Europeans 2004
Ladies’ Free Program
Jenna McCorkell GBR
In a sparkly mauve affair, kinda butterfly effect on the front and Chris and Nicky are flying the flag…little turny bits to begin and she’s up in the box with them which means that this is a video repeat…around she goes… triple lutz double toe and love that look on her face! Around she goes, beaming… triple flip and another beam coming out of it…down and around… and chris calls his surpeb to her…step out of 2ax… down into the triple toe… clean as you like…steps and turns out and into flyingcamel, nice position on that and well centred… spread eagle… layback spin with horrible leg position… and out… and stop with arms extended… now music changes as she says that her twin sister was out on the ice yesterday in the short! More steps… spiral… another with leg extended in front, then another spiral… triple loop… steps into triple sal double toe… with nice sit spin to end it with ugly variation position… and big pop on single sal… to the boards… straight line step… as they talk about how the training cycle is broken over the week…combo spin to finish… and this had her leading.
Live pics now in group 2
Tatiana Basova RUS
In 16th place, with dark green
dress, with sun on bodice and fading to pale green and white in skirt….Amelie sdtk… cery
fast rotation on thr 3 lutz to begin… around she
goes… down the ice for the trple flip… chris calls this very good…. Turns into the triple
loop…flying camel…. And out of that… nice position in the arms and back on
that… music changes now into something slow and pianoy…
catch foot spiral… back spiral good extension not held too long and spiral with
leg to the side…2ax very deep landing with no running edge and shedid well to hold it. Stops music now a little faster…
eyes up the judges as she vamps at centre ice… down the ice now for the double
toe… layback spin… to the corner of the ice and around … triplesal
double toe… entry into sal had no choreography notes nicky…spins on the centre ice… circular step again not much
in the way of choreography…. Camel spin to sit layback change camel to biellman and lots of travel on that… steps and turns into a
little spin and waving of the arms and she’s done. Not trad
Russian choreography notes Chris… she was 5th in Nationals, Soldatova not eligible ( is she
back with
Marks 4.3-5.1… 4.0-5.1… she’s ahead of Jenna overall, second on the free.
Daria Timoshenko AZE
Not much in the way of a dress, more black material and lots of flesh coloured net…black is the skirt… music is black hawk down which explains the flame detail on the top…and gold sparkles along the edges of the flames… and big pop on the lutz…slipped ontake off… triple flip was better… and nice glide out of that… stops and poses… doubles the sal… not miuch speed over the ice but she gets the triple toe double toe out of it… music faster now and she does steps and a flying camel…. Which goes to catch foot and biellman… and stop with arms out right on the music. Spin with arms over her head on one foot, nice unusual position… loop is tripled with dodgy exit, no much height… catch foot spiral… back spiral… catch foot spiral on other foot… down slwly for the triple lutz… spin catch foot right up in front of her, she’s certainly flexible. Nicky pikcs on the overall ice coverage, not as much as she could have. Double axel… circular step… camel spin to sit biellman change sit to biellman… and stop, behind the music. She crosses herself after she finishes and she gets a nice round of applause… chris also picks on the lack of attack, blames the start and the mistake on the lutz… had to work hard and concentrate to get herself back together. Nicky again talks about the lakc of speed and says that perhaps it wouldn’t have ocme through on the television. She needs sto increase the speed and the attack of it. She was 12th in Euros last year…26th in Worlds they say. Chris thinks she’ll find it hard to hold onto her 13th spot.
Marks 4.1-4.9… 4.3-5.2… and she’s in first overall, second on the free, jenna second overall.
