0s up right now.
She had to fight for that triple sal though - how could they not get a medal
they say. They just get better and better.
Marks 5.6-5.8 / 5.5-5.7
First across the board.


Schwartz and Muller
Repeat after me....I would never wish a skater ill, I would never wish a
skater ill.............
Patch Adams......super split 3twist....clean 3toes......perfect unison with
them....hands down on the throw 3sal.....and she's down on the
2axel....that's the bronze gone. But it started so well, and this is a total
change from last year. Lovely inverted lift....throw 2ax...perfect huge,
bang wit hthe music, that was lovely! Another great lift....interesting
positions in it....back outside death spiral, not as low as the Poles. and
she's down on the axel again! And at thisrate I doubt they;ll hold off the
French no matter how gorgeous this routine is, and it really is . Good
unison in the pairs. Oh this is so cute! The cuteness of the choreography
must be seen to be believed! What a sweet pretty lovely routine, and it's
such a shame!
Marks 5.1-5.6 and I was right about the French.....5.3-5.8
Canada have them in 5th, the Brits in 1st....but third at the moment

Petrova and Tikhonov
Here we go...the leaders. I like the costumes...except for he has that deep
V open to the navel look going on. Four Seasons.....get a new program
already! and she POPS the toe to a single! Oh no! perfect 2ax to 2toe...they
have tobe clean from now on, and then hope. heavy landing on 3twist, she
really belted him on the chest. throw 3sal, no problems, and sheflew out of
it. Lift...not sure if the dismount was botched or really original,, she
kinda did a somersault....then their patented ugly lift, where she's balled
up around his hands. Great fast low death spiral..... he in spreadeagle she
in spiral, into spirals from both, very nice. throw something.....triple
toe...didn't look great, but it was there and it counts. Lift, well done,
into the home stretch now, s/s spins a wee bit out of kilter......into the
music we all know, and a straight line step....and they'd done. They sure
is! Strong comeback says Simon....I dunno lads. If B&S are clean ,they now
have the gold I reckon. As for these, like I say....personally I'd give it
to the Poles , costumes and all.....I think that lift was intended to look
funny.....but I'm not a judge, so I reckon they'll win over the Poles. Chris
says the RUssians had better quality overall....he wants to give it to the
Poles, but he thinks it'll go to these.
Marks / 5/5-5.9....that SVK is whacked, 5.9 with a pop??? 5/6-5/9 2 judges
have them in second.
First over all

Bereshnaia and Sikharulidze
Well if they are clean they have it. And they look focused. Waltz
Sentimental.....Much better music than last year. And I think she doubled
the toe and she did! Jeanine shakes her head....she also walloped him on the
twist though not as bad and it was huge! Shaky for her on the 2a...I thought
she'd go on that and anyone else would have! Clean throw 3sal.....arch your
back woman! Death spiral. Smile girl smile. Lift, nicely done.her in
spreadeagle, him in spiral....off axis on the throw triple loop but she got
it, check his reaction when you see it! Another overhead lift,unusual
dismount, with her low on the ice, holding on to him....pairs spins...this
is really nice. I don't know how she's landing half the jumps. S/S spins
were spot on in unison...they must have it.....oh! I really shouldn'tsay
these things because he damn near dropped her on that lift, my heart is in
my mouth! Seriously, you have been warned! People are standing, they should
have it. Chris loved it, his evening is made. (Gee I thought only Diana Poth
could do that. )
Marks - 5.6-5.9...4 5.9s......they have it! all 5.9s for presentation! First
right across the board.

Good result! B&S, then P&T, then the Poles, the French and the Germans.
Sarah Abitbol is in the French commentary box and I believe she is smiling.
We can see Tamara applauding. Nice finishing pose from B&S - they just
smiled! Totmianina and Marinin 6th Obertas Palamarchuk 7th.