Canadian pair sixth at ISU Junior Grand Prix

TALLIN, Estonia – Tara Hancherow of Tisdale, Sask., and Wesley Killing of Woodstock, Ont., placed sixth in pairs on Friday at the last stop of the season on the ISU Junior Grand Prix figure skating circuit.

The first-year pair were also sixth at their first Junior Grand Prix together last month and improved their overall score to 124.44 on Friday.

“Tara was amazing on the throws,” said Killings, 20.  “We improved upon many elements including our two lifts, twists and death spiral. The speed and flow of the program is what hurt us today.  Still we’ve adapted well to each other and already have our timing down.  I’m excited about this partnership.”

“We’re pretty happy despite a few mistakes,’’ added Hancherow, 17.  “”It was a good experience and we are making a lot of progress.  It’s just going to get better from here.”

Xiaoyu Yu and Yang Jin of China finished ahead of two Russian couples for the gold.

In ice dancing after the short dance, Brianna Delmaestro of Port Moody, B.C., and Timothy Lum of Burnaby, B.C., are fifth and Katie Desveaux of Toronto and Dmitre Razgulajevs of Ajax, Ont., are seventh.

In women’s competition after the short program, Gabrielle Daleman of Newmarket, Ont., is fifth and Larkyn Austman of Coquitlam, B.C., seventh.

The free dance and women’s free skate are on Saturday.  There were no Canadian entries in men’s competition.

Full results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/jgpest2013/

Louis Daignault