Kristine Oblasova RUS
Black dress, with sparkles on bodice and lots of black flesh net… terrain 43 sdtk and secret garden…chris calls her a beautiful skater. That’s it, she’s doomed. 2ax to begin and very nice and soft and flowing…crossovers and lots of speed …. Triple lutz and down she goes and that was hard…funny take off, she dipped right down… triple loop was a beauty…turns and steps out of that… triple flip was lovely as nicky tells us she looks elegant and builds up speed quickly… triple sal… layback spin with lovely arch of the back. Little smile as secret garden begins… steps… down the ice… triple flip double toe, not as high as first flip, not fully rotated either. Flying camel…lovely soft landing to that. Crossovers around the corner into a spiral… lutz is a triple…with no combo… circular step… camel spin to sit layback change to camel to sit to upright with not great speed it must be said…out of that and into another spin as nicky says she has lovely positions on her arms right through to her fingertips… andshe’s finished. Gives the clenched fist salute when she’s done. Started skating a 3 and a half, when she was 10 she tried pairs, when she was 12 was off ice for 8mths due to a hip injury, docs thought that she’d never sakte again. Good looking girl and the lads could watch her skate all day… I feel a Diana Poth like obsession coming on. Couple of times her jumps weren’t fully rotated and we see that on the second flip… fight is so important they reckon.
Marks – she’s only 19 – 4,5-5.1… 4.7-5.2… she’s in 3rd on free and second overall.
Sarah Meier SUI
Little red dress, sleeveless, with flowers
on the bodice… music is evita…she’s 19 … around she
goes with lots of speed… lutz triple with double toe and she flew in to that ! I like this girl so she should be warned… loop and
she gets a triple…steps… and plenty of moving to the music from this girl,
which is beunos aires…
change as she does a triple flip… camel spin layback with lovely spoisiton and change to sit variation change to catch foot
spin and upright…very nice. Music changes again… smile at the judges as she wlkas by… trple sal with lean but clean…. Flying camel… great centreing… triple toe double toe… don’t cry for me
Marks 4.6-5.3… 4.8-5.3… good marks for her. She leads on the free and overall, a row of ones.
Karen Venhuizen NED
Wine dress, with pink accents which are
flowers… she’s in 18th, her 5th euros never in top
20…music is bolero and east of eden… and she goes
down on the triple flip to begin. Landed forwards… down for the double toe and
double toe combo… chris is quiet… and big pop on the sal, ouch says nicky… straight
line step… chris of course involved in coaching the dutch… down and around for the 2ax which is very low… and a
big pop out of a loop and no pseed going into it…
flying camel with again no speed… and stop right on the music. Now we go to
east of
Marks 3.2-4.3… 3.3-4.4… and she’s 9th, 10th on the free.
Valentina Marchei ITA
Gold sparkly bathing suit dress…big smile… national champ of italy… she beat kostner they remind us… speed into the lutz and a big pop to a signle… pulled the takeoff marks nicky. Steps out of that… down the ice for the triple flip with long paise going into it… and it was tech a lutz, because left foot was on the outside edge. Layback …. And out of that as someone shouts encouragement from the crowd… back crossovers… speed into the triple sal with long set up time… she likes the clenching of the fists this girl…double axel… camel spin ti sit change sit… to bent leg camel. And out, as the lads pick on the long set ups and lack of choreography between the jumps… back spiral which is pretty good…bent leg spiral… and catch foot spiral on the other foot… set up for the lutz which she gest triple with a 2toe… triple toe double toe on other end of rink. Flying camel… and stop clenching your fists woman! Straight line step… then 2ax with lean and she goes down… gets up and does a double loop… and scratch spin and she’s done. First words chirs says is that it was a strange performance and I just see that she has a sleeveless dress and flesh coloured gloves on her hands. Flesh coloured gloves. On her hands. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. She’s laughing coming off… nicky picks on the lack of linking steps… and he also mentions a lakc of finesse in the arm movements. I note once more the clenched fists. Because, you know, it really got on my wick. She says hello to the world. And waves. Hugs the coach.
Marks 4.4-5.0… 4.6-5.0… and she is in 4th place, on the free and overall.
End of group two, we now have an ice resurface.
