Ok.....a few things first. Firstly, which has to do with tonights skating,
is the first group the group of death or not? Abitbol and Bernadis,
Totmianina and Marinin and Zagorska and Siudek are the first three
skaters.....I shake my head at the wonders that the draw can throw up to us!

Secondly, and apropos of nothing.....Nicky Slater is on the tv (ex Brit ice
dance champ, partner to Robin Cousins..) and he has one heck of a head of
hair!

Standard disclaimer of the week....forgive any typos and spelling mistakes,
I'm doing this and looking at the tv at the same time. These are my
opinions, in a stream of consciousness James Joyce kinda way....if they
cause offence, I'll apologise now well in advance!

And they're not showing the French!

Totmianina and Marinin
Peach for her....balck and peach for him.....clean triple toes....Joanne
Conway and Chris are in for commentary......double twist.....clean throw
3loop....they look relaxed says Joanne....nice overhead lift with her
sitting...music is slow and familiar.......perfect s/s spins, and we see it
from the best angle ever! Dead in time! sprial step sequence....she's
extending and he's just...skating.....death spiral....and you could fit a
phone book or ten between her and the ice but Joanne calls it nice.....and
they're done and clean! What about that says Chris. The French (who were not
shown BTW) were clean but Chris says this is better. She came out of the
throw quicker than she went in....3toes were beautiful says
Joanne......Chris in in raptures....I'm kinda hmmm.....didn't quite reach
me....
Marks....5.1-5.5 / 5.3-5.5
they're second

Joanne says it's nice to see the change in styles since the French did kung
fu....yeah, if we'd seen them!

Zagorska and Siudek
In cerise, blending to purple....why do they do this to me when I love them
so much? Soundtrack of Holya by Nat Czech orchestra.....lush violins and
piano.....effortless 2twist......she was late in 3toe, so timing was off but
they both landed it.....nice timing on spins but his sit position is
woeful.....music speeds up,.....throw 3sal, hands down....pairs spins...to
the music.......slow music again for the spirals.....he has a nice
spiral....she needs to straighten her leg!.....upside down entry lift, but
it looks like they botched the entry, did n't hold position well in the
air....and it was slow.....nice death spiral, back outside this
year........and he's blond. Why is he blond? He shouldn't be blond! Now,
there's togetherness, and there's togetherness! Joanne and Chris are
underwhelmed....I have seen them better, but since they're usually 1st out
of the box maybe they're not used to 3rd.....oh that lie was slow....looks
like the transition wasn't the best in the middle......d/s was nice....
Marks....4.9-5.3....yowsa!/ she's not a happy camper....they're
3rd....5.0-5.5..

Back after the break!

Eek replay! Abitbol and Bernadis, Eurosport I take it all back!

Red costumes....gold trim.....very Elvisy music..humour at the
start....watch her face and fingers! ....he was a little all over on the s/s
triple toe, but clean.....giant 2twist....that was great!.....throw
3loop....slow going into it for me....spiral sequence as they fly once
more......lovely lift with a change in it....slightly off on
spins even though you can hear him call the change....Ninja short program
they call it.......death spiral....nicely done and done fas! Pairs
spins....and done! Very very nice....but I agree with them being in first
Marks 5.3-5.6 / 5.5-5.6

Faster over the ice than the other two....great theme in it, they kept it
going. Have been trying a quad twist....

Chuvaeva & Palamarchuk
He looks fine....in lilac top and black trousers don't laugh at me! he gets
the 3toe she doubles out......schmoisy bluesy number....huge twist, she
nearly slipped onthe way out........spiral sequence......this is slow
going......now they speed up in footwork......lift.....easier than the
others....she looks nervous.....he propels her into the throw sal and she
steps off the landing....spins and she is way behind him......got it back at
the end which is good......death spiral....a small child could fit between
her head and the ice....pairs spins are ok.....he's counting and it
shows...and there you have it.
He's the one who had the nightmare fall in Nice last year with Julia
Obertas.....they split up after that....she looked nervous all the way
through says Joanne and Chris.....she was terrified! Poor Tatiana.....he
hefted her into the air for the throw!
Marks....while I drool over Dmitri.....he waves, I wave back....no not
really.....honest......
Marks....3.6-4.1 and he shakes his head and smiles....what a
smile....sorry....4.5-4.8....everyone has them in 4th.

Petrova and Tikhonov
She wears a grey velveteen number....he sparkles with grey top and black
trousers....Francesca da Rimini by Tchiakovsky.....did they do this last
year? and she's down on the toe...not down down but hand down.....never
looked on.....double twist......throw 3sal and its clean....very
nice......overhead lift with a flip out.....she goes under his legs in a
besti-squat......spins s/s....all over the place. She changed too early in
the change foot sit....spiral sequence....he shouldn't do spread
eagles......good grief this music is loud......death spiral....very nice
position from her......pairs spins......and there is thankfully
silence....me no like the music.....she looked wobbly at the start Chris and
Joanne agree.....throw was amazing.....choreography was nice says
Joanne....but she doesn't think it's better than the top two, she says third
Marks....she is not happy.....4.9-5.4.....and he's gone.....5.2-5.7....some
seconds, some thirds some 4ths.....3rd overall.

