Europeans 2017 - How to Stand Your Ground (Pairs' FS)

The ending of the pairs' short programme was one of the biggest surprises we've received this season from figure skating. Evgenia Tarasova & Vladimir Morozov ended first, but I was somewhat expecting that. The real surprise were Vanessa James & Morgan Cipres, the French pair who are currently in second position. Theirs will be the greatest challenge of the night - hold their place against not one, but two couples who have already been on the European podium several times.

Rebecca Ghilardi/Filippo Ambrosini are first to skate. Their music, Homecoming by Thomas Bergersen, is breathtaking, and their lifts are original. There are two weird bits at the back of her costume that make me think it has come undone, but that's just an illusion. This is a great start of the night despite the double-footed throw triple Loop. Their score: 97.77. Overall: 148.48.

Arina Cherniavskaia/Evgeni Krasnopolski skate to a selection of Oriental music. Her hand touching the ice during the death spiral is a nice touch, but most of the jumps are quite flawed - she double-foots both the and the side-by-side triple Salchow, then falls on the side-by-side double Toeloop. They earn 85.40 points. Overall: 133.32.

Lana Petranovic/Antonio Souza-Kordeiru are off to a rough start after she falls on the landing of the triple twist. Then he over-rotates his side-by-side triple Toeloop, while she doubles out of hers, double-foots the landing of the throw triple Loop, puts a hand down on the throw triple Flip and singles out of the side-by-side double Axel. The side-by-side spins are not in sync either. Their score: 90.84. Overall: 140.09.

Another flawed performance comes from Minerva Fabienne Hase/Nolan Seegert. They try to come up with some creative exits out of lifts, but it doesn't work as smoothly as they would probably like it. Plenty of mistakes on the jumps too, from stepping out of them to double-footing them. There is also a lack of unity in the side-by-side spins. I have to say, the gloomy Eleanor Rigby doesn't help the atmosphere at all. Super low death spiral though. They get 96.13 points. Overall: 147.40.

Evgenia Tarasova & Vladimir Morozov, Europe's newly-crowned champions

Zoe Jones/Christopher Boyadji skate to Danse Macabre, and there is definitely an emphasis on the 'macabre' in the transitions, at the end of elements like the side-by-side spins and in her arm movements during the pair combination spin. Unfortunately, their double Axels are not in unison, and she double-foots the throw triple Flip, then puts a hand down on the throw triple Loop. The most obvious mistake though is the failed lift. Their score: 91.10. Overall: 143.42.

Miriam Ziegler/Severin Kiefer make me realise I need to listen to Mika more because, as a fan, I have to say I don't recognise most of the songs from their medley. There are a few mistakes here - his stepping out of the side-by-side triple Lutz, her singling out of the same jump, both their hands touching the ice during the side-by-side triple Toeloop and the side-by-side spins not being in sync. They get 108.49 points. Overall: 143.42.

Lola Esbrat/Andrei Novoselov's routine doesn't seem to know if it wants to be melancholic, fun or glamorous. Not a big fan of the concept, but I do like the difficult entry into the death spiral with him holding onto his skate.  Biggest mistakes are her fall on the side-by-side triple Salchow and the double-footing of the throw one. Their score: 93.21. Overall: 145.72.

Valentina Marchei & Ondrej Hotarek of Italy

Not sure the blue glitter on Tatiana Danilova/Mikalai Kamianchuk's costumes fit Game of Thrones, but these two do tell some of the story - I'm seeing Cersei putting the crown on her sons' heads, then killing everyone to put it on her own at the very end. Spoiler alert if you haven't seen Season 6. Back to figure skating, they also have a fall at the end of the triple twist, she over-rotates the side-by-side triple Toeloops, which make them out of sync, and finally wobbles just a little during the change of foot of the combination spin. They get 98.28 points. Overall: 151.55.

Anna Duskova/Martin Bidar are going to have an exciting future. They're only 17, but their performance is extraordinary. Their lifts may not be original, but they are really difficult, which shows their strength. A couple of mistakes though - both single out of the double Toeloops and he struggles to grab his skate to get into the first position of the side-by-side spins. Their score: 123.19. Overall: 189.09.

Unfortunately, Nicole della Monica/Mateo Guarise prove mistakes in the pair lifts can stop your heartbeat for a moment; luckily he catches her before she hits the ice, so no injuries today. The error does seem to shake her enough to double-foot the throw triple Salchow right after. Other mistakes are him over-rotating the side-by-side triple Toeloop and her stepping out of it. I do like the variation on the combination spin though. They get 117.02 points. Overall: 180.99.

Valentina Marchei/Ondrej Hotarek's transitions are expansive and expressive; Valentina plays the temptress all throughout their Skyfall and Mission Impossible Rogue Nation mash-up routine. She also struggles with the lifts; biggest mistake, putting a hand down on the throw triple Toeloop. Their score: 117.02. Overall: 180.99.

Natalia Zabiiako/Alexander Enbert are specialists in ending elements beautifully; take the side-by-side spins - the moment is prolonged by her single short spin once they're out of position. I also like the dance hold right before he throws her into the double Axel. That being said, they also make errors - she double-foots the side-by-side triple Toeloop, then singles the other side-by-side jump, which he steps out of; finally, she puts a hand down on the throw triple Toeloop. They get 128.37 points. Overall: 200.75.

Aliona Savchenko/Bruno Massot's routine, set against Patrick Watson's Lighthouse, is inspiring. I just found myself staring at them with a serene smile on my face. She does a cute little hop out of the death spiral, which ads just a tiny extra bit of difficulty to a flawlessly choreographed programme. Their score: 148.59. Overall: 222.35.

Natalia Zabiiako & Alexander Enbert's combination spin

What a shame Ksenia Stolbova/Fedor Klimov are not perfect tonight (only mistake is her fall on the first throw jump) because this routine is pure sophistication. There are a lot of sculptural poses and movements in the choreography; the start of their routine is so intense, it becomes suspenseful as it builds towards the triple twist. Music is Apres la pluie, Pomeriggio and Lied guitare by Rene Aubry. They get 142.81 points. Overall: 216.51.

Every time I remember the theme of Evgenia Tarasova/Vladimir Morozov's free skate, I think, 'Oh, they're skating to music by John Miles'; then the routine starts and I go 'Oops, Music is actually the name of the song'; then the song changes and I finally conclude, 'Nope, they really mean music by John Miles.' Anyway, enough about the song. Their small mistakes (side-by-side spins not in unison, a slow exit out of one of the lifts) are not enough to keep the gold away from them tonight, I think. Their score: 146.76. Overall: 227.58.

I'm so amazed by Vanessa James/Morgan Cipres, I'm not even sure where to start. Okay, first of all, if they feel any pressure because of skating last, it is masterfully hidden. Secondly, they knew they'd go up against superstars, so they decided to bring out the biggest gun they possess, the throw quad Salchow. And....drum roll...she lands it - double-footed, but still... Finally, they have so many original, super difficult entrances into elements, I'm actually being really vocal about my awe. Wow, wow, wow. They get 145.84 points. Overall: 220.02.

Well, how about that? Vanessa James/Morgan Cipres finally win their first European medal - a bronze. Aliona Savchenko/Bruno Massot have to take home the silver, while Evgenia Tarasova/Vladimir Morozov are crowned as the new champions of Europe. What an extraordinary evening!