Annette Dytrt GER
Pink dress, little straps and no sleeves, with royal blue sequinned flames around the midriff… would be nicer without the sequinned flames but that’s just me. Gives a little shimmy with the coach as she prepares to go out to sakte… the Germans give her a rousing send out… steps back to begin… lutz to begin… and she’s down hard on that… lots of speed along the ice and into the triple sal… very low on that… but it’s going to count… turns into the triple flip nicely done and flying camel with much travel… and illusion on the way out… she stops and waves the arms as the music changes… spiral… change of foot … back spiral… turns into double loop, good length on it though. Triple toe… layback spin, lovely position but lots of travel… stops and runs the length of the rink in the straight line step… down the ice for the triple sal turn hop turn double toe… 2ax… camel spin to sit change sit to Y spin and scratch spin and out of that… round the corner with a big smile into the circular step which has loads of energy and gets the crowd clapping along… camel spin layback change camel with illusion to sit to upright and scratch spin and she’s done. Chris loved it, and what I really enjoyed was that she just looked like she was having a ball… lots of speed, lots of energy and she was as fresh at the end as she was at the start…really good, really really good. See the fall again, twice, and youch. I just want her to do something about the travel on those spins…
Marks… she was 21st last year… 4.3-5.0… 4.8-5.2… she’s 3rd on the free and second overall between Meier and Timoshenko
Julia Lautowa AUT
Brown pleather with lots of flesh coloured
accents and cut outs…training in
Marks… 4.6-5.2… 4.7-5.4… she’s in 2nd on the free and leads overall.
Mojca Kopac SLO
Woo…lots of pleather, in black, with red accents that look like anorexic poppies on it… one sleeve is cut off and it’s an off the shoulder thing with pale pink flesh coloured neeting and the same viney kind of effect on it… it’s quite ugly and could perhaps be saved by ripping off the pale pink bit…or perhaps not. Her 12th Europeans, in 11th now, never in the top ten. She’s 28, skating to Cirque du Soleil. Around she goes… looptriple to begin with. Nicky notes lots of ice coverage to begin with… big lean on the lutz and she puts a ahnd down on the triple,…music chris corrects is kitaro… lands a solid triple toe with a lean … and another triple toe after steps…big flying sit, nice position and well centred… stops at centre ice and moves a little… skates off… singles her axel… layback… music changes to build energy, she does bent leg spiral… spiral with leg held in front of her… turns to double sal… spin with ugly position and change of position to one that’s not quite as ugly… to the boards she goes… poses… and straight line step… I’d be interested to see comments vis a vis the speed on this because it don’t look that fast to me… turns into the double sal… and camel spin to sit layback with travel change to sit to ugly spin and upright and slide and she’s done. And she’sdone slapping herself on the forehead… which really just says it all, doesn’t it? The lads agree that she didn’t look, at the end, like she believed that she could do the jumps – her self belief just totally went. They ref the single axel as an example, as well as the two double sals near the end.
Marks… big long wait which you just know cannot be good… 4.0-4.7… 4.3-5.1… she’s program choreographed by Uschi Kezler… 8th overall, 9th on the free.
Galina Maniachenko UKR
Orange dress with much fluorescent yellow net, I kid you not, on the midriff and sleeves.. and her hair looks green. It’s obviously the lighting, but it does. Lots of gold accents on her chest and what with the green, it is hurting my eyes… I never thought I’d pray for splattered pigeons, and yet, I do. Powerful music with powerful stroke to begin as she speeds into a triple lutz double toe. 2toe was tiny! But it will count. Donw we go for the double flip and she had no speed going in, was offline on the takeoff… turns and twizzles… down into the double flip, stop as if she was thinking of combo but nothing…flying camel … with catch foot doughnut on a spin type thing on way out of it. Music changes… which allows her to pose and lunge around the place… turns into the double sal… layback where the leg position could be turned out a little more… nicky notes that everything looks fine, she’s just pulling back from the elements. Catch foot spiral… back spira which is very nice… down the ice for triple toe and she needed that… upright spin with good entry… and stop with hands joined… if she’s praying on the ice, you know it’s bad… turns into big double sal… to the boards… straight line step… nicely done. Axel and she’s late on rotation and that didn’t come off –short on rotation, landed on two feet and very nearly fell on that…camel to sit to layback change sit to scratch and she’s done. Ooooh that was hard to look at…disaster from go to woe and the look on Dmitry Dmitrenko;s face says it all…never the most cheerful of chappies, he manages to look even more glummer than usual. Nicky notes of the travel on the spins and points out that some of them were going offline… she’s 23 I see…
Marks… 2 years ago, she was fourth you know. I’m just saying. 6th last year. 3.7-4.8…ouch, ouch… 4.4-5.2… she’s 5th overall.