Kautz and Jeschke
Good grief what is that they are wearing....Oriental....songs from the
victorious city....red top for him exposing much midriff....nice
2twist.....and she's smack down o nthe 3toe......she's wearing black, also
exposing midriff....Joanne likes the position in the lift I don't....and
that's a bad fall on the throw 3toe she lay down on the ice......death
spiral....about the same as the ones we've seen already tonight....pairs
spins.....footwork and the crowd clap along.....spiral sequence.....and he
demonstrates considerable flexibility.....s/s spins....not bad
timing.....until the back sit when they lose it.....and they're done....so
much for the victorious city...she's had bad ankle injuries, hasn't competed
all season..... I did not like that lift.....she didn't get the height on
the throw, opened up early, was leaning in the air....you name it, she did
it. And I felt the ice from here! Ouch!
Marks...3.6-4.1....which hurts more the ice or the marks? ....4.2-4.8....6th
of 6.

Savchenko and Morozov UKR
Lilac for her, with sequins. Adagio from Spartacus is the music ,I no longer
need to tell you what he looks like, except to say no to flesh coloured
tops....junior world champs....clean triple toes....giant 2twist she was
caught well in time,,, and she just held that 3sal throw! Oh that was great!
lovely lovely lift with her in a reclining position.....s/s spins......where
we only see her, then we realise that they've lost time at the end....spiral
step......she has a nice spiral....so does he.......death spiral....nice
arch of the back.......this is good.....pairs spins.....very very very
nice......wow says Chris.....as do I.....that was great! What will the
judges do says Joanne.....I have several creative suggestions but young
children might read this.....And Joanne won't even call this one! And I'm
right there with her.....and she was leaning in that throw and saved it,
good girl!
Marks....... 4.6-5.3.....and the crowd whistle....I would if I
could...they're 5th....4.7-5.4....5th behind the Poles, one had them 2nd!

Break for ice resurface

Nicky Slater talks during the break of how Maria Petrova is wearing her hair
a little longer now.....pots and kettles is all that I can say....they also
don't show the flags above the marks so we don't know which judge is
which.....coincidence? You decide!

Almost a crash in warmups with the Bestandigs.....

Who are now Up! Bestandigova and Bestandig....her hair is still a red not
found in the natural world......Kinda going for the whole Sound of Music
vibe....no man should wear cream trousers ....This is Kevin is the
music....ah, techno .drum beats.....and he's double footed the 3toe....not
great timing...cute steps....very slow and low spilt 2twist.....throw
2ax.......s/s spins...nicely done....JOanne thinks her hair goes with the
costumes and that's why it's that colour....as a commentator.....nice strong
lift...I though it was slow me,.....spirals.....okaaaaa....he has a nice
spread eagle.......death spiral....pairs spins.....and they're done....and
her hair is, on mature recollection....quite pink......this is their home
town and the crowd love them....Chris says they didn;t quite cover the ice
fully onthe spiral step....which you can't see on tv, so I'll believe
him....they looked like they enjoyed it.....
Marks......3.4(!)then 4.0-4.4.....that's got to be a mistake! Full point
lower?....delay in announcement.....judge 4 hated it! 4.1 then
4.6-4.9......who is Judge no4 ...it wasn't that bad! he has them 8th

LeFrancois and Blanchard...
Pretty grey dress for her, grey top and trousers for him, the Summer
Knows.....lovely lovely costumes...nicest of the night......clean
3toes...and he slips on crossovers.......nice 2twist....ya see what happens
when I root for skaters? throw 3sal...very nicely done.....death spiral very
low.....these are both very long limbed skaters...they look tall.....great
style.....nice flow across the ice....lift and she lies back in the middle
which fits in great with the music! And good spirals, but she could extend
more, he's better than she is....and s/s psins....out of time a little and
they finish well behind the music but it was gorgeous! And Chris is in
raptures....3rd or 4th and Joanne agrees.....yep, he slipped and it could
have been nasty, but they didn't let it get to them, and it wans't on a
required element.....she's fabulous looking I must say.....he's not so hard
to look at body wise either....
THere's Annick Gailhaguet.....4.8-5.3....it's close....5.3 is the highest,
everything else is 4.8-5.0......4.8-5.3....they're 5th overall behind the
Poles...unlucky, but poised for greatness!

