Kerrs equal Torvill and Dean's record with sixth national crown

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Posted: Tuesday 13th January 2009 | 19:10

Sinead and John Kerr have vowed to return in search of an unprecedented seventh consecutive British title having claimed their sixth in a row in Nottngham.

Kerrs hit Nottingham for six at British Championships
_{SIX OF THE BEST: Kerrs claim sixth consecutive national crown in Nottingham Getty Images)}

The British No.1 ice dancers overcame a slight lifting error to achieve victory by a handsome margin, claiming 86.03 points in the free dance to give them a combined total of 172.52 points and equal Torvill and Dean's record of six in a row.

Londoners Phillipa Towler-Green and Phillip Poole secured second for the fourth year in a row after chalking up 75.60 points with their free dance giving them 147.37 in total.

The Kerrs improved on last year's tally of 169.26 and with the European Championships due to get under way on January 20, the Scots expressed their relief at getting any mistakes well and truly out of their system.

"We made a bit of an error by coming out of one of the lifts too early," said Sinead. "But in a way that's a good thing - it's better to make them now then next week.

"It acts as a bit of a wake-up call and keeps you on your toes which can only be a good thing. If everything has gone perfectly here then typically it probably wouldn't next week.

"But we're delighted to have claimed a sixth title and it's a real honour and a compliment to equal Torvill and Dean's record.

"They managed six a row which we have now done - but we'll definitely be back to defend it next year in Sheffield and hopefully we can make it seven.

"The free dance is without doubt one of our strengths and we aim to mesmerise with it and we'd like to think we've done that today."

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The Kerrs head to Helsinki for the European Championships with high medal hopes, having claimed too medals on the American Grand Prix circuit earlier in the season.

And with Vancouver 2010 just over a year away, John believes the next 12 months will prove crucial as they bid to follow another of Torvill and Dean's achievements and reach the Olympic podium.

"There's no doubt it's a massive year for us," said John. "We go to the Europeans and we're very much going there in search of a medal.

"After that we have the worlds and we'll set our goals for that depending on how we fare in Helsinki.

"We set our season's best for the free dance in Finland earlier this season so hopefully we can repeat the trick next week."

GERARD MEAGHER