Chris has jenna mccorkell in 7th with 7 to go…she was 20th after the short… and she’s third on the afternoon at the moment. Not bad eh?
Zuzana Babiakova
In mostly white with red as a waistcoat and as a little apron over the skirt … remember Sluteskaya’s costume from the 1998 Olympics? Zuzana’s been raiding the wardrobe methinks! Either that or she’s moonlighting as a waitress after the event. Never been inside the top ten and I’m keeping my mouth shut. Circus World is the music… red and white ribbons in her hair, which is a not found in nature shade of red… 2ax ladned on two feet to begin. Not much speed going into it, nor going around the ice it seems to me… triple lutz double toe… spiral on the way out of that. Steps and hops and turns and stop, eye the judges. Music speeds and crowd clap… into the corner for the triple flip with a souble footed landing? Chris concurs. Doubles the sal… flying camel…. And out of that. Dancey mimey steps at centre ice… smile girl! Glidey moves… loop triple is clean. Fans scream. Layback …turn out your leg gfrom the hip fer gawd’s sake! Tripel sal… lovely. Back spiral… and on other foot and into spiral… and stop… music faster now and she does spin on the change… double toe with heckuva lean… circular step… camle spin to sit upright change sit and out… change to flying sit…. And she’s done right on the music. Very good from her… I did not like that final combination spin at all, it was very very messy looking. Chris liked it, he has 4 triples that will count, and he loves how she kept on going. Nicky notes that she often runs out of steam halfway through but the music seemed to help her going through it… triple flip was indeed double footed. Good centreing on the spins they mention.
Marks – she had her head in her hands when they went ot her on camera, but she’s smiling now – Chris tells us for the seven kagillionth time that she has a three year old boy… 4.4-5.2… 44-5.3..she’s in second at this stage… will make it into the top ten and she’s thrilled! 3rd on the free.
Alisa Drei FIN
Sparkly cranberry dress for her, with red net as the sleeves… very elegant looking and I like… very classy. Adagio is the music… lutz with lean and pulled in… double. And no combo. I knew I should have kept my mouth shut! Down for the triple toe and triple toe combo! Nice! Loop triple is also clean… catch foot camel… runs backwards… and steps… lutz and she’s down hard on that, right on the same spot…layback spin… and out of that. Steps into the triple flip which she stumbles out of… flying camel … Chris thinks confidence has wavered…gee ya think? … spiral… more spiral… triple sal is clean. Straight lines step. 2ax… camel spin to sit to layback change sit to biellman… and upright… and steps backwards… and stop. Wuh? Over already? Too mayn mistakes says Chris and Nicky’s not too happy with the music…it’s quite slow and her skating is quite quick and the two don’t mesh together… at the end he says there were almost twenty seconds of building towards the finish. Triple triple toe was great. We see the second lutz again and she just sat down and went over…not enough height. Not enough snap at the start thinks Chris. 10th at the moment.
Marks 4.5-5.3… 5.0-5.6… she’s in 1st overall and on the free. Chris is not sure that he agrees, and I’m pretty sure I don’t. Sarah Meier is second on the free.
Final group
Viktoria Paduk HUN
Little red dress for her. Sleeveless and backless, with little red sashy things masquerading as sleeves. Also a deep V going down the front, lots of silver sparkles ,and she was not happy with the boots in the warm up. And I’m honestly not sure how she’s even going to hear her music – listen to that crowd! Not a seat to be had as Sabolcsz sends her out… she’s only 18 and in third place after the short… wehre I adored her. The poor girl. Music is miss you, then rhapsody in rock. Lots of quick steps to begin… spiral… and around… lutz triple with triple toe combo! Yes! Steps and turns down the ice and around the corner … turns into the triple loop… down the ice for the triple flip…and the roar! Layback is very, very nice… lovely position and she does. Not. Move. Axel also doubled and clean. Lutz triple is clean. Spiral… and front caught spiral…back spiral has hell of a lot of extension but not much duration… and she doesn’t get the leg out on the sal and has to turn out of it… spiral where she deep leans and touches the ice… camel spin to layback tp biellman… change to sit … not much speed at the end and into upright. Music changes… 1 minute left… steps… into the triple toe… to the boards… 7triple… straight lines step is grteat… plenty of energy… split jump… flying camel with illusions… and flying sit spin…. To shotgun spin… and she’s done. People are standing and I am applauding… oh my word that was remarkable! And whoever wins the free wins the gold what with the lack of qaul and it’s raining flowers and that was amazing!!! Love it love it love it…Nicky is welling up, I am not far behind him! Big hug from Sabolczs… great shot of him during the combo… and she couldn’t do that during the warm up… and such a lovely smile from her, bags of personality.
