NationStates Jolt Archive

In the aftermath of the Winter Olympic Games in Keto, the skating federations of Anastasiania and Ariddia have agreed to host a national match of speed skating between the two countries. This thread will be used for RPing and results regarding the national match.

Details and entry lists (http://folk.uio.no/haakomor/SSmatch.html)

Anastasiania are fielding a squad of 27 athletes, most of them relative international unknowns, while Ariddia are banking on their long-track stars to double as short-trackers and have thus assembled a squad of 12 athletes to take part in the national match.

The greatest stars on show are:

Jörgen Sundlund, Anastasiania

The allrounder medalled three times with two golds at the Keto Olympic Games, after a disappointing performance in Aeropag where his best result was 5th place on the 5000 metres. Seven times Anastasianian all round champion, and a favourite for the samalog totals on the men's side.

Ville Hänninen, Anastasiania

Hänninen was Anastasiania's only speed skating medallist at the Aeropag Games, which opened the nation's eyes to the fact that they actually had some good sprinters as well. Young sprinters popped up in the aftermath of Hänninen's gold, and he was very nearly beaten to the sprint samalog by Andre Svensson in the domestic championships a month before the Games. When it really counted, though, Hänninen won silver in Keto.

Jean-Michel Chang, Ariddia

Another allrounder, Chang will have his work cut out as he is planning to start ten races in four days. Chang won the long track 1500 metres in Keto, and was close to the medals on the 500 and 5000 metre events; from the first Olympic Games he won a gold medal on 5000 metres as well as silver on 500 metres short track.

Derek Riise, Ariddia

Riise is a two-time medallist on the long-track 1000 metres, though he only won silver both times; he has also managed to get disqualified from the 1500 metres short track in the Aeropag games. Lacks some stamina to be seriously considered an allround contender, however.

Marie Harrison, Anastasiania

A useful allrounder with five domestic titles and two Olympic medals, as well as a fourth place from the Aeropag Games. She has struggled with getting her pace right for the 3000 metre distance, and is thus not a true challenger to the allround title, despite being 5000 Olympic Champion and bronze medallist on the 1500.

Linda Uosh, Ariddia

Uosh is a two-time 3,000 metre gold winner, who smashed the world record in Keto with an outstanding time of 4.02,20. The Anastasianians will try to catch up with her on the shorter distances, and possibly on the 5,000, where she has not yet started at the Olympics.

Jessica Silversmith, Ariddia

The sprint queen of the Winter Olympics, Silversmith has won four gold medals in 500 and 1000 metres, and if the national match was only over those distances she would be an untouchable favourite. Her record on the shorter distances is outstanding, and she will probably contribute with plenty of points in the national match on her other nine starts in the national match as well - it may even be enough to win her the allround title. In short track, she favours the longer distances, with 5th and 7th place from the Olympics on 1500 metres.

---

Schedule day one, Thursday 14 December:

1000 m men, long track:

Starting order
Pair (heat) 1: Jacques Terreau (ARI) v Andre Svensson (ANS)
Pair 2: Wu Sie (ARI) v Liam Carter (ANS)
Pair 3: Derek Riise (ARI) v Ville Hänninen (ANS)

3000 m ladies, short track:

Only heat: Svantesdotter (ANS), Wendel (ANS), Silversmith (ARI), Uosh (ARI)

3000 m men, short track:

Only heat: Bråkvik (ANS), Mäkäräinen (ANS), Chang (ARI), Riise (ARI)

1000 m ladies, long track:

Starting order
Pair 1: Mwanajuna Jamba (ARI) v Piiri Uttrinen (ANS)
Pair 2: Sandra Jay (ARI) v Susanna Lurdal (ANS)
Pair 3: Jessica Silversmith (ARI) v Jane Edwards (ANS)

---

The Ariddian team is expected to land in Heino later this afternoon, arriving in a city still celebrating the 14 gold medals won by Anastasianian athletes in Keto. However, a large contingent of fans are expected to greet the foreign competitors.

Ariddian speedskaters arrive in Heino

The Keto Olympics are barely over, and already a new competition is set to begin. A delegation of twelve Ariddian speedskaters – including quadruple gold medallist Jessica Silversmith – have arrived in Heino, Anastasiania, where they were welcomed by local fans. They are reportedly settling in, and preparing for the first day of events.

The two countries like to see themselves as the world’s major speedskating powers – and were counting medals each side during the Keto Games. Now they are going head to head in a series of long track and short track races. As the only two countries competing, they are bound to win many medals each; the question on everyone’s mind being who will win the most.

But this is also a meeting between two nations appreciative of a particular sport, coming together in a joint, friendly celebration of that sport.

“The supporters here are great!” Ariddian Derek Riise confirmed. “There’s a wonderful atmosphere, and I’m really happy to have come.”

Anastasiania and Ariddia are both lining up their greatest champions, but there are also new faces. Ariddians Jacques Terreau and Wu Sie for instance, the first to compete on Day One, will be taking part in their first international competition.

The Ariddian media is also there, with PINA ( http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Public_International_News_Ariddia) providing live coverage for the many enthusiastic Ariddian fans back home. And Ariddian supporters who have made the trip to Heino are discovering Anastasiania and making the most of a holiday.

http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/6634/pinaiceskatingbnr0.jpg
PINA will be providing live coverage of the competition

“They have impressive facilities here,” 3000m Olympic champion Linda Uosh stated. The PDSRA has been hampered by a lack of modern sports facilities, which has prevented the nation from taking part in all Winter Olympic events. But Anastasiania is a much richer country, able to provide its athletes and guests with state-of-the-art sporting venues.

