Reigning Olympic ice dance champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir and two-time world junior pairs champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China took titles at the Four Continents Championships.
Canadians Virtue and Moir, who won Olympic gold on home ice in Vancouver in 2010, edged Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White -- reigning world champions and 2010 Olympic runners-up -- in the free dance to claim the overall title.
Virtue and Moir won the free dance 111.24-107.25 over the US duo, defending Four Continents champions and winners of Saturday's short dance, to claim the overall title by 182.84-179.40 in the high-altitude mountain venue.
"It was a great performance," Moir said. "We felt really strong. It was kind of a test for us up here with the altitude, and we were definitely feeling it."
Americans Davis and White were pleased with their effort if not their result.
"I could not be prouder of the way we fought through both programs. We really worked through it," White said. "We wanted to work on expression, and we did that. I felt like our elements were pretty good."
Sui and Han captured their first international senior-level pairs title by winning Sunday's free skate final after taking the short programme on Saturday.
The Chinese couple scored 135.08 points in the free skate to win the overall crown with 201.83 points to 185.42 for US champions Caydee Denney and John Coughlin. Americans Mary Beth Marley and Rockne Brubaker were third on 116.47.
"This is our first time to win a senior competition and we're happy and excited. Maybe tonight we can't sleep," Han said.
"Late in the program there were a little nerves, but we adjusted. The throws were successful and we're very pleased."
Sui and Han plan to defend their world junior crowns as well as compete in next month's World Championships at Nice, France.
"We're excited for this chance," Han said.
© ANP/AFP

















