Trilliums in Northern Ontario
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Figure Skating in Northern Ontario

Buttle wins silver in Moscow
(March 17, 2005)

Jeffrey Buttle, World Championships 2005Jeff Buttle is the world silver medallist.

The 22-year-old native of t. captured the silver medal at the 2005 International Skating Union (ISU) World Championships in Moscow on Thursday.

Standing in third-place overall following the short program after three-time World Champion Evgeni Plushenko, of Russia, was forced to withdraw due to injury, Buttle was the first to take the ice in the final flight of five men.

Earlier in the evening, 24-year-old Emanuel Sandhu, of Richmond Hill, Ont., performed a strong free skate that included a quadruple toe loop-triple toe loop combination, plus six other triple jumps. Sandhu was awarded a total of 134.13 points for his free skate, which brought his combined point total to 231.16 to place him seventh overall. Sandhu's free skate was judged the third best of the night, behind gold medal winner Stephane Lambiel, of Switzerland, and his teammate Buttle. For finishing third in the free skate, Sandhu was awarded an ISU small medal (bronze), which are awarded to the top-three skaters in each discipline following each portion of the event.

"Overall, I feel pretty good," said Sandhu.

Buttle opened his free skate with a strong triple flip-triple toe loop combination. He went on to complete four more triple jumps in the program. Buttle's free skate was awarded the second highest scores of the evening, earning a total of 136.30 points, giving him a combined total of 245.69.

"I'm really happy with the way I competed all week," said Buttle.

Buttle's second-place finish combined with Sandhu's seventh-place finish qualifies Canada to send three men to next year's Winter Olympic Games and the 2006 ISU World Championships in Calgary.

"That is something Emanuel and I wanted to provide when we got back to Canada," said Buttle.

Lambiel, who was awarded a total of 144.18 points for his free skate, won the gold medal with a total of 262.46 points.

American Evan Lysacek placed fourth in the free skate with 133.74 points, bringing his combined point total to 239.29, which won him the bronze medal.

This is Buttle's first time on the podium at the ISU World Championships. He placed eighth in his first trip to the event in 2002 and 15th in 2003.

Sandhu also improved upon his previous best finish at an ISU World Championships. His previous best was an eighth-place finish in both 2004 and 2003.

Meanwhile, in the original dance, three-time Canadian Champions Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon placed eighth with a total of 58.30 points. Dubreuil, 30, of Montreal, and Lauzon, 29, of Boisbriand, Que., currently stand in seventh-place overall with a combined point total of 98.81.

Canadian silver medallists Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe placed 10th in the original dance with a total of 52.52 points. They are currently in 10th overall with a combined point total of 87.63.

Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov, of Russia, are the leaders with a combined total of 114.64 points, while Americans Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto are in second overall with 109.72 points. Elena Grushina and Ruslan Goncharov, of Ukraine, are third with 104.47 points overall.

The 2005 ISU World Championships continue Friday with the ladies short program and the free dance. Check the TV schedule for broadcasts.

 

Article provided by Skate Canada



 

 

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