“And it’s so different from home!” Uosh added. “From the aeroplane we saw hills and mountains. . . And the climate too!”

“The air is cold, but people have greeted us very warmly,” the Indigenous athlete said. “Everyone here has been very kind and welcoming.”

Kari Antila stared up from his papers. "139," he said.

"What?"

"It's the amount of points any nation needs to win the country match. Not counting disqualifications and such, tho."

"How interesting. Any shout of getting that?"

"Possibly. Depends a bit. These Ariddians sure are keen on winning."

"Yeah, see that girl...Linda Wash, was it? On the TV yesterday? OK, she kept saying the same as sportswomen always do, but the stare in her eyes..."

"You got a thing about her or something?"

"Um."

"Don't blame you. Harrison isn't exactly something to stare at."

---

Meanwhile, the commentators for ARTV (Anastasianiska republikens television) were also ruminating.

"139, you say?" Clas Thunberg, Olympic competitor back in the old world and now a famed TV figure, asked the channel's "stat cruncher" Olli Tamminen

"Yep."

"No doubt the short track and relays will be decisive, then. Good thing they reduced it from eight points to five for a win."

"Meh. It'll be fun," Tamminen said. "I've got the whole bunch of schedules and personal bests ready. No point in being grumpy about it," he smiled.

"I suppose," Clas sighed. "I'm just thinking...four days of straight work and we'll have to commentate on paska short track too. Not fair."

"Hey, open your mind a bit? They're good athletes too."

"There's a reason why we limited it to six short trackers per team, you know..."

"Oh?"

"Yes. We only have six short trackers in the country."

The first results are trickling in from Heino. The first event is the men's 1000 metres:

1000 m men, long track:


Pair 1:
Terreau ARI 16.87 42.98 (26.1) 1:11.55 (28.6) (2)
Svensson ANS 16.72 42.53 (25.8) 1:10.67 (28.2) (1)

Anastasiania lead 2-1.

Pair 2:
Wu ARI 16.63 42.30 (25.7) 1:09.97 (27.7) (2)
Carter ANS 16.53 42.13 (25.6) 1:09.80 (27.7) (1)

Anastasiania lead 6-4.

Pair 3:
Hänninen ANS 16.67 42.56 (25.9) 1:10.78 (28.2) (5)
Riise ARI 16.44 41.84 (25.4) 1:09.11 (27.3) (1) WR

Final ranking:
1. Derek Riise ARI 1:09.11 WR
2. Liam Carter ANS 1:09.80 NR
3. Wu Sie ARI 1:09.97
4. Andre Svensson ANS 1:10.67
5. Ville Hänninen ANS 1:10.78
6. Jacques Terreau ARI 1:11.55
Ariddia win the distance 11-10.


We now move into centre court, where the short trackers are due to race their 3,000 metres. Uosh and Silversmith are heavy favourites against Anastasianians unaccustomed to the short curves...

3000 ladies, short track:


1. Linda Uosh ARI 5:07.457
2. Jessica Silversmith ARI 5:07.528
3. Katrin Wendel ANS 5:08.274
4. Bettina Svantesdotter ANS 5:10.399
Ariddia win distance 8-3.


A totally dominant race from the Ariddians, who set up a good tempo which Svantesdotter was unable to keep. Wendel skated well, but was locked out in the final curve, and Ariddia take the two first places and an 8-3 lead in the match.

Ariddia took the first scalp of the men's match, with Riise's excellent final lap securing him a world record and the team an 11-10 win. Can Bråkvik secure an upset against a tired Riise?

3000 men, short track:


1. Olli Mäkäräinen ANS 4:41.297
2. Jean-Michel Chang ARI 4:42.736
3. Sven Bråkvik ANS 4:45.003
Derek Riise DSQ
Anastasiania win distance 7-3.
Anastasiania lead men's match 17-14.


Controversy in the men's 3000 as Riise gets disqualified for an infringement on Mäkäräinen. The latter stuttered out of the curve, getting a huge disadvantage but somehow catching up with Chang to beat him in the final stages; Bråkvik fell out of the game a couple of laps before the finish and was nowhere near. However, a large margin of victory for Anastasiania.

A heavy burden falls to Uttrinen and Edwards against the world sprint champion Silversmith, as Anastasiania have five points to catch up with after a poor short track effort. Anastasiania are also trailing by one point in the overall match, but good team performances here would see things even at the end of the day.

1000 m women, long track:


Pair 1:
Jamba ARI 18.80 47.61 (28.8) 1:18.86 (31.3) (1)
Uttrinen ANS 19.38 49.18 (29.8) 1:21.74 (32.5) (2)

Ariddia lead women's match 10-4.

Pair 2:
Jay ARI 19.17 48.23 (29.0) 1:19.32 (31.1) (2)
Lurdal ANS 19.25 48.65 (29.4) 1:20.43 (31.7) (4)

Ariddia lead women's match 15-6.

Pair 3:
Edwards ANS 18.86 48.07 (29.2) 1:19.83 (31.7) (3)
Silversmith ARI 18.95 48.17 (29.2) 1:20.50 (32.3) (5)

Final standings:
1. Mwanajuma Jamba ARI 1:18.86
2. Sandra Jay ARI 1:19.32
3. Jane Edwards ANS 1:19.83
4. Susanna Lurdal ANS 1:20.43
5. Jessica Silversmith ARI 1:20.50
6. Piiri Uttrinen ANS 1:21.74
Ariddia win distance 13-8.
Ariddia lead women's match 21-11.
Ariddia lead overall match 34-29.


