Do you have any idea how much I want to call in sick right now? Seriously....I saw the draw at ten o'clock last night, and only the fact that it was too late to ring my principal at home stopped me....and I'm so tempted to do it now. I'm looking at the last group, and my head is saying that there's not a hope, but my traitorous heart is going hmm.....maybe....take me now....it's going to be a long day in school.....

Rie Arikawa and Kenji Miyamoto JPN
In black is she, as is his with black waistcaot and trouseres, lilac blousey sleeves, matching dragons on the back of the costumes...her dress has a cutaway on the right hand side...Japanese music...start from leaning against one another... he spins under, then her ,...then twizzles...not great unison chris says they look nervous... lift where shes in front of him, bent double as he spns her...she does a spin as he skates around her, then into a dance spin... another dance spin follows some steps....music changes as the vocal comes in...she skates around him and climbs on top of his hip,..now they're skating again...seps incl bestis... and lift where she's leaning on his lap facing him....steps..better on synch...more steps around the ice...this their straight lines I think... lift where she's lying horiztonal and he swings her around....into another one where he lifts her and cartwheels he rover....steps with hops from him...and they stop and they're done. She's a little emotional at the end, but they look happy with that... dynamic end Chris calls it...and lots of flowers for her... chris says that there were lots of runs and chaisses (is that spelled right?) and that there was much of it done in an open hold...but what they attempted they performed well...

marks 3.5-3.7... 3.8-4.1....and he holds up one finger for the number one! and I hear the panel and it doesn't sound bad....disconnect the phone...do it now...

Zita Gebora and Andras Visontai HUN

He's in a grey-blue tunic top...which is way too big and they could have used some of the material to cover up her....she's got a black skirt and see through top with colouredy flowers protected her modesty...music is Hair which explains at....steps...and a nice lift wehre she's lying across the front of him as I try not to sing along with aquarius... ss twizzles...slow but not bad... great spiral from her! lift whre she's again across the front of him and he spins her...music changes and he spins her under...lift where she's resting on his hip as he spins...diagonal step.. dance spin... with change of position... and out of that... she drapes her knee around his hip... steps... lift where her leg is resting on his lap. the other extended...into pairs spin... lift where she's on his shoulder, one leg up in biellman...undignified much music speeds now... for their circular step... steps...he ducks as she kicks over him...steps alongthe ice...lift where her leg is on his shoulder...ss spins to end. Good fun Chris calls it...but he mentions that there was lots of energy in the music, which they struggled with near the end...and they really did look slow towards the end, it all got a little laboured. And of course, I'm going to be singing Aquarius for hte day... she's 19 he's 22....20th in Nice, 22nd in Vancouver...

marks 3.7-4.1... 3.9-4.6...a row of ones.

And its time for me to go. I'm hiding the phone. Still.

Back again and I did not call in sick. I went in, and I taught for the day. And i'm not exaggerating when I tell you lads, it was the longest day ever. EVER! Picture me, watching the clock all the time, and when I knew that it was time for Shae and Vic to skate, or around the time, I was nauseous. Literally. My hands were shaking the whole morning, I had the worst tension headache I think I've ever had, and every window in the room was open..."Teacher, I'm cold" "Sit over there then" My mobile phone is turned off, I'm not turning it on until I see this, ar eagla na heagla, and my mother is out and I'm hoping that she comes home soon because I don't want to answer the house phone either in case it;s my sister, who has the worst poker face I've ever seen in my life...although that should really be poker voice I guess, shouldn't it?

Tae-Hwa Yang and Chuen-Gun Lee KOR
Good lord....he's got black trosuers white too big blouse, and black top on that and leopard print black on white...hers is white with black lines....both have more tassles out of them than I've ever seen...cirque du soleil again...lift and spin after steps to start...adn kneel and slide on the ice... steps around the ice...sharp start chris calls it, grabbing your attention...I'm transfixed by the cosutmes more so than the adancing but that's me.... flap arms as they go around...lift and turn her over and spin her a little... lots of drums in this....and spin her and put her down a little hard I thought.... around the corner...spirally thing...dance spin... wiht change of position and no much speed.... s/s twizzles.... not bad timing... lift where she jumps on him and scissors her legs around his waist... steps... twizzles slightly out of synch as they are meant to be...lift wehre she's lying horizontally acorss him.... twizzle sout of synch as tehy were not meant to be...dance spin... stop near boards and go up and down a little...long puase, then steps along the line of the rink on a diagonal... around the corner... and into centre ice... slidely tihngs with their legs going in and out and in and out low to the ice... him in besti, her leaning between his legs...and somersault thing over his shoulder to finsih... Simon thinks it got a little samey towards the end.... she's got silver lines in her hair as well... chris thinks they got a little ragged towards the end and simon agrees that the synch went at the end ...a good effort chris calls it..

marks 3.4-4.0... 3.8-4.2...second overall.

