McCorkell makes it six and promises more

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Posted: Wednesday 14th January 2009 | 19:34

JENNA McCorkell insists the best is yet to come after securing her sixth national title in seven years with her best score of the season.

McCorkell hits British Championships for six
_{HIT FOR SIX: British No.1 Jenna McCorkell promises more to come after sixth title (Getty images)}

The British No.1 had a healthy lead after the short program in the singles and extended her winning margin in the long program with a score of 93.70 giving her a combined total of 142.74 points.

Karly Robertson also had reason to smile having claimed enough points in second place, 105.77, to confirm her place on the Great Britain team to compete at the European Championships next week.

And while McCorkell is convinced this was her best performance at the British Championships to date, the Belfast-born skater is adamant this was just a warm-up for the real thing in Helsinki.

"I was very much in practice mode here in Nottingham," said McCorkell. "Obviously I'm delighted to have won again but with the Europeans so close this is just a warm-up.

"I'm very pleased with my score though. It's a personal best for the season and now I'm just hoping for more of the same next week.

"I'm not competing until the end of the week so I'll be heading back to Belgium for some training before moving on to Finland.

"And that is when the competition really starts and when I'll really be focused on the actual tournament as opposed to just a trial run like it was here."

Meanwhile Robertson will also be on the flight to Finland having achieved the selection criteria with her short program score yesterday with none of the junior ladies able to follow suit today.

And the Dundee skater, who only took up the sport at the age of 12, revealed she is counting the days until she dons the GB colours for the first time.

"There was so much added pressure on me coming to these championships," she said. "So for me to still go out there and perform is extra special.

"Perhaps getting the score yesterday made today a bit of an anti-climax but that doesn't matter. I'm still delighted with my performance and cannot wait until Helsinki."

GERARD MEAGHER