An out-of-form Silversmith finishes disappointingly, while Sandra Jay's last lap is enough to take her past Edwards in a poor quality race.

Draw for tonight's events:

500 metres ladies, short track:
Heat 1: Uosh (ARI), Walker (ANS), Svensson (ANS), Jay (ARI)
Heat 2: Svantesdotter (ANS), Silversmith (ARI), Alves (ARI), Filch (ANS)

500 metres men, short track:
Heat 1: Chang (ARI), Bulby (ANS), Pulkkonen (ANS), Wu (ARI)
Heat 2: Hartonen (ANS), Maraîcher (ARI), Riise (ARI), Aren (ANS)

500 metres men, long track (allround distance 1):
Pair 1: Dulwich (ANS) vs Wu (ARI)
Pair 2: Riise (ARI) vs Månsson (ANS)
Pair 3: Maraîcher (ARI) vs Sundlund (ANS)
Pair 4: Hänninen (ANS) vs Chang (ARI)

500 metres ladies, long track (allround distance 1):
Pair 1: Farlan (ANS) vs Jay (ARI)
Pair 2: Alves (ARI) vs Kauppistö (ANS)
Pair 3: Uosh (ARI) vs Harrison (ANS)
Pair 4: Edwards (ANS) vs Silversmith (ARI)

5000 metres men, long track (allround distance 2):
Pair 1: Månsson (ANS) vs Kholuoe (ARI)
Pair 2: Riise (ARI) vs Farnham (ANS)
Pair 3: Maraîcher (ARI) vs Dulwich (ANS)
Pair 4: Sundlund (ANS) vs Chang (ARI)

Ariddians off to a good start

The competition is underway here in Heino, with a few Ariddian supporters present amidst an overwhelming Anastasianian home crowd. It started with the men’s one kilometre long track event, and the first Ariddian to compete was unknown to most of his own supporters.

Jacques Terreau did his best to keep up with André Svensson, but the Anastasianian was in the lead from start to finish, making the first race a clear victory for the host country. The crowd expressed its joyous appreciation, while the two men shook hands warmly after the race.

Wu Sie (his name is Indigenous Ariddian, not Chinese) was equally unknown, but lost to Liam Carter by a somewhat narrower margin. The third race featured Ariddia’s first well-known athlete, Olympic silver medalist Derek Riise, against Anastasianian champion Ville Hänninen. Now the competition truly was underway, and Ariddian supporters began to get properly excited. Riise established an early lead, and maintained it, winning his country’s first race. . . and establishing a new World Record with a time of 1:09.11.

Ariddians Linda Uosh and Jessica Silversmith, both multi Olympic medalists, were favourites to win the next event, the ladies’ three kilometre short track. This they did in style, finishing first and second respectively, although Anastasiania’s Katrin Wendel kept the pace up very well until the end of the race. Short track events are not the host country’s speciality, and were included in great part as a courtesy to their guests.

Nonetheless, it was an Anastasianian, Olli Mäkäräinen, who won a clear victory in the men’s 3 kilometre event, defeating Ariddia’s Jean-Michel Chang, while Derek Riise was disqualified. Back to the long track after that, featuring Ariddia’s favourite, Jessica Silversmith, in the one kilometre pairs’ race.

Little-known Ariddian Mwanajuma Jamba went first, defeating Piiri Uttrinen and setting what was to remain the fastest time of that race: 1:18.86. Another Ariddian newcomer, Sandra Jay, then defeated Susanna Lurdal, ending Anastasiania’s hopes of winning the most points on day 1. The third and final race should – Ariddians hoped – have been a moment of crowning glory with Silversmith, but the PDSRA champion, not looking her best, was soundly defeated by an excellent Jane Edwards, allowing Anastasiania to conclude the day on a high note.

Nonetheless, Ariddia is, for now, in the lead in both men’s and women’s events. There is of course much more still to come, and perhaps the biggest race tonight will be the very last of the evening: In the men’s 5000m long track, Jörgen Sundlund (double gold medalist in Keto) will compete directly against Jean-Michel Chang (5000m gold medalist in Aeropag) in the final pairs’ race.

The first results of the afternoon are arriving from the Heino Ice Rink; this post will be continually updated as events are completed.

500 m short track, ladies:


Heat 1:
1. Linda Uosh ARI 45.889
2. Sarah Walker ANS 47.217
3. Sandra Jay ARI 47.474
4. Rita Svensson ANS 48.006
Heat: Ariddia 7 - 4 Anastasiania

Heat 2:
1. Bettina Svantesdotter ANS 46.246
2. Patricia Alves ARI 47.020
3. Jessica Silversmith ARI 47.384
4. Jane Filch ANS 47.733
Heat: Anastasiania 6 - 5 Ariddia
Distance: Ariddia 12 - 10 Anastasiania
Women's match overall: Ariddia 33 - 21 Anastasiania


Svantesdotter and Walker salvaged ten points for Anastasiania, beating Silversmith and Jay respectively to keep the gap down to two points, but tonight's long track events will be crucial for the hosts if they are to stay within contention.