Valentine Anselmi and Fabrizio Pedrazzini ITA
And hello to the hair! Kinda like Gwendal, but curlier...and a little shorter ...and not as goodlooking....greeny grey dress for her and for him...and viney leaves going down them..lord of the dance....ahem....bells ring to begin... arms extended... dance spin starts us off... synch twizzles..niely done... steps...and turns ... certainly a lot of speed... nice unison as well...but the vines going down his legs are most distracting... nice steps around her...iand he falls! just as I was priasing him... and its taking them an age to get back into it... dance spin with her lying back leg at right angle and him holding one...into another lift which goes to dance spin when it comes down... and stop at centreice... as someone sings...steps as they want the wind to carry them away from here...hydroblading move... lift.... stop... dance in place... turns to around the corner... steps in a diagonal pattern... lots of turns from him but not as many from her methinks...steps...nice turns in unsion there... and slide to stop and they're done. Well, it was ok...first section was good. Nicely done to the music and all...but the fall hurt. And it took them ages to get back into it... S&C think it was the wrong choice of music for htem...Chris thinks they didn't interpret the music at all... which is a point.... what they did they did well, but it could have been done better.... and he literally sat down when he fell... she's 21 he's 22

marks ... 3.0-4.0... 4.2-4.4...1st to 4th on ordinals...second overall.

Veronika Moravkova and Jiri Prochazka CZE
She;s in red with no back...he's in black with red shirt, and high neck on it... her dress is nice...moulin rouge roxanne to start... turns and skates around one another... lift with somersault over his leg to begin...lots of tango steps... lift where she's lying horizontal, perpendicular to him resting on his hip... steps...lift where shes on his shoulder and down and him in besti, her leanign down...right on limit on lift says chris...steps ...synch twizzles.... dance spin as ewan sings...lift where she's wrapped around his face...dignified much ? as they push the rules....steps in circle..chris says arms not allowed about shoulder on lifts...I thought it was head...steps with nice camera angle that we can see the unison...lift where he's cartying her...into another dance spin... steps in a circle...liftwhere she ends up with her legs wrapped around his shoulder....and down and into diagonal step.... and stumble there, and he kneels and she throws her leg over his head...steps along hte diagonal to centre ice... steps... and lift...and spin...and down and spin some more...and they're done. it was good....but much as I love the song and this version, I'm jsut wondering if it was a bit too samey all the way through....it might have benefitted from a change of pace in the middle there... chris corrects himself re height of hands on lifts... this their first worlds together.

marks 4.0-4.4... 4.2-4.7... a row of ones.

Weina Zhang and Xianming Cao CHN

He's in red pants and shirt that's matching them at bottom and white at top...her dress is pale whitish pink fading to dark pink to wine.... lift where she's aroound his wiast, him in cantilever....which is nice looking... steps and turns... step with him in besti, her lying down... lift where she's upside down then wraps herself around him... dance spin... steps with matching twizzles...running steps....with more twizzles...don't think the unison quite as good tehre.... lift where she jumps back and hangs there for a while... more steps as the music changes and they stop... dance spin... very quick one...lift where he's in crouch and she's wrpaped up on his lap.... steps around the corner... steps and turns and pose... and I note that they're almost teh same height.. seems to be losing a bit of speed.. and when thye try to get it up again, it's not as sharp... hop over lift to finish. A more simple routine Simon calls it but htey skated it well... they train with Dubova... chris picks on the lack of height differential as well, and he really liked it...praises good soft knee bend and mentions lack of speed

marks 3.9-4.5...4.2-4.7...second on a five to four split.