Marks… what a shame she’s first Chris says. 5.4-5.8… 5.2-5.7… a row of ones. Wow.
Susanna Poykio FIN
Aquarmarine blue dress, kinda like a bathing suit with silver shimmers on the chest… very elegant. Lines of sparkles along her back as well, even though the back is essentially backless. And how much would oyu hate to follow up Viktoria’s performance? She’s in 4th right now, was 9th last year and she’s 21. Concerto in F minor by Gershwin… didn’t barb and paul win with this? Stpes to begin. Down the ice… lutz triple with a double toe on the end of it. Down for the double flip double toe. Slide down the ice and steps… steps into teh triple toe… 2ax…flying sit… to Y spin and that’s nicely fit in with the music. Steps to layback which has a nice position… nicky notes that it’s a great choice of music… turns into the loop which she gets just about… not sure of the rotation… down for the triple flip. Flying camel to cross foot spin. Spiral with great extension… catch foot spiral… back spiral… step sequence along the diagonal… again, nice interp of the music. Triple sal with step out to finish… camel to sit to layback change camel to catch foot and she’s done. Very nice, 5 triples, not half the spark of Viktoria’s for me… but very, very good. Very elegant skater she is. Skated with assurance notes Nicky. She kept her nerve well I have to say. Lots of speed… triple loop has lean but was clean and rotation looked better from that angle.
Marks… 5.1-5.6… 5.3-5.7… she’s second on the free. And overall. One has her first. Thank god for anonymity of judging eh?
Elena Liashenko UKR
Wine flowers make up most of the top, preserving her modesty over flesh coloured netting. The leaves of the flowers are sparkling. Wine raggy skirt. And I’m not sure I like it. No matter, for ‘tis the season of her life says chris… she’s 27, and there is no room for error her. Frida soundtrack and now the costume makes a little more sense. Tangoy music to begin with. Lots of turning and expressive arm waving… lutz with triple and double ote on the end of it. Turning steps now and down the ice… for the triple flip with lots of signposting for it… triple toe loop had to fight for it but it’s clean… steps into the flying camel with lots of travel… and change to sit to catch foot camel… and stop and pose at centre ice. Steps into triple flip with double toe.. and spiral… layback spin….with hands joined behind her back. Spiral with leg cuahgt in front of her, back spiral. And on opposite foot, back spiral…catch foot spiral going forward… triple sal… and stop and run the other way… variation on sit with sideways lean… around the corner as drums dbeat and down for the lutz with a deep knee bemd but triple no 6 it is. Step sequence… axel with lean. Camle spin to sit layback change sit upright camel.. and cross foot spin and she’s done. Oh wow says Chris. Very well done. And quality of the jumps was really good, as was the presentation. Judges have a dilemma, this and Viktoria are apples and organges. For me, I’d go with Viktoria, and I’m versed enough in skating at this stage to know that Liashenko will probably take it! She really had to fight hard for some of the jumps and hse just didn’t give up, she fought the whole way thorugh it because she knew what she had to do, and fiar play to the girl she came out and did it. Virtual draw, it could go either way.
Marks … this her 11th Europeans. Bronze in 95. big long wait. This can’t be good. 5.4-5.8.. it’s gonna be close. 5.5-5.9… she has it. 7/2.
Elena Sokolova RUS
6th place
after the short, not aided by draw. Dress is
same as last year, black and net and sparkles. Red glove on the
left hand, red sash coming out of the skirt. Steps to begin… down the
ice for the lutz… triple with a triple toe very close to barods.