500 m short track, men:


Heat 1:
1. Jean-Michel Chang ARI 43.694
2. Wu Sie ARI 44.416
3. Joonas Pulkkonen ANS 44.559
4. James Bulby ANS 44.693
Heat: Ariddia 8 - 3 Anastasiania

Heat 2:
1. Sami Hartonen ANS 43.563
2. Derek Riise ARI 43.928
3. Richard Maraîcher ARI 43.952
4. Peter Aren ANS 45.048
Heat: Anastasiania 6 - 5 Ariddia
Distance: Ariddia 13 - 9 Anastasiania
Men's match overall: Ariddia 27 - 26 Anastasiania


James Bulby stumbled in the first heat, and the advantage gained by the 3000 earlier was suddenly given away. Hartonen needed to impress against the solid Ariddian backup racers; that he did, coming first against excellent competition which, despite Aren's awful race, was enough to level the match after four races.

The men's competition is still very tense, but Ariddia is expected to have a slight edge in the sprint races - hosting hopes hinge on two-time Olympic medallist Ville Hänninen, who will fight against Ariddian allrounder Chang. The Ariddian allrounders are expected to be better in the shorter distances, and need to build up a solid lead for the allround competition.

500 m men, long track:


Pair 1: 100 500 Samalog
Dulwich ANS 10.32 36.97 (26.7) (2) 36.970 (1)
Wu Sie ARI 10.07 36.06 (26.0) (1)
Distance: Ariddia 2 - 1 Anastasiania
Match: Ariddia 29 - 27 Anastasiania

Pair 2:
Riise ARI 10.15 36.82 (26.6) (2) 36.820 (1)
Månsson ANS 10.20 36.98 (26.8) (4) 36.980 (3)
Distance: Ariddia 7 - 3 Anastasiania
Match: Ariddia 34 - 29 Anastasiania

Pair 3:
Maraîcher ARI 10.08 35.84 (25.7) (1) 35.840 (1)
Sundlund ANS 10.21 36.21 (26.0) (3) 36.210 (2)
Distance: Ariddia 14 - 7 Anastasiania
Match: Ariddia 41 - 33 Anastasiania

Pair 4:
Hänninen ANS 9.87 35.30 (25.4) (1)
Chang ARI 10.01 35.67 (25.7) (2) 35.670 (1)



Final rankings:
1. Ville Hänninen ANS 35.30
2. Jean-Michel Chang ARI 35.67
3. Richard Maraîcher ARI 35.84
4. Wu Sie ARI 36.06
5. Jörgen Sundlund ANS 36.21
6. Derek Riise ARI 36.82
7. Ben Dulwich ANS 36.97
8. John Månsson ANS 36.98
Distance: Ariddia 21 - 15 Anastasiania
Men's match overall: Ariddia 48 - 41 Anastasiania

Allround standings:
1. Jean-Michel Chang ARI 35.670
2. Richard Maraîcher ARI 35.840
3. Jörgen Sundlund ANS 36.210
4. Derek Riise ARI 36.820
5. Ben Dulwich ANS 36.970
6. John Månsson ANS 36.980


A good race from Sundlund gives reason for Anastasianian hope in the allround standings, while Dulwich' long distance prowess should help him gain an edge over Riise after the latter disappointed in pair with Månsson. The pure sprinter Hänninen was once again too good for the rest of the field.

500 m ladies, long track:

The Anastasianian sprinters need to prove themselves to keep the women in the hunt.


Pair 1: 100 500 Samalog
Farlan ANS 11.13 39.78 (28.7) (2) 39.780 (1)
Jay ARI 10.97 38.95 (28.0) (1)
Distance: Ariddia 2 - 1 Anastasiania
Match: Ariddia 35 - 22 Anastasiania

Pair 2:
Alves ARI 11.10 39.95 (28.9) (4) 39.950 (3)
Kauppistö ANS 11.04 39.71 (28.7) (3) 39.710 (1)
Distance: Ariddia 5 - 5 Anastasiania
Match: Ariddia 38 - 26 Anastasiania

Pair 3:
Uosh ARI 10.94 38.97 (28.1) (3) 38.970 (2)
Harrison ANS 10.97 38.41 (27.4) (1) 38.410 (1)
Distance: Anastasiania 11 - 10 Ariddia
Match: Ariddia 43 - 32 Anastasiania

Pair 4:
Edwards ANS 10.97 38.68 (27.7) (3)
Silversmith ARI 10.80 38.46 (27.7) (2) 38.460 (2)



Final ranking:
1. Marie Harrison ANS 38.41
2. Jessica Silversmith ARI 38.46
3. Jane Edwards ANS 38.68
4. Sandra Jay ARI 38.95
5. Linda Uosh ARI 38.97
6. Miia Kauppistö ANS 39.71
7. Susie Farlan ANS 39.78
8. Patricia Alves ARI 39.95
Distance: Anastasiania 19 - 17 Ariddia
Women's match overall: Ariddia 50 - 40 Anastasiania

Allround standings:
1. Marie Harrison ANS 38.410
2. Jessica Silversmith ARI 38.460
3. Linda Uosh ARI 38.970
4. Susie Farlan ANS 39.710
5. Miia Kauppistö ANS 39.780
6. Patricia Alves ARI 39.950


Important victories for Anastasiania. Marie Harrison proves she can sprint with world-class top speed, skating a last lap of 27.4 to beat sprint champion Silversmith. Jane Edwards impresses after a slow first 100, while Sandra Jay's last lap is once again good enough to secure fourth. However, Harrison's good 500-metres means she's suddenly become the favourite in the allround samalog.

5000 m men, long track:

A key distance. Sundlund is trailing Chang by some five seconds in the allround samalog, while Dulwich and Månsson will be looking to get themselves up. With Anastasiania trailing by six points, any contribution from Niall Farnham will be very welcome.


