FIGURE SKATING: From Sydney to Moscow, to Poland and back to Sydney and Melbourne, then Marseille France for the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final has been Harley Windsor's travel schedule in just four weeks and his 16-year-old partner, Katia Alexandrovskaya has done almost the same.

Last night wrapped up the first competitive year for the indigenous figure skater and his Russian-born partner when they secured 5th of the top six pairs in the world in the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final.

The relentless schedule and pressure showed in the free program for the young pair who have defied all expectations in making it this far in less than one year together.

The reliable opening Split Triple Twist failed to take off, upsetting the pair's natural rythym, yet they fought throughout the program despite Katia falling on both throw jumps (lutz and salchow).

Their lifts and side by side triple toe jump racked up enough points to keep them ahead of Russian pair Atakhanova and Spirdonov in an event dominated by the winners - also from Russia - Anastasia Mishina and Vladislav Mirzoev who scored 180.63, almost 13 points clear of the Czech silver medallists.

Belinda Noonan
OWIA