A last chance to see how British ice dance champions Penny Coomes and Nicholas Buckland are faring internationally before the British Championships came this weekend in the NHK trophy in Miyagi, Japan.

They turned in scores of 46.72 in the short and 76.08 in the free for a total of 122.80 and sixth place. It’s in the same ballpark as the 126.66 they scored at the Cup of Russia (51.39 in the short and 75.27 in the free).

WIth the ice dance events in the British Championships set to take place on 1 and 2 December in Sheffield, Coomes and Buckland’s scores must give some hope to former IW skater Charlotte Aiken and ice dance partner Josh Whidborne that, if not first place, second place and with it a chance to compete in the European championships is within the realms of possibility. Charlotte and Josh have scored similar marks recently, but not in Grand Prix events, where judging may well be tougher.

NHK Trophy results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/gpjpn2012/