(lap times only)
Pair 1: 200 600 1000 1400 1800 2200 2600 3000 3400 3800 4200 4600 5000 Time Samalog
Månsson ANS 19.1 31.1 31.6 31.7 31.8 31.9 31.8 32.1 (4:01.0) 31.8 31.8 31.7 31.7 31.9 6:40.03 (2) 76.983 (1)
Kholuoe ARI 19.0 31.2 31.4 32.0 32.3 31.8 31.5 31.5 (4:00.7) 31.6 31.8 31.8 31.4 31.6 6:38.85 (1)
Distance: Ariddia 2 - 1 Anastasiania
Match: Ariddia 50 - 42 Anastasiania


Kholuoe finishes better in a very tight race, where the lead kept changing up to 2,600 metres.


Pair 2: 200 600 1000 1400 1800 2200 2600 3000 3400 3800 4200 4600 5000 Time Samalog
Riise ARI 19.1 31.2 31.6 31.7 31.5 31.8 31.6 31.9 (4:00.3) 31.7 31.8 31.9 31.8 31.8 6:39.39 (3) 76.759 (1)
Farnham ANS 18.4 30.4 29.9 29.7 29.5 29.8 29.6 29.9 (3:47.2) 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.4 30.7 6:18.60 (1)
Distance: Anastasiania 5 - 5 Ariddia
Match: Ariddia 53 - 46 Anastasiania


Farnham smashes all previous personal bests; at one point he was a second ahead of the Anastasianian record set by Sundlund before the Olympics. Despite missing that record by 0.11 seconds, he eventually takes the lead by 20 seconds, and looks likely to beat all Ariddians as Anastasianians prepare for a 1-2.


Par 3: 200 600 1000 1400 1800 2200 2600 3000 3400 3800 4200 4600 5000 Time Samalog
Maraîcher ARI 19.0 31.9 32.3 32.5 32.2 32.2 32.1 31.9 (4:04.1) 31.9 32.0 32.4 32.7 32.7 6:45.81 (6) 76.421 (2)
Dulwich ANS 18.5 31.1 31.1 30.5 30.6 30.6 31.3 31.1 (3:54.4) 31.3 31.1 31.5 31.4 31.2 6:31.29 (2) 76.099 (1)
Distance: Anastasiania 13 - 8 Ariddia
Match: Ariddia 56 - 54 Anastasiania


Dulwich does a slightly sub-par race, trying to follow up Farnham's lap times but not managing to keep enough laps below 31. However, he takes a solid lead in the samalog over Maraîcher, and helps Anastasiania close the gap to just one point.


Pair 4: 200 600 1000 1400 1800 2200 2600 3000 3400 3800 4200 4600 5000 Time Samalog
Sundlund ANS 18.3 30.3 30.7 30.5 30.8 31.2 31.1 30.4 (3:53.3) 30.7 30.7 30.9 30.1 30.3 6:25.95 (2) 74.805 (1)
Chang ARI 18.4 30.9 31.7 31.6 31.8 31.8 31.4 31.3 (3:58.7) 31.1 31.2 31.6 31.5 31.3 6:35.63 (4) 75.233 (2)


Chang looked impressive - for about 600 metres. Then Sundlund had him distanced, crossed ahead of him from the outer lane up to 800 metres, and simply skated away.


Final ranking:
1. Niall Farnham ANS 6:18.60
2. Jörgen Sundlund ANS 6:25.95
3. Ben Dulwich ANS 6:31.29
4. Jean-Michel Chang ARI 6:35.63
5. Sheli Kholuoe ARI 6:38.85
6. Derek Riise ARI 6:39.39
7. John Månsson ANS 6:40.03
8. Richard Maraîcher ARI 6:45.81
Distance: Anastasiania 23 - 13 Ariddia
Men's match overall: Anastasiania 64 - 61 Ariddia
Total match (men's and women's combined): Ariddia 110 - 105 Anastasiania

Allround standings:
1. Jörgen Sundlund ANS 74.805
2. Jean-Michel Chang ARI 75.233
3. Ben Dulwich ANS 76.099
4. Richard Maraîcher ARI 76.421
5. Derek Riise ARI 76.759
6. John Månsson ANS 76.983


Anastasiania have wrested control of the men's match, as Sundlund and Dulwich look likely to finish in the top three of the allround after good 5,000 metres, and Farnham records an excellent time on the slow ice. No one else was ever close, and Sundlund's second place was a result of sheer willpower, as he explained after the race:

"I never had the chance to beat Niall, really. I just tried to go absolutely as hard as I could, you can see it by the blips in my schedule - when the coach told me I was slipping up in the 31s, I dug deeper and deeper, but I didn't have it in me today. I suppose I should be happy Jean-Michel isn't quite on form right now, or it would be tricky, but his 6:35 is a lot better than it looks and I've just got that one second on the 1500 which he beat me by in Keto. It was really, really hard work out there tonight. In different conditions, Niall would have had the world record by now."

Saturday's events:

1000 m short track ladies:

Anastasiania trail by ten points in the women's match, but this was a good distance for them at the Olympics. If they can limit the damage, Harrison could catch up with a good 3000 metre race.


