Kerrs burst into a big lead at the British Championships

BRITISH ice dancers Sinead and John Kerr have begun their pursuit of a sixth consecutive national championship in style.

UP AND RUNNING: Britsh No.1s get off to a flying start in Nottingham (Getty Images)

Following the compulsory dance, the five-time British champions skated effortlessly into the led at the National Ice Centre with 28.03 points ahead of Phillipa Towler-Green and Phillip Poole.

Towler-Green and Poole received 22.62 points - good enough for second place despite a stumble by Poole - ahead of Louise Walden and Owen Edwards in third (22.51).

2008 bronze medallists Christina Chitwood and Mark Hanretty were fourth with 20.03 points while Melyssa James and Jamie Burns were fifth with 17.09.

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The compulsory dance selected for the competition, the finstep, is a new and relatively unknown dance but having already established a formidable lead, the Kerrs insist they will take some stopping.

"It's great to get it out of the way and to know that you're doing the right thing," said John. "There's a bit of nervousness because different people will put their own slant on the dance so you never quite know where you are at this stage.

"But it's a nice start and a great way to prepare for the European Championships which are just a couple of weeks away.

"We have fond memories of these championships and hopefully we can go on and claim another title because that would be such ideal preparation."

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The European Championships get under way on January 20 in Helsinki and the finstep will also be the Compulsory Dance in Finland.

And having come sixth and fifth at their last two appearances at the European Championships and with defending champions Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin of Russia set to be absent, Sinead believes it's their turn to reach the podium. 

"I really do think we've got a great chance of a medal," she said. "It could one of either two ways with the judges knowing exactly what they want or just going with the form book.

"But we have to believe it is our chance to shine. Our coaches say don't think about medals but our choreographers say do.

"We'll wait and see but on form you'd say it's between us, the French, the Russians and the Italians so we'll have to wait and see."

GERARD MEAGHER