2007 JGP John Curry Memorial Preview

The final event of the JGP series is the John Curry Memorial Trophy in Sheffield, England. The event is named for the Curry, the celebrated British skater, who won gold at the Olympics and World Championships in 1976, and died in 1994. 19 teams are scheduled to compete at the event, the results of which will determine the final spots at the JGP Final.

The favorites to win gold are Maria Monko and Ilia Tkachenko of Russia. Monko and Tkachenko finished second at Vienna Cup, and a medal of any color would clinch a spot for them in the Final. This is their first and only season on the JGP series, as Tkachenko turns 21 in December, making them ineligible for junior events for the 2008-09 season and beyond. For teams aging out, it’s important to earn valuable points to put themselves in contention for coveted Grand Prix series spots next season.

Ukraine’s Nadezhda Frolenkova and Mikhail Kasalo could take silver here with strong performances. The duo finished fourth at Croatia Cup and medaled on the JGP series in 2006 (Romania). Frolenkova and Kasala are coached by Galina Churilova train in Karkov, Ukraine.

Piper Gilles and Tim McKernan (pictured, left) of the US are strong candidates for bronze. Gilles and McKernan were fifth at Vienna Cup, one of the more competitive of the JGP events this season. The team won a bronze medal at the JGP event in Mexico last year.

Also in the mix for a medal are Lucie Mysliveckova and Matej Novak of Czech Republic who were fourth at Tallinn Cup. Mysliveckova and Novak have been competing on the JGP series since 2005 and are coached by Katalina Karamyseva and Rostislav Sinitzin.

Despite injury earlier this season, France’s Scarlet Rouzet and Lionel Rumi were sixth at Sofia Cup two weeks ago, scoring a 132.17. Rouzet and Rumi train with Muriel Zazoui, Romain Haguenauer and Benjamin Delmas in Lyon.

Canadians Kharis Ralph and Asher Hill have the honor of competing at both the first and final JGP events. Ralph and Hill scored 127.05 in Lake Placid and are one of the few teams assigned by Canada to a second event. The team is coached by Carol and Jon Lane and Juris Razgulijevs in Scarboro, Ontario. Ralph & Hill won back-to-back national titles in Canada, novice in 2007 and pre-novice in 2006, and the gold medal at the North American Challenge Skate in Burnaby, BC in 2006.