Heat 1:
1. Linda Uosh ARI 1:35.173
2. Katrin Wendel ANS 1:35.836
3. Bettina Svantesdotter ANS 1:35.961
4. Mwanajuma Jamba ARI 1:37.213
Heat: Ariddia 6 - 5 Anastasiania

Heat 2:
1. Rita Svensson ANS 1:35.618
2. Johanna Näckvik ANS 1:35.640
3. Patricia Alves ARI 1:36.264
4. Jessica Silversmith ARI 1:36.359
Heat: Anastasiania 8 - 3 Ariddia
Distance: Anastasiania 13 - 9 Ariddia
Women's match overall: Ariddia 59 - 53 Anastasiania


Anastasiania caught four points after well executed tactics in the second heat - Silversmith struggled from the start and Svensson shot out of the final curve to beat Alves. Average races from Wendel and Svantesdotter also gained good points, despite Uosh landing her third of three possible heat wins.

---

3000 metres long track, ladies:

Marie Harrison is a heavy favourite after an excellent 500-metre race, though two-time Olympic gold medallist Linda Uosh should take home the race.


(lap times only)
Pair 1: 200 600 1000 1400 1800 2200 2600 3000 Time Samalog
Kauppistö ANS 19.3 32.3 32.4 32.6 33.5 33.9 34.6 34.4 4:13.02 (1) 81.950 (1)
Alves ARI 19.5 32.2 32.9 33.2 33.7 34.0 33.9 34.6 4:13.98 (2) 82.280 (2)
Distance: Anastasiania 2 - 1 Ariddia
Match: Ariddia 60 - 55 Anastasiania


Alves threatened to come back with a late rally, but Kauppistö beats her after drafting behind on the last exchange. She takes a one-second lead (0.330 points) into the 1500 metres tomorrow, as the two fight to avoid last place.


Pair 2: 200 600 1000 1400 1800 2200 2600 3000 Time Samalog
Petit ARI 19.3 32.1 32.6 32.8 33.3 33.8 34.0 34.1 4:12.00 (1)
Rickardsson ANS 19.5 32.6 33.0 32.9 33.7 34.1 34.2 34.8 4:14.76 (4)
Distance: Ariddia 6 - 4 Anastasiania
Match: Ariddia 65 - 57 Anastasiania


Ariddia wrest back the dominance, as specialist Rickardsson disappoints with an out-of-character last lap of 34.8. Marlène Petit kept her nerve and just beat Kauppistö, but the time does not look particularly strong.


Pair 3: 200 600 1000 1400 1800 2200 2600 3000 Time Samalog
Silversmith ARI 19.2 31.6 31.3 32.5 32.4 33.1 33.3 34.3 4:07.74 (1) 79.750 (1)
Farlan ANS 19.3 31.9 32.0 32.6 32.7 33.3 33.5 34.0 4:09.31 (2) 81.261 (2)
Distance: Ariddia 12 - 9 Anastasiania
Match, running score: Ariddia 71 - 62 Anastasiania


A good race from Farlan is overshadowed by Silversmith, who as expected wins by a good couple of seconds after a ferocious opening.


Pair 4: 200 600 1000 1400 1800 2200 2600 3000 Time Samalog
Harrison ANS 19.1 32.0 32.4 32.5 33.2 33.9 34.0 34.1 4:11.19 (4) 80.275 (2)
Uosh ARI 19.2 31.5 32.1 32.5 33.1 33.3 33.9 33.9 4:09.51 (3) 80.555 (3)


Farlan's time is enough for second, as Uosh does a bleak race - Harrison is not much better, and loses her samalog lead, though she is expected to beat Silversmith by the required five seconds in the final 5000.


Final ranking:
1. Jessica Silversmith ARI 4:07.74
2. Susie Farlan ANS 4:09.31
3. Linda Uosh ARI 4:09.51
4. Marie Harrison ANS 4:11.19
5. Marlène Petit ARI 4:12.00
6. Miia Kauppistö ANS 4:13.02
7. Patricia Alves ARI 4:13.98
8. Frederica Rickardsson ANS 4:14.76
Distance: Ariddia 20 - 16 Anastasiania
Women's match overall: Ariddia 79 - 69 Anastasiania

Allround standings:
1. Jessica Silversmith ARI 79.750
2. Marie Harrison ANS 80.275
3. Linda Uosh ARI 80.555
4. Susie Farlan ANS 81.261
5. Miia Kauppistö ANS 81.950
6. Patricia Alves ARI 82.280


Ariddia remain in the lead by ten points despite the good short-track, as all Ariddians finish one spot ahead of an Anastasianian.

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1500 metres long track, men:

The last chance for Jean-Michel Chang to gain some distance in the allround battle with Jörgen Sundlund. Before the third distance, Sundlund had a lead of 1,28 seconds on the 1500 metres, pretty much identical to the distance between the two at the Keto Olympics.


Pair 1: 300 700 1100 1500 Samalog
Månsson ANS 21.93 48.94 (27.0) 1:17.61 (28.7) 1:47.75 (30.2) (1) 112.899 (1)
Terreau ARI 22.45 50.51 (28.0) 1:20.46 (30.0) 1:52.13 (31.6) (2)
Distance: Anastasiania 2 - 1 Ariddia
Match: Anastasiania 66 - 62 Ariddia


Månsson, a good 10,000 skater, could catch both Maraîcher and Riise in the allround standings with a good race here. No one expected the final outcome, however; Månsson strode away with confidence, eventually beating his pairmate by four seconds, and setting a time not too far away from that expected to be the winning time - the track record in Heino was 1.47,02 by Sundlund before the race.


