Miki Ando continues perfect start to the season at NHK Trophy

JAPAN'S Miki Ando continued her perfect start to the season with gold at the NHK Trophy in Nagano.

 PERFECT START: Former world champion Miki Ando scoops her second Grand Prix gold of the season at the NHK Trophy in Nagano

The 21-year old finished with 162.55 points to replicate her victory in October's Rostelecom Cup in Moscow and book her place in December's Grand Prix final.

Just like in Russia, Ando was lagging behind American teenager Ashley Wagner at the half-way stage, having fallen on a triple flip in Friday's short program.

But the 2006 world champion bounced back in style with a score of 106.33 in Saturday's free skate to ensure she leapfrogged Wagner to the top of the podium.

Russia's world junior champion, Alena Leonova, top scored in the free skate with 108.51 to scoop silver on 160.85 while Wagner was left to settle for bronze on 155.99.

In the men's event, France's Brian Joubert landed three quadruple jumps on his way to his first gold of the season.

The 2007 world champion looked far from his best at his other Grand Prix event this term, finishing fourth at the Trophée Eric Bombard in Paris.

But Joubert looks to be finding his feet on the ice again, backing up his short program score of 85.35 with 147.35 in Saturday's free skate to finish ahead of American Johnny Weir and Czech skater Michal Brezina.

China's defending champions Pang Qing and Tong Jian romped to gold in the pairs' event with a personal best score of 199.65.

Russia's overnight leaders Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov took silver on 193.05 while the American pair of Rena Inoue and John Baldwin claimed bronze on 158.78.

Meanwhile, Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White extended their lead in the ice dance event with Sunday's free dance remaining.

The American champions and Rostelecom Cup winners are on 101.18 with British siblings Sinead and John Kerr in second on 91.57 and Canadians Vanessa Crone and Paul Poirier lurking in third on 81.38.