ICE SKATING Russians face threat from West

ICE SKATING

MARK BURTON

reports from Birmingham

Oksana Gritchuk and Evgeny Platov, who took the Olympic title last year when many in this country thought it was destined for Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, look like having a tough tussle to keep their world title at the National Exhibition Centre.

In the compulsory dances yesterday they came under predictable pressure from the French couple, Sophie Moniotte and Pascal Lavanchy, and the Finns, Susanna Rahkamo and Petri Kokko, who lined up behind them last year. But a threat is emerging to the European domination in the shape of the Canadian couple, Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz.

They appeared to be undermarked for their first routine, the rumba, but having established their quality they moved up one place to fourth with a persuasive rendition of the Argentinian tango. The British couple, Michelle Fitzgerald and Vincent Kyle, go into tomorrow's original programme in 19th place.

Today the British spectactors who turned out in surprisingly large numbers for the compulsory dances have the opportunity to compete with the level of noise generated by the vociferous Finns and Canadians. Steven Cousins, who leads the British challenge in the men's event, in which Clive Shorten also managed to qualify, thrives on loud local support and needs as much of that as he can get if he is to have the confidence to show up well in the short programme in such impressive company.

Cousins, unusually, was raring to go two weeks ahead of the event, lost his edge but has been able to peak again. He must eradicate the error in his short programme that cost him dear at the Europeans last month, but he is in the mood to make an impact. His routine now includes a triple lutz, triple axel and a triple toe-loop. "There is no excuse for me not to do well if I skate clean," Cousins said.

There is a question mark over the fitness of the defending champion, Elvis Stojko. The Canadian, who damaged an ankle ligament in training and missed his national championships in January, has added panache to his sharp technique and power, but it remains to be seen if his joints stand up to his punishing jumping. Like Stojko, the Russian Alexei Urmanov includes the quadruple jump in his repertoire. The Olympic champion spoiled his European championship challenge in Dortmund last month with an error in his short programme, leaving the title to his exciting young compatriot, Ilya Kulik.

Add in the inventive Frenchman Philippe Candeloro and the American Todd Eldridge, back after a year out injured to recapture his national title, and the spectactors are in for a treat.