Pair 2: 300 700 1100 1500 Samalog
Riise ARI 22.04 50.32 (28.3) 1:19.63 (29.3) 1:50.53 (30.9) (3) 113.602 (3)
Dulwich ANS 21.76 48.85 (27.1) 1:18.09 (29.2) 1:48.92 (30.8) (2) 112.405 (1)
Distance: Anastasiania 7 - 3 Ariddia
Match: Anastasiania 71 - 64 Ariddia


Riise seems consigned to last place in the allround, as he stumbled at the start and never really got going. A poor second round especially, while Dulwich - although not as quick as Månsson in the final laps - take a good samalog lead before his special distance.


Pair 3: 300 700 1100 1500 Samalog
Maraîcher ARI 22.03 49.61 (27.6) 1:19.13 (29.5) 1:50.37 (31.3) (4) 113.211 (3)
Svensson ANS 22.25 49.89 (27.6) 1:18.98 (29.1) 1:50.05 (31.1) (3)
Distance: Anastasiania 15 - 6 Ariddia
Match: Anastasiania 79 - 67 Ariddia


Despite a disappointing start from Svensson, he finishes well enough to keep ahead of both his pairmate and Riise, and Anastasiania have all three athletes in front before Chang's race. Also, they have two athletes on top of the allround samalog.


Pair 4: 300 700 1100 1500 Samalog
Sundlund ANS 21.55 48.81 (27.2) 1:17.31 (28.5) 1:47.70 (30.4) (1) 110.705 (1)
Chang ARI 21.53 48.49 (27.0) 1:17.34 (28.8) 1:47.84 (30.5) (3) 111.179 (2)


Chang needed to win by a big margin to keep Ariddia's hopes alive in the men's match. However, Anastasianians got their hopes up when Sundlund did an excellent first inner lane to keep up the pace with Chang. The race was close and tight all the way to the finish - having last inner on the third lap certainly helped Sundlund, but he used it well, skating the last outer well enough to hold an advantage into the finish stretch, and eventually winning by a foot.


Final ranking:
1. Jörgen Sundlund ANS 1:47.70
2. John Månsson ANS 1:47.75
3. Jean-Michel Chang ARI 1:47.84
4. Ben Dulwich ANS 1:48.92
5. Andre Svensson ANS 1:50.05
6. Richard Maraîcher ARI 1:50.37
7. Derek Riise ARI 1:50.53
8. Jacques Terreau ARI 1:52.13
Distance: Anastasiania 24 - 12 Ariddia
Men's match overall: Anastasiania 88 - 73 Ariddia

Allround standings:
1. Jörgen Sundlund ANS 110.705
2. Jean-Michel Chang ARI 111.179 (+9.48)
3. Ben Dulwich ANS 112.405 (+34.00)
4. John Månsson ANS 112.899 (+43.88)
5. Richard Maraîcher ARI 113.211 (+50.12)
6. Derek Riise ARI 113.602 (+57.94)


Chang remains behind, and needs to beat Sundlund by 9.5 seconds on the final distance to win the allround; however, Ben Dulwich is 24.52 seconds behind Chang, and Månsson 34.40 seconds behind. However, Svensson beating the two Ariddians and Månsson's surprise finish gave Anastasiania a massive points advantage, and with Anastasiania seemingly destined to take at least 26 of the available 42 points in the men's allround, the men's match looks over unless the short-trackers can do something tonight.

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1000 metres short track, men:


Heat 1:
1. Richard Maraîcher ARI 1:29.123
2. Olli Mäkäräinen ANS 1:30.686
3. Joonas Pulkkonen ANS 1:31.117
4. Jacques Terreau ARI 1:31.757
Heat: Ariddia 6 - 5 Anastasiania

Heat 2:
1. Jean-Michel Chang ARI 1:28.633
2. Sven Bråkvik ANS 1:28.839
3. Derek Riise ARI 1:29.921
Peter Aren disqualified
Heat: Ariddia 7 - 3 Anastasiania
Distance: Ariddia 13 - 8 Anastasiania
Men's match overall: Anastasiania 96 - 86 Ariddia


Two heat wins for Ariddia and a disqualification for Peter Aren breathes some life into the men's match, and an Ariddian victory in the team pursuit tonight could help. Mäkäräinen and Pulkkonen were just not up to the tempo, while in the second heat Bråkvik and Chang had a neck-and-neck duel which eventually ended in Chang gaining the lead into the final curve; Chang did an excellent curve, thus making a potential 15-point deficit an 11-point one. Aren's disqualification later made it ten.

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1500 metres long track, ladies:

Uosh, Harrison and Silversmith once again the favourites, in that order. Uosh is trailing Silversmith by 2.4 seconds and Harrison by 0.84 seconds, and that will be a vital part of the Harrison-Uosh battle in the final pair.


Pair 1: 300 700 1100 1500 Samalog
Farlan ANS 24.91 55.95 (31.1) 1:28.61 (32.6) 2:03.29 (34.7) (1) 122.357 (1)
Jamba ARI 25.15 56.39 (31.2) 1:29.43 (33.0) 2:04.24 (34.8) (2)
Distance: Anastasiania 2 - 1 Ariddia
Match: Ariddia 80 - 71 Anastasiania


Farlan records a respectable time, but is nowhere near the form of earlier in the day. Particularly her last lap, in the 35s, needed improvement.


Pair 2: 300 700 1100 1500 Samalog
Alves ARI 24.83 55.57 (30.8) 1:27.90 (32.3) 2:02.20 (34.3) (2) 123.013 (2)
Hietamäki ANS 24.67 55.84 (31.1) 1:28.41 (32.6) 2:02.08 (33.7) (1)
Distance: Anastasiania 6 - 4 Ariddia
Match: Ariddia 83 - 75 Anastasiania


Hietamäki, Anastasiania's distance specialist (preferred to Edwards, who is saved for heavy pulling in the team pursuit later on) sneaks past Alves in the last inner curve, after an amazing finish, while Alves catches up somewhat with Farlan in the allround totals.