Except if I root for them

Rodionova and Kroukov AZE
Be the holy, that's purple! Time to say goodbye.....to those costumes sure!
It's actually electric blue.....he falls on the toe...she just gets
hers.....and she was all over the ice on the throw...leaning in the air
under-rotated....s/s spins slightly off.....spilt 2twist.....lift....slow
and the dismount wasn't the greatest.....spiral.......where she does most of
the spiralling....death spiral....which is very nice in comparison to
some....pairs spins...including the Natalia death spin.......and it looks
like they were ahead of the music. Joanne says she didn't get the timing on
the jumps....this is their first competition this season....maybe she was
blinded by THAT SHIRT! Music didn't really suit them.....I'm not fond of
TTSG........overkill anyone?
Marks....delay as Chris says, gets longer and longer....and he's gone, he's
not waiting! 3.4-4.3.....youch! ...4.3-5.0....8th overall of 10

Krutska and Sedlmajer Czech Rep
She was 16 yesterday....Rocky 2.....gold top half black bottoms for
both....and they're very similar in height....which might explain why the
twist wasn't graet.....and he's down on the 3sal....she looked to be ok,
but htey were way far apary....s/s sit spins....which got slower as they got
longer.....throw 3sal....landed well.....lift whic hwas slow and she was
looking for his hand before she got it....pairs
spins........spirals.....death spiral.......and she falls off it! Oh dear!
That was hard work! Berankova and Dlabola, the usual Czech couple are out
injured....hence these are here....and she did well on that sal throw she
was all over the place. A junior performance opines Joanne and I agree...
and we just see that her solo jump wasn't the best.......she just caught an
edge on the spiral....
Marks....2.5-3.7 / 3.8-4.6
11th of 11

And the next warm up group is out.

B&S to go first, with Abitbol and Bernadis in the lead, Totmianina second,
Petrova in 3rd.

Very quick break

Bereshnaia and Sikharulidze
Looks latin...red sparkles galore......nice dress on her....his top does
nothing for him....and what is with the hair? Cut it, style it,
something!..clean on the triple toes.....huge giant mammoth split
2twist.....they are just flying! Ow! She went smack on the throw and just
slid.....her chin hit the ice! Spiral steps.....into s/s spins.....looks
like she slipped going into it, timing is off....and the camera gguy needs
to do something abotu his close ups during those...like not to! Nice lift,
with swingy flip out thing........twizzley steps....death spiral......she
has a fabulous extension on that free leg......pairs spins....and they're
done. Great...top notch...only for the throw...Joanne has them top
nayway....hand went down in time to save her on the throw and it wasn't as
bad as we thought, but yikes it looked bad! And their speed was so much
better than anyone we've seen...I won't be surprised if they're top, with
the draw and all and I'd almost agree with it...
Marks....and those tops are more orange than red....and sparkly. Whoa, the
sparkles! His hair looks better with fingers run through it...keep that!
5.2-5.5....5.6-5.9.....4 judges have them second, but they're in the lead
and the crowd is pissed!

Shklover and Mintals EST
Black bottoms....white tops....with black lines going down them.....Fiddler
on the Roof.....double twist to start...she's down on the triple
toe.....double footed throw 3sal and they waited forever for it......s/s
spins......nicely done at the end, but the closeups! Come on people!
Lift...again with the flip out thing.....spiral step.....and mimey
movements.....death spiral.....go lower! they stop...they pose...he skates
away...she follows him....the music goes all kalinka as the audience get the
hint....pairs spins......and they are done! She don't look too
happy......although there's a smile on there now! Again, Joanne calls it a
junior performance...she's only 17.. .and to follow what they followed,
yeesh...
Marks ...coached by Anna Levandi (nee Kondrashova) .....3.7-4.5....4.2-5.0
10th overall....8th to 12th.....

Krasiltseva and Znachkov ARM
She's in black with floral....he's wearing a purple blouse, black waistcoat
and trousers. And it'\s a billowy blouse....throw 2sal and she botches the
landing....high twist.....greeky sounding music and the crowd clap....and
he's down on the triple toe.....s/s spins........and they go way the heck
out of time!....that lift looks like hard work getting up...easy in the air,
but dismount is interesting ! Spiral steps sequence....or it's supposed to
be......death spial......pairs spins.....finish behind the music....hands
down on the throw....skating through the music says Joanne.....I reaffirm my
status on the lift....she doubled the toe loop.....
Marks....3.3-3.9 / 3.9-4.6
13th of 14

And the final pair!
The place is empty! I wanna be there!

Durin and Maximov YUG
Black and white.....2001 A Space Odyssey.....single twist....which looked an
effort....flips were doubles I think? Lift... slow and shaky and I was
crossing my fingers.....throw double sal.......spiral step......spirals
should not look as right angles.....and this is slow slow slow......pairs
spins and Joanne and I both thought she was going to go!....horrible timing
on the spins....death spiral....pairs spins.......and they're done...they
made it....just! Her travel on the s/s spins was something to behold.....
Marks.....2.8-3.8 / 3.0-3.8
15th of 15...deserved

top 6
B&S
A&B
T&M
P&T
Z&S
L&B (fra)

Free on Wednesday!