Ali Ouabdelsselam and Benjamin Delmas FRA
He's all in white with gold on hsi shoulders...she's in white as well, but her dress has a huge cut away in the middle...flesh coloured net ahoy! sparkles stuck around her eye...lean back over his back to begin... and her dress has very little back I notice... steps...and lots of speed in this opening part... little jump back from her, and she clicks he boots togehter...lift where seh rests on his hip... she goes unde rhis leg as he kicks out...and stop and lift wher...and set her down again...dnace spin... slow section of the music... she crouches and he drapes his leg over her... around we go... lift where shes in front of him...and around again... lift....where shes in front and facing him...and down again...steps along the diagonal with synch twizlzles...and stop again...dance spin as music speeds... that spin was slow... lots of arm waving in the steps... steps around the rink... lots of this in open hold...lift where shes at hip level her legs between his that looks messy...and somersaulty lift to finish. Chris and SImon agree that the last lift looked ungainly...and Chris picks on his wide stance when he's skating... and that they could benefit from working on the line as well...

marks...4.3-4.7... 4.5-4.9...first overall with two seconds.

Federica Faiella and Massimo Scalli ITA
Dark aqua shirt with ruffles for him, nad dark trousers....she's in a dress the same colour as his shirt...4 Seasons....start with them kneeling on the ice...to stand... and around we go... facing one another.... spins around... nice interesting hold there as she kicks her leg like mad.... she likes showing off her extension doens't she.... shekneels andturns and he follows her...lift and spin where shes horizontal and dacing the ice....into dance spin...and spin separately coming out it....kneel on the ice again...and up again and around you go... his leg on her shoudler and I think she was meant to lift him but they hit a rut...and steps adn the synch twizzles suffered as a result of that.... steps some more... lift where shes going in and out of tuck... and to the board in the corner for a slow dance spin... steps along the diagonal of the rink... he kicks and she goes uinder him.. synch turns...not great unison...just looking a little unitfy...kicks and turns... and slide lift to finsihs....him almost crouching and her draped over him....and that's not easy. Simon calls it a class above anythign we've seen and he thinks that she really stood out...Chris loved it as well, and I have to say that I enjoyed it as well...the circular step in a clockwise direction was the last element and Chris thought that it was very good, just a couple of places where it was untidy.... see the abortive him-lift, and they got through it well... could've been dodgy...

marks ... 4.2-4.6... 4.4-5.0...seven of nine have them in first, one second one third (USA)

Stephanie Rauer and Thomas Rauer GER
She's in blue dress, to knee level. His tshirt is the same, he's got a black overshirt and black trousers... look at me i'm sandra dee to start... good speed...lift where shes sitting on his thigh... dance spin... steps... she goes under him in spiral..born to hand jive... turns ahead of one another... shes in split then lifted by him..synch twizzles are slow... circular step... lots of kicks from him... squats and kicks... and lift with turn her up... smash cut to sandy repreise.... and around they go... lift...lots of arm waving to this bit... she leans back and he's in shoot hte duck...into dance spin. and stop... and into we go together... kicks in the steps as chris calls it non stop....steps along the diagonal... ss twizzles.... lotsof turning her.... nice steps on the way to centre here...lift with her in splits. then turn horizontal and spin her...and that's done. And while it sure was non-stop, the music was a brutal version of Grease, and the sense that I got was that she was on the ice, he was on the ice, but by gum, it wasn't a couple out there on the ice...there was no connection between them whatsoever. Chris thinks that the twizzles has the free leg at the side which is easier than having it crossed at hte front...and sometimes there was no time to finish the moves off because it was so quick...

marks 3.8-4.5... 4.3-4.7...and they'er 4th. Simon andCHris point out the lack of movement to this point as we move in for an ice resurface.

Kristin Fraser and Igor Lukanin AZE
She's in the bright pink with hints of mauve; he's in bits of bright pink sash and ruffles but mostly dark purple.... plenty of speed to start and they look sharp.... lift where he dips her, her legs scissored around his waist.... steps... spin her in and out...slide her around a little... lift where he spins her as she faces him... circular step... skating quite far away from one another at the moment...he psins as she looks at him...and into dance spin... lots of arm pumping to the music... synch twizzles...timing ook but looking untidy somehow... build up speed for the lift whereh e's carrying her... and lose it again as they go around now... turns as they do the diagonal straight line step... lift where she's again scissored around his legs as he spins her..and his hand between her legs is dignified how? steps and spins...lots of turning her in and out....running stesp...twizzles...which look slow... lift and she somersaults in split position over his shoulder....dacne spin... change position...and that's that. Chris thought it was a pleasing program if a little behind the music, and hepicks on her skating tech...she lets her hips go back quite a lot he says..kinda left me cold, and she doesn't look happy coming off the ice... chris thinks that she was holding back quite a lot... chris thinks it might be a problem with the left foot and notes that she has her boots very loose indeed....

marks Genrich Stretenski and Liz Coates besdie them... 4.3-4.8... 4.6-4.9...6 of 9 have them first..

