McCorkell claims bronze and first international medal

SEVEN-times British champion Jenna McCorkell has claimed her first international medal of the season with a bronze in the NRW Trophy in Dortmund.

AT LAST: After seven national titles, Coleraine's Jenna McCorkell claimed an international bronze in Dortmund

McCorkell was lying second after the short programme but despite dropping a place, still produced a personal best 140.21 score.

Overnight leader, Italy's Valentina Marchei, secured a confident gold while Russia's Katarina Gerbold leaped from fourth to second with a classy free skate.

There was also a double celebration for McKenna when husband, Belgian skater Kevin Van der Perren, claimed bronze in the men's event while France's Yannick Ponsero took gold.

"I'm delighted with both programmes this weekend and to take a medal would have been really great in such a big field - but to make a personal best overall score as well as take a medal, well that is really sweet," said McCorkell's coach Yuri Bureiko.

The Northern Irish skater, whose Olympic selection was confirmed earlier this week, will spend the rest of the year working with Shanette Folle, ahead of a demanding 2010 schedule that only includes Vancouver but also the European and World Championships.