Pogorilaya, Uno lead Cup of Russia

Russia’s Anna Pogorilaya grabbed the lead at the Cup of Russia on Friday, the third stage of Grand Prix circuit, while Japanese teenager Shoma Uno led the men’s event.
The 18-year-old Pogorilaya made no mistakes during her “Scent of a Woman” short program earning 73.93 points to finish two points ahead of countrywoman Elena Radionova.
Julia Lipnitskaya, the Olympic champion in the team competition, was third.
“I tried hard to avoid the mistakes that I’ve made last year here in Moscow,” Pogorilaya said.
“In general I’m pleased with my performance but all the best is yet to come.”
Uno, this season’s Skate America winner, landed a quadruple flip — his distinctive element — at the ice of Moscow’s Megasport Arena to grab the lead in men’s competition.
Uno, 18, earned his personal best mark of 98.59pts to stay 7.04 ahead of two-time world champion Javier Fernandez of Spain.
Russia’s Mikhail Kolyada also scored his personal best of 90.28pts to finish third.
In pairs, Russia’s Natalia Zabiiako and Alexander Enbert won the short program with an almost flawless presentation to “Snowstorm” by Georgi Sviridov.
They are 0.25 points ahead of Germany’s five-time world champion, Aliona Savchenko, and her new partner Bruno Massot.
Italy’s Valentina Marchei and Ondrei Hotarek sit third, 2.69pts further back.
In ice dancing, America’s duo Madison Chock and Evan Bates, runners-up at last season’s Grand Prix Finals, took the lead with 75.07 points for their short dance to “Bad to the Bone” by George Thorogood.
Local favourites Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev, Olympic champions in team event, are second, just 0.12 behind, while Kaitlyn Weawer and Andrew Poje of Canada, GP Finals winners at Barcelona, sit third.