Marika Humphreys and Vitaly Baranov GBR
Guys, put down that Union Jack before you poke my eye out! Hes in his purple trousers, and cream shirt...her in her purple dress... Start with her nearly sitting on his lap...well they are married.... zoot suit thing...and I love his boots.... dance on one spot to start...liftwhere she jumps on him backwards, then goes over and nder and out between his legs.... steps around as they really sell it...she leaps on his waist, he swings her on to his hip... steps... and they're nice and close together... circular step.. and into dance spin...with a little travel... and stop... push her away pull her back.... and steps back, and kneel... and up..and turns... slide as she kneels to him... around the corner... lift, her leg over his shoulder and drops down so that she's yling on top of him and upside down...relaly nice.... another lift wehre she's on his waist and he spins her....dance spin.....and stop...claps from them and synch twizzles which are nice..kicking turns and spins to the corner....and straight line step on diagonal... great expression of the music... and he somersualts her over his arm... hops and slides...shejumps on him and turns a couple of time in the lift..dance spin with illusion effect.....and finish. And that was great. Loved it! S&C call her oneof the best female ice dancers out there... chris priases the circular step.. and they looked like they were having a ball out there...

marks 4.6-4.9...4.9-5.1..a row of ones.

Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto USA
Green skirt on the dress..top is a mess of pink and wine...he's in god knows what...khaki trouseres, too big cream tunic and green waistocat...fall and rebuild of sarajevo the theme? she's 17 hes 20.... lots of speed to start...and she jumps and turns... start with a blindingly fast circular step... he kneels and spins as she stadns before going tino dance spin...and stop... as the aeroplanes go overhead....and another spin...steps, where she kneels and courhces and slides on the ice...lift where she's straight in the air in frontof him... down to horizontal across him and out... glide where hes leaning back against her...onto dance spin....ss twizzles... lift...where she's resting on his shoulder...down to her dong to splits at waist level...and he does liek to spin doesn't he? lift where he's in spread and she's upside down in splits...that was something else.... and another lift..with him in hydroblade move... and slide to stop...right on teh music...drummy music... stpes with twizzles... and steps along the diagonal...lots of turning her... steps where she's doing a lot of kneeling and gliding... she spins holding onto her balde... and steps...and somersault...and lift her and spin and put her down and they're done. And that was good...not sure about the theme of the dance, not quite sure how they workedthat in there...but it has great quality, some really good technical elemetns and the speed was something to behold... current world junior champions...Simon and Chris think they worked the theme of the dance in well... lots of changes of hold also points out chris...and we see the lift with him in hydro which went into shoot the duck as well....Igor Shpilband with them...

marks 4.7-5.2...5.0-5.3...they lead...one has them second the rest first.

Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder FEA
Black and grey and white costumes.... not with Tarasova any more... start with her lying back, him lying on opposite direction... he pulls her up... these are new costumes.... he's got lots of wingy thingys....jump lift of her... s/s twizzles... not great synch, and getting very close...lift where he's in forward spiral and her upside downin tuck hanging out of him....another one with ehr at waist level...steps and turns with lots of bestis there.... and some more...her leaning back in besti facing him in smae...into dance spin.... and out and around... and lfit her over... he kicks over her with her in crouche twice... circular step... she jumps back to him and he spins her.... lift where her legs are scissored around his waist shes' facing away from him and hes in besti...into dacne spin in teh corner.... steps... steps along the diagonal... not as fast as they have been on that... nice tming on the twizzles though... she kicks over him this time... turns arojnd one another..steps... he jumps over her...around the corner...lift where he's in besti her in hand stand on his thigh..and out...she kneels and turns on the ice...and he stands, and helps her lean back over him...and they're done...and they're thrilled! and I did enjoy that... very passionate, very stirring...I agree with chris that it did fade a little in the middle but they got it back well...some of the lifts were amazing.... 12th going into the free....

marks 4.8-5.0...back with Boucher-Zazouie <sp> 5.1-5.3...first overall, one second, one third. the brits will drop a place to the americans.