Way long build up for the lutz. Notre dame de paris, age of the cathedrals is
the song. Down fro the flip
with another long build up and again nearly doing an ito. And to centre ice and stop. Steps. Into the triple sal triple
toe… she’s throwing in everything! Flying camel… to upright
and out. Steps and triple loop is clean… layback with travel and nice
position… steps out of that and along the ice… lutz and doubles
,with a rueful smile. Not much speed on the way in… slide spiral, don’t
see that often… spiral… and back spiral w ith no much
extension… camel to sit to layback change camel to catch foot and out..dance my esmerelda
the music….
Marks… 5.4-5.8… 5.5-5.9… which count? She’s second on the night but first on the free. Which shows you what I know!
Julia Sebestyn HUN
OK, love love love the dress. Deep wine/cranberry type affair, black sparkles down one side. Lovely. Would be lovlier were it not for the black netting coming from one shoulder and the black long glove on one sleeve. But yes, love it. Cut out at the back, high neck on the nek, oooh I can’t say enough about it. Big huge roar as she comes out onto the ice… selection of tangos. Only 22, and she’s antoher one been around forever… steps to calm herself at first… down the ice for the triple sal to begin… nice… lutz is perfect and high with double toe on the end… turns into a blinder of teiple lopo…flying c amel with doughnut spin… steps… capturing the mood of the tango very well… steps into the double lutz! Oh no… was huge though. Layback spin is very very nice indeed….nice and centred and fast… and running steps back… steps around and down for the triple flip which is huge… she gets some spring in those jumps it must be said… triple toe with steps out and turns into double toe… s[iral with lovely extension… back spiral.. double axel… camel spin ti cross foot camel and out… (is that a half biellman?) to the board and a really food straight line step… the crowd are certainly loveing it…camel to sit to layback change camel ot biellman… and scratch… and she’s done. And she’s thrilled, punching the iar… people are standing, ooooh getting chills here am I! Good but not perfect says Chris – she needs to beat Liashenko. There’s a doubt in Nicky’s mind… she doesn’t have to beat Sokolova though. Technically the lads agree that Liashenko has more in the bag and the lads are giving it to her… which means that Julia has it! I joke, I think it’s too close to call ,but if call it I must, yeah, I’m with Chris and Nicky… Liashenko.
Marks… 5.5-5.9… chris is shouting! She has it… 5.6-5.9… and she has it! 6 1s, 2 2s and a 3. She can’t be beaten… and see, I knew when me and Simon and Chris all tipped Liashenko that she ahd it!!!!
Pastels… pale tangerine on the skirt,
fading up to pale pink and up to mauve on the bodice. Sparkles
a-go-go on the top near the sleeves as well. She’s in 5th at the
moment and since I don’t have my pen and paper and calculator I cannot do the
maths on this one…I’m just going to enjoy! Violin to begin…
and expressive steps from the girl. Lots of speed.
Lord she has long arms. Turns into th
e triple loop. Steps around and down for the triple flip triple toe with deep
landing, and no rtiple loop on the end of that,
weight too far back… music speeds and crowd claps… lutz with double footed
landing in triple and double toe… camel spin wti sit
spin change sit… that should’ve been a 3/3… music changes. Spiral… change edge
almost? Back spiral with catch foot… lean and hand down in the trople sal… layback spin… with
travel… and out of that, into nessun dorma. Ina bauer…
triple toe with another deep ladning…back spiral out
of that… to the boards… straight line step… with seemingly very little speed to
me… 2ax. Split sjump…. And flying sit… nice
position and cetnreing… and up… and out of that and
the music editing makes me cry, but she does a scratch spin and she’s done.
That was gutsy. Really had to fight her way trhough
that… needs to finish no lower than third to win a medal… we see the two
Hungarian lassies talking… if
Marks… this was a great last group. When did we last see a ladies’ group this good? Short program at worlds a couple of years ago is the only one I can think of that comes close. Nicky and Chris agree.
Marks. 5.2-5.7… 5.2-5.8… she’s in 5ht on the free and overall.
Sebestyn, Liashenko, Sokolova are the one to three.
Paduk is 4th, Kostner, Pokykio, Drei, Lautowa, Babiakova, Meier are the top ten.
Then Dytrt, Timoshnko, Manichenko, McCorkell Marchei, Oblashova, Kopca, Basova.