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Moore-Towers and Marinaro win bronze in pairs at Cup of China

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BEIJING – Canada’s Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro produced a personal best free skate to win the bronze medal on Saturday in pairs to conclude the Cup of China figure skating competition – the third stop on the ISU Grand Prix circuit.

It was a 1-2 Chinese finish. World champions Wenjing Sui and Cong Han took the gold with 231.07 and Xiaoyu Yu and Hao Zhang were second at 205.54. Moore-Towers and Marinaro, fourth after the short program, followed at 194.52.

“We did a clean skate although we missed some levels,” said Moore-Towers of St. Catharines, Ont. “So to still get a personal best, we feel pretty good about that.”

It was a second career Grand Prix medal for the Canadian pair and first since 2015.

“We definitely know we have more than that,” added Marinaro, from Sarnia, Ont. “We’re going to go back for the next three weeks and plan to put out an even higher number for our next event.”

In women’s competition, Gabrielle Daleman of Newmarket, Ont., dropped from first after the short to sixth overall.

“It was nowhere near where it was when I competed it three weeks ago,” said Daleman, 19. “There’s a lot more room for improvement. All I can do is go back home and get ready for Skate America (her next event).”

Alina Zagitova of Russia took the gold, Wakaba Higuchi of Japan was second and Elena Radionova of Russia third.

There was a lot of bouncing around in the men’s standings after the free skate. Mikhail Kolyada of Russia jumped from third to first for the gold. Boyang Jin of China remained second and Max Aaron of the U.S. surged from fifth to third, winning the free skate.

Kevin Reynolds of Coquitlam, B.C., moved from 10th to eighth with the seventh best long.

“The free program was more of an indication of how I’ve been practicing,” said Reynolds. “It’s been going very well in training but just a bit disappointed today with my opening loop attempt in competition.”

The next stop on the circuit is the NHK Trophy November 10-12 in Osaka, Japan.

Full results: ISU GP Audi Cup of China 2017.

Gabrielle Daleman first after women’s short program

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BEIJING – Gabrielle Daleman of Newmarket, Ont., opened with a dazzling triple-triple combo en route to a first place finish in Friday’s women’s short program at the Cup of China figure skating competition, the third stop on the ISU Grand Prix circuit.

Barely a point separates the top-four. Daleman, last season’s world championship bronze medallist, totalled 70.65 points. Wakaba Higuchi of Japan is second at 70.53, Elena Radionova of Russia third at 70.48 and her compatriot Alina Zagitova fourth at 69.44.

‘’I was very happy with how today went,’’ said Daleman, 19. ‘’It’s another stepping stone in a long season and it’s a great way to start my year on the Grand Prix. There’s lots more to improve and I can’t wait to keep building on it.’’

In pairs, Kirsten Moore-Towers of St. Catharines, Ont., and Michael Marinaro of Sarnia, Ont., are fourth after the short program with 62.56.

‘’I have mixed feelings about the performance,’’ said Moore-Towers. ‘’We had some good elements and had some uncharacteristic mistakes. We need to get our levels up a little bit. But it’s a solid step in the right direction.’’

China stands 1-2 with Wenjing Sui and Cong Han first at 80.14 and Xiaoyu Yu and Hao Zhang second at 71.37. Nicole Della Monica and Matteo Guarise of Italy are third at 63.76.

In men’s competition, Mikhail Kolyada of Russia is first, Boyang Jin of China second and two-time world champion Javier Fernandez of Spain third.

Kevin Reynolds of Coquitlam, B.C. is 10th.

Competition ends Saturday with all four free skates.

Full results: ISU GP Audi Cup of China 2017

 

Skate Canada athletes in Beijing for ISU Grand Prix Cup of China

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OTTAWA, ON: Canada will have three entries, for a total of four skaters, competing at the third stop on the 2017 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, the Cup of China. The event takes place from November 3-5, 2017, at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China. Canada will have one entry per discipline in men, ladies and pairs.

Olympic silver medallist (team) Kevin Reynolds, 27, Coquitlam, B.C., is the Canadian men’s entry. This will be his fourth time competing at this event. Reynolds placed 11th at his first event this season, the ISU Challenger Series Finlandia Trophy. The four-time Canadian silver medallist is coached by Joanne McLeod in Burnaby, B.C.

World bronze medallist Gabrielle Daleman, 19, Newmarket, Ont., will represent Canada in ladies. Daleman previously competed at this event in 2015 and placed fifth. This season, she placed sixth at her first event, the Finlandia Trophy. The 2017 Canadian silver medallist is coached by Lee Barkell and Brian Orser in Toronto, Ont.

Canadian bronze medallists Kirsten Moore-Towers, 25, St. Catharines, Ont., and Michael Marinaro, 25, Sarnia, Ont., are the Canadian entry in pairs. This will be their first time competing at this event. Moore-Towers and Marinaro won the gold medal at their first event this season, the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic. They are coached by Bruno Marcotte, Richard Gauthier and Sylvie Fullum in Montreal, Que.

Mike Slipchuk, Skate Canada High Performance Director, will travel with the team as team leader. Dr. Laura Cruz of Toronto, Ont., and physiotherapist Shirley Kushner of Westmount, Que., will be the Canadian medial staff onsite. Janice Hunter of West Vancouver, B.C., and Andrea Derby of Windsor, Ont., will be the Canadian officials at the event.

For results and full entries please visit www.isu.org.

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT 2017 CUP OF CHINA

Discipline Name Age Hometown Club Coach
Men Kevin Reynolds 27 Coquitlam, B.C. Vancouver SC Joanne McLeod
Ladies Gabrielle Daleman 19 Newmarket, Ont. Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club Lee Barkell / Brian Orser
Pairs Kirsten Moore-Towers / Michael Marinaro 25/25 St. Catharines, Ont. / Sarnia, Ont. Kitchener-Waterloo SC / Point Edward SC Inc. Bruno Marcotte / Richard Gauthier / Sylvie Fullum