Sylvia Nowak and Sebastien Kolasinski POL
Pale blue grey dress fro her, very long, and he's in a blouse in the same colour, quite voluminous, and matching trousers..... give a little time to your love the music...and it's barry white... or a soundalike.... he twirls her around...lift and jumop.... lift where she's resting on her hip and we have wuite the camera angle on it...off on synch on twizzles... lift where she's straight up against his sidfe... steps along the diagonal of the rink...steps...sheturns under him... circular step... lots of turns and kicks... lift where he spins her as shes horiztonal... into dance spin... s/s steps... and turns and tiwzzles... more turns s/s.... steps... lift where she's lying on his thighs facing forwards... she leanson the ice as he's nearly hydroblading... and around they go.. turns on one foot.... into dance spin with much travel... to the boards... stiraght line step... liftwith his arm in between her legs and shes straight and he spins her...s/s stand on ice and wave arms...skae around.him in hydro hannging on to her foot...a few more steps and thye're done. and that I must admit did nothing for me. now I'm not the biggest fan of these in the first place so take this with a pinch of salt, but no. Technically for Chris not as good as the last two, and certianly for me,, nowhere near on the presentation. I'd certainly have it fourth behind the last three that we've seen, little as I know about it...Chris picks on the lack of light and shade in the program...no major mistakes...

marks 4.8-5.1...5.0-5.3..first on a 5/4 split...2 2nds and 2 3rds as well.

Naomi Lang and Peter Tchernyshev USA

We see Timmy at the top along wit Yags and Igor Paskevitch....and here they are. She's got her nice red dress with no back on and he's in black with a white tshirt underneath it, and the black leather....gggrrrrrr.....parisien walkways....he does his flying sit... lift with her up on top of his arms , her occluding his view...and dwon into his arms, where we all want to be.... and dance around...glide as she leans back and dtares longingly up and him...and who can blame her? dance steps and spin wehre hse's hanging onto his waist and spinning out... sheleaps on him...and he spins...girl after my own heart... circular step... nice turns from her... and slide and glie to finish.... and she spins deeply under him... hydroblading move....and the hand stays off! kneel on teh ice .... lift and spin again... turn her under... lift where he's carrying her and flips her over in his arms twice....ss twizzles....great timing... and again... steps around the ice...him in besti her doin assisted runs... around the corner... steps in dance hold down the diagonal... lift where he spins her and she holds one leg....dance spin....she goes around him...he chases her lucky girl....slides her under .... she drpaes herself against him...lift where she's under his chin..no arms! and drop down! and that was great! the cream of the crop starts right here notes sSimon and you think I"m going to disagree? My drool bucket is running over here, nad needs to be replaced! so fast across the ice raves Chris and he calls it the quickest four minutes of the evening..and he's not wrong! the spin where she was hanging out of him and he was on one foot (now who can blameher, really?) and we see the ending again... Sasha Zhulin with them.... I loved that...

marks 4.9-5.2....5.2-5.5...a row of ones but Simon wanted better marks and so did I.....

Kati Winkler and Rene Lohse GER

And now we've got the drool bucket empty and it's ready to go again! He's in grey pinstripe pants and black jacket...grey waistcoat....she's in a sparkley black dress...Joplin maple leaf rag.... there a big old bustle on her dress...nice dance spin, nice and fast to open... he looks at her...she lifts him... and dance backwatds....and around we go... steps along the diagonal.... crowd are into it... nice kicks and turns and do it aghain... around the corner....steps in a dance hold... spin her, her in splits and head tucked under his arm...how di I get a job like that...she bumps into him...lifts her over....he turns her under...as chris says it looks more polished than SLC.... liftnice changes of position in it, ending with her horizonal against him...s/s twizzles... steps... lift where he lifts her over and she ends up under his chin with no hands! into dance spin.... her in wacky camel... and stop...right on the music... her arms wrappedaround his neck....steps to the boards...steps....and again in dance hold... nice steps all on one foot, adn ncie timing on the twizzles. .. steps s/s ...and around they go...to tcentre ice..lift...where she's in spiral on his knee and they're done. And that was great too! Very fun, really enjoyable, even if he does need a haircut....it's much darker than it was before....he's still a fine thing though....and Chris tells us that it was a completely different performance than it was in SLC... after Rene's injury, and he sings the song of woe. Chris not Rene. Loads of expression....and Simon didn't like it at Olympics, but liked it here....but not as much as Naomi and Peter...and I am torn. Although in my heart of hearts, whisper it, I did prefer the Americans. But it's close!

marks 5.2-5.4... 5.4-5..5... 8/9 have them first...American has them second.

Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov RUS
The michael jackson free...her in her black sparkley dress.... him in his matching trousers and jacket, big huge jacekt...white tshirt ... and he's got a glittery open bow tie effect going on...she's got a silver stripe down her middle and no back....dance to start...and this is a great start... the timing to the music is something else... and they look so sharp... lift and spin her... her facing him in that...into the corner and pose and dance....striaght lines step along the diagonal...didn't miss a b eat.... lift with him from besti and her leaning around him backways so that shes holding her blade....dance spin...steps on the spot to one side then the other..kneel..open door and go trhough..... slow part and she vamps it up here.... george benson here...dance spin... cantilever spreads leanign into one another... her in spiral into lift, with her legs between his... really nice... lift him in besti, her in arabesque with one leg bent into between his...step with s/s twizzles... circular step... stop and shimmy.... and she cartwheels over him... and slides under his legs and does it again for fun... .around they go and ocne more not missing a beat... gerat timing on the steps and twizzles... and she kciks her leg over him, he lifts and spins her...and they're done right on the music. And that was great too....three graet ones in a row and how on earth do you compare them? Seemed to Chris like it was only two minutes not four....he mentions that they moved from the upper half of the body too, not just from the bottom... not all about the footwork...chris says that this is what ice dance is or should be all about.....sing it boy!!!!

marks 5.0-5.4...5.4-5.5..second...3/6 split.

Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon CAN
Madam Butterfly....she still has her red dress with the animal like bustle on the rear...he's still the soldier boy in his tan trousers and white top with the hundred and five buttons down the front of it... start with her up on his knee....and why not? and he stand s from a kneel with her like that...and she still has the two feet of tassle on her sleeves...nice fast dance spin to begin...ss twizzles...ok on the timing.... down the ice... she goes under his leg.... lift,, with her legs in lotus position him in besti.... steps into dacne spin...steps...circular step...ending with spinny lift where he throws her all over the place...turny steps to centre ice... steps around... more steps... runs and kicks and turns are the order of the day... and it's just looking a little messy... steps along the diagonal... lift where she ends up horizontal and down along his body.... he kneels and slides with er... steps...not great unison on the first twizzles but they get it back... lift where shes horizontal on his hip... and turns with her mostly in camel position...he lifts her up and over.... as she hangs onto him.... move which I miss because we go to wide camera angle.... turns in cirlce....and lift where she's all wrapped around his thigh and out of that and they finish. And a big kiss for her on centre ice... Chris isn't mad on her dress either, and we hear the story of the disaster at the olympics once more....

marks 4.9-5.2.... 5.2-5.3...4th. what a shock.

Elena Grushina and Ruslan Goncharov UKR
And he's back to his frizzy hair. Which now I'm used to it doesn't freak me out as much as the flat do did yesterday. She's in her nice red dress and he's in mostly black, red waistcoat, with black and goldon it... her dress has gold on shoulders and up around the neck.... lift and spin to begin... barcelona is the music... and he slides her all over the place... steps to begin... jump back and lift.... and spin slide with her leg on his shoudler.... and steps...into dance spin... at teh boards....and down teh ice... cartwheel her over.... s/s twizzles...not great timing on the second set... glidey move... and I'm reaching for the hedex right now... music mercifully changes to piano as they step... nice extension on spiral from him.... lift where she's right up in teh air...down to him almost hydroblading... all in one easy move...him in crouched glide as she stands.... steps... him in psrial as seh goes under him in besti... glides and turns...dacne spin....and stop... running steps.... and back in the other direction... and ssteps... and more stpes... and swing her around the place.... and lift her and side her...him down real low her between his legs and stop and that's that. ends with them both almost lying on teh ice. And it was very good ... but didn't do anything for me personally. And I don't know if my headache now is to do with the tension of hte thoughts of the next group or the music...chris thinks that her footwork was so good that ruslan was sometimes struggling to catch up... this didn't do it for chris or for Simon either...it's not just me! it's not just me! the lift where she was stnading and him in crouch had a dodgy dismount...she grabbed a full hand of his hair, put it that way!

marks... 5.1-5.5...and we get another verse of the melancholy dirge of lack of movement...5.4-5.5...second on a 5/4 split....but first overall.

