Champions of the 3 Republics

After drawing last to skate and feeling good about our short we were super tired but attended our 10:30pm practice. Half 10am we had to skate our long. All the Torun pairs were feeling good after short, but i think all very tired after a long few days. But we scored a fantastic 93.17 in the long and all together 144.39, which is a big jump on Tokyo.

So we ended up winning the Polish nationals for a second time but this time we actually got a recognition and a medal, last year we just had to stand next to the podium which was rather embarrassing. I think we received a medal because each separate nation hosted their own champions in each event as well as overall champions of events. On to the gala and we decided to perform the piece we made up in Tokyo last week, although as in the short the sound quality was really bad and could hardly hear our music. Ah well! All in all was another good competition and best of all our 3rd personal best in a row, what more can we ask for when at the start of the season i wondered if we'd make the British! So back to hard work now, so you can enjoy later. All our best, Stacey and David

From One to Another!

We had a great time in Tokyo and loads of fun at the gala even if it did mean missing the only day we had to see the city. In front of a huge packed arena we went out to enjoy and not worry about what scores we should get. The closing banquet was also great with bingo being replaced for a raffle but as always great hi tech prizes, and as ever we didn't win anything but the runner up prize they give away at the end. Although the top 5 competitors did get Klose make up sets, but our real prize was to get another personal best and achieve 4th place at a grand prix.

After all our troubled flight across the flight back was just fantastic, we were upgraded to business class. A remote controlled chair (with massage button) meant we got the best sleep we'd had all week! Good job too because in 3days we would have make the long trip south for the joint Polish, Czech and Slovak nationals in Trinec, Czech Republic. 6:30am the bus rolled up at our door (why is it always early starts?) Stacey and i were cramped up close and personal to our mini bus driver for the next long 10 hours. We stopped for Chinese but otherwise straight there.

Trinec is just over the Polish border and the Hotel Steel where were staying is right in the middle. We had a draw quite soon after arriving which was very professionally done in the local cinema. Not understanding too much of what was going on we drew 4th to skate which was 2nd in the second group and received an alarm clock as welcoming present. Unfortunately neither of the top 2 Czech men are here Tomas Verner and Michal Brezina but we have no time to watch anyway. We sat and enjoyed the entertainment, some nursery school kids who had rehearsed all year singing and dancing for us and waving to their embarrassed parents and to finish we had local ballroom dancers who gave an exhibition. After there was a fantastic carvery, very fine for a national championship.

The rink wasn't as to be desired for but ice is ice and we got to business. 5 pairs on morning practice meant we only just got everything done, chaos. Luckily the warm up groups were split into 2. We scored 51.22 which is yet another personal best, really enjoyed the skate. No pressure and like Mariusz said before we went on 'show our skating has improved'. We did, it was clean, and I haven't got result sheet yet but we must of got most our levels. So leading the short we drew 5th to skate in the long. Unfortunately due to the strange schedule we have practice at 11pm tonight for our free programme at 11am tomorrow... Almost unheard of but they do have a busy schedule! I will let you know how it goes.

4th in NHK GP Tokyo

We stood our ground, 4th in short, 4th in long and 4th overall (it can happen that your fourth in both but drop!). It was a great feeling, being on the top group through the whole event and finishing in 4th behind some great pairs. Practice the day of the short was good but tough skating along side the teams scrapping it out for which shade of medal they want. The day went very quick, before we knew it we were back in the skaters lounge sitting getting a drink and sushi before our event started. All the tv screens on a live feed to exactly whats happening on the ice, behind the scenes at these events is quite amazing.

Our event drew close, we were warming up as the first group took to the ice. As ever we ignored what went on before us, focusing on what we need to do while lacing up our boots. Short wouldn't be televised on Eurosport which is a shame because its good when your friends and family can watch but the arena was packed with a lot of the world still getting a live feed. We stepped on closely followed by two world medalist teams and a well experienced triple axel throwing American team. We were up first! They called our names and we gaze shortly around in to the crowd, it was full. People of all ages sat in anticipation of our short programme, and we skated well. A few minor error's mostly to loose levels (points) on things but ended up with 49.36 which was easily a personal best for us.

Practice for the long went even better still, with a bit of leeway between us and the next down the list and only 5 points off a medal we felt relaxed and happy. All elements were going clean and for a personal best at this event we would need to do our elements good so we get higher points, and nothing looks better than making hard tricks look easy. Stacey almost took the Chinese guys head off on the exit of a lift, but that's the way it seems to go in this group. We stepped off the practice 10minutes before the end but we'd done everything we wanted, no need in hanging around for no reason. Home for a bit of r & r before the final event.

Our free programme was very early compared to the usual set up, again we were first to skate in the second group. We just hoped to skate the programme how we have been, with power until the last position. Our final score was 83.53 and the only poor element was the side by side flip that we threw in last week after Zagreb for safety... Ah well. But it was a personal best and we were very happy. After we skated a very polite Japanese OC worker informed us that because we were in the top 4 we managed to make the gala, which is another accomplishment for us at this event. Anyway still a long way to go from here, which can only mean bigger scores and stronger performances in our next events. Hope to see you there!