Irina Moiseyeva and Andrei Minenkov of the Soviet Union gave a classic display to retain their gold medal title in the ice dance contest at the European Figure Skating championships in Strasbourg on Friday (3 February). Second place went to another Soviet couple, Natalia Linichuk and Gennadi Karponosov.

SYNOPSIS: Linichuk and Karponosov, seen here in action on the freeskating section of the contest, held on to the second place they attained in the first stage earlier in the week -- the four compulsory dances.

There were to be no surprises once the first set of marks were awarded. The first eleven places remained unchanged in each of the three rounds. There was only marginal change in the last five places.

In third place behind Linichuk and Karponosov were last year's silver medallists, the Hungarian couple, Krisztina Regoczy and Andras Sallay. But the crowd had yet to see the reigning champions in action.

The couple Moiseyeva and Minenkov, a husband and wife team, gave a performance that was near perfection. What stopped them form receiving a maximum of six was a slight stumble by Minenkov in the opening seconds of their routine. He fell to one knee but recovered immediately.

It was on real surprise to ice dance followers that the couple retained their title. They gave a stunning ice dance version of the music, full of dazzling footwork. In the end it almost became a command performance.

Moiseyeva and Minenkov finished a clear two points ahead of the field.