Irina Lobacheva and Ilia Averbukh RUS
He's all in black, she's in white, and there are much flesh coloured cut outs there...there are rumours that Ilia if she retires might skate with Marina Anissina because she and Gwendal aren't skating togetheranymore! what???? in memory of september 11th....he doesn't have the grey in his hair, she does.... starts with her kneeling between his legs, her legs up on his back.... drums beat...or is that my heart? He lets her go... slides forwards....arms awaving everywhere...turns to start...lift...her on his head...and his hadn just level.... he does his little running steps... and around they fo...he does his axel and she skatres...and he does another.... and they go a round in a crouch...he lifts her so that shes across his face, and then slides her down... aren't those axels illegal? puts her dwon agina... into dacne spin ... with travel... steps.... much turning there.... shes doing much gliding...s/s twizzles.... and steps... in dance hold... steps circular.... I think.... around the corner... lift with him in crouch and her leaning back one leg up... around they go... lift.... her arm resting on his shoulder...sets her down... glidde back....and into dance spin....slow and not as much travel... and stop...run twoards the judges...s/s twizzles.... nice timing...and steps with her running this time... lift with er straight up and then on to his hip...he truns after her... around the corner... steps... hes doing lots of quick turns... and more steps... and she's up around his neck...and he lets her slide down and it's over. Excellent says Simon and I'm so nervous that I can't even think whether or not I liked it....very demanding chris calls it...designed to build to a crescendo towards the end...and he thinks, as does Simon that they've done enough....chris gives us the tech reason as to why the axel isn't really an axel...he turns on takeoff and lands not fully rotated so that's just under half a turn.... what-the-frell-ever....

marks 5.6-5.9 (3 6s 37s 2 8s one 9) 5.8-5.9 (7 5.9s) there's a gap there. Oh god oh god oh god.

Galit Chait and Sergei Sakhnovski ISR
New costumes! Black waistcoat and white shirt and black and grey waistcoat for him..... black dress for her, cutaway at from, white sleeve...stars of david on left side for both...big improvement over hte yellow.... and slidey moves to begin... dance spin... steps.... and great flow along the ice... and lots of speed.... and he lifts her and spins her around.... and under... she turns around him... steps with ss twizzles... and low shoot the duck move...he lifts her and spins her, her legs out wide...and to the corner they go and the steps in dance holds along the diagonal...and nice changes of hold and position there... and he slides her under a little... and out...and dance up the side..and steps...lift and him in hesti her in front of him.... and spin her up and around and down again...and stop as musci changes ...dance spin which I get from the far angle...around we go...him in besti, her besdie him...lift and spin again...and slide her under and around...think death spiral, with her lying on the ice....and around...lift where he carries her then slides her down on to his knee... music speeds again....circular step... crowd are clapping.... s/s twizzles....nice timing... lift where and nice changes of position...and they're done. As Simon points out that they skated to every beat of the music...speed across the ice is their forte points out Chris...and the pressure is now on Rita and Pov...you can see the speed across the ice in the slomos...and they never stopped selling it, not even a little bit...

marks...as I try to remember how to breathe... with Dubova beside them... 5.3-5.6... 5.5-5.8..a row of twos.

Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviyski BUL
I can breathe now...I hope...because this isn't going to affect a medal.... black costumes with the suns painted on them.... cirque du soleil...lots of wispy wingy thingys on them... steps to begin...lots of turns and twists... and she sits on him, her legs back behind him.... and around they go... down the length of the rink... little hop... and steps around.... and into dance spin... stop and out and steps... lots of speed in this and nice turns and footwork from the pair of them.... spinny lift where hes holding onto her hands and she's against his side... nice steps and slides and ift...and he swings her as hse holds onto his thigh... and stop and dance and pose...and s/s twizzles...into dance spin... bit of travel on that.... and glidey moves... she leands in a lunge and he followshe ...lift with him in besti , her horiztonal arcorss him... then goes to her with one foot on ground him in besti.. and around.... steps... ss bestis.... and that looked messy...into dance spin.... s/s steps with twizzles... steps in place...and step dancing in place.... circular step..as chris praises the fantastic timing.... and around we go.. lift and jump and he jumps too! and that's that. Super Simon calls it... it doesn't actually do taht much for me I must say...but not bad at all. Great timing from them right the way through... very energetic... and even if you don't like it you have to admit that they keep going adn going and going...

marks... 5.3-5.5... third place Simon thinks...gee there's a surprise.... 5.4-5.6..and one has them in second. the rest third.

Margarita Drobiazko and Povilas Vanagas LTU
And now I could just throw up.... he's in a little red dress with flesh net on the hip...he's in black pleather trousers and red shirt..with froofy sleeves and looks like a red pleather back....white tshirt udner that?? she skates to him...turns a couple of times.... into dacne spin...nice hcnage of position from sit to upright... actually his top is all the one...no tshirt, silver in teh top thought...steps the diagonal...and she lies on his back and spun....steps.... lift with her across him.... and down from that... ss twizzles... and againg...no mistakes.... aroudn the corner... lift..and he flips her over and puts her to sitting position and then down acorss his body and then ovre and down... circular step...which is nicely done... and glidey steps to finish... she hops on his knee and leans back and he carries her liek that...nice work if you can get it...she leans in a forward spiral, he leans back over her.... dance spin....change to another dance spin...and along the ice...s/s twizzles....and around the cotrner....down teh diagonal of the rink... he slides which we miss on wide angle...turny steps...lift...where sh'es leaning on him... and down from that.....and he turns.... and turns... lift where she cartwheels across him...deep slide against him from her.... and slide to stop... and off again... lift ...where she flat against him... and slide down , and he swings her and lets her up...and spins her to finish...and taht was excellent. that was just excellent. their last competitive performance simon calls it, and for me there is no doubt that that should be ahead of the israelis...and chris is there with a smile on his face we're told, andhe tells us that he's thrilled for them.... they couldn't have skated it better we're told ... and I thought it rocked! the crowd loved it too... great speed across the ice the whole way through...and everything was so sharp, so precise.

marks... and I can hardly watch... and I've also jinxed them so I have reason to be nervous... someone gave them crowns! 5.5-5.6....and he has the pink and she the blue...as boos reighn...5.5-5.8... its a 5/4 split and they'er third. and rita's gone...not that I blame her mind oyu....oh no....

Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz CAN

Same costumes as all season and I hardly have a breath left in my body with which to type... michael jackson... just have fun guys.... vamp shae camp! and dance vic dnce! such great sharp turns to start...and the speed.... she runs away from him and he chases.... crwod are clapping... lift... and nice changes of position...around the cotner.... shake it vic! deep lean there... nice dacning...and music changes ...to in teh closet... circular step is fine... she leans and he leans on her ...nice kicks from vic...lift..her leg around his neck..then down and around....into dance spin...bit of travel ? do I care??? into smile....and I do... into dance spin... and she touches his face...sigh.... lift witth him in besti, herl eaning on him in splits... and out of that... under the arm.... lift over..and carry her... my heart is pounding...to the baords.... dance hold steps the length of the rink...and theyre' selling it.... and I'm buying but you knew that.... around we go.... and s/s twizzles...and again....that was fine...dont stop till you get enough...and dance guys dance.... dance sptes along the line of the rink.... and around .... hytdroblade move with turn..and final lift....and that's claen@ and done! and I clap until my hadns are sore! and you could see her punch the air... and they look happy. Simon doesn't thinik they've done it, and I don't really care...they had a great skate, skated really well ,and I'm so pleased for them...chris done's think they've done it either... more of a show than competition for him...big hug for shae from tatiana.... and for vic.... and I'm shaking still.... there's louis stong there too... oh my goodness.... big smiles which is nice to see....

marks .... 5.5-5.8... 5.7-5.9...second. germany and israel have them first...the other seven give them silver. except one who gives them bronze

so....Russia Canada Israel.

And i'm heartbroken for Rita and Pov.

Bulgaria 5th, , Ukraine 6ht

Germany Rus USA CAN POL FRA

USA GBR AZE ITA FRA CZE