Pair 3: 300 700 1100 1500 Samalog
Silversmith ARI 24.36 54.44 (30.0) 1:26.22 (31.8) 1:59.41 (33.2) (1) 119.533 (1)
Kauppistö ANS 24.80 55.52 (30.7) 1:27.71 (32.2) 2:01.79 (34.1) (2) 122.546 (3)
Distance: Anastasiania 11 - 10 Ariddia
Match: Ariddia 89 - 80 Anastasiania


This race was expected to be a rout for Silversmith, and so it turned out. Silversmith got half a second out of the first curve, and just kept on pushing for an excellent time which also secures her at least third in the allround standings - unless Farlan or Kauppistö somehow found strength to beat her by half a minute in the final 5000 metres.


Pair 4: 300 700 1100 1500 Samalog
Harrison ANS 24.29 54.49 (30.2) 1:26.02 (31.5) 1:59.17 (33.2) (2) 119.998 (2)
Uosh ARI 24.05 54.00 (29.9) 1:25.40 (31.4) 1:59.10 (33.7) (1) 120.255 (3)


Uosh waned in the finish, destroying what was otherwise an excellent race, but the allround is neatly set up before the final day's event. Harrison manages to keep the engine going towards the finish, but the last outer was too long to catch up with Uosh's huge gap after 1100 metres.


Final rankings:
1. Linda Uosh ARI 1:59.10
2. Marie Harrison ANS 1:59.17
3. Jessica Silversmith ARI 1:59.41
4. Miia Kauppistö ANS 2:01.79
5. Saara Hietamäki ANS 2:02.08
6. Patricia Alves ARI 2:02.20
7. Susie Farlan ANS 2:03.29
8. Mwanajuma Jamba ARI 2:04.24
Distance: Ariddia 18 - 18 Anastasiania
Women's match overall: Ariddia 97 - 87 Anastasiania

Allround standings:
1. Jessica Silversmith ARI 119.553
2. Marie Harrison ANS 119.998 (+4.45)
3. Linda Uosh ARI 120.255 (+7.02)
4. Susie Farlan ANS 122.357 (+28.04)
5. Miia Kauppistö ANS 122.546 (+29.93)
6. Patricia Alves ARI 123.013 (+34.60)


Silversmith is widely tipped not to sustain the pressure of a long track 5,000 metres without any drafting, though drawing Harrison in the final pair might be enough to keep her focused on the allround task.

Men's team pursuit:

(lap times only) 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 2800 FINISH
Chang/Maraîcher/Riise ARI 30.9 27.8 28.2 1:55.28 (28.4) 28.6 28.7 28.0 3:48.79 (28.2)
Dulwich/Sundlund/Svensson ANS 30.8 27.5 27.8 1:54.19 (28.1) 27.6 27.5 27.7 3:44.99 (28.0)


The team pursuit was rarely exciting, as the Anastasianian train worked well enough, and Ariddia only picked up the pace at the very last rounds. Another three points to Anastasiania, and the final standings after three of four days:

Men's match overall: Anastasiania 101 - 88 Ariddia
Ladies' match overall: Ariddia 97 - 87 Anastasiania
Combined match overall: Anastasiania 188 - 185 Ariddia

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Sunday's schedule:

Morning:

5000 metres long track ladies:
Pair 1: Rickardsson (ANS) vs Petit (ARI)
Pair 2: Alves (ARI) vs Kauppistö (ANS) - Alves needs to beat Kauppistö by 4.37 seconds to finish ahead in the allround
Pair 3: Farlan (ANS) vs Uosh (ARI) - Farlan has almost 21 seconds up to Uosh, but needs to finish within 6.56 of Alves in order to avoid losing points for Anastasiania
Pair 4: Silversmith (ARI) vs Harrison (ANS) - Silversmith defends a slender lead of 4.45 seconds

3000 metres relay ladies (Filch/Svantesdotter/Wendel/Svensson vs Silversmith/Uosh/Alves/Jamba)

Evening:

5000 metres relay men (Pulkkonen/Bråkvik/Bulby/Mäkäräinen vs Chang/Maraîcher/Riise/Terreau) - an Ariddian win is crucial if they are to have any chance in the men's match - along with a very good last diance from the 10k riders

10000 metres long track men:

Pair 1: Farnham (ANS) vs Kholuoe (ARI)
Pair 2: Riise (ARI) vs Månsson (ANS) - Månsson needs to set a good time to defend against Maraîcher
Pair 3: Dulwich (ANS) vs Maraîcher (ARI) - Maraîcher trails Dulwich by 16.12 seconds
Pair 4: Chang (ARI) vs Sundlund (ANS) - Chang trails by 9.48 seconds

Team pursuit ladies (Edwards/Harrison/Hietamäki vs Silversmith/Uosh/Jamba) - potentially determining the result of the ladies' match

Ariddia’s lead narrowing

We look now at the latest news in Heino, where the host delegation has been steadily catching up on Ariddia’s athletes.

In the ladies’ one kilometre short track heats, Linda Uosh achieved the overall fastest time, but her compatriots all struggled, allowing Anastasianians to gain fresh points. Rita Svensson won the second heat, which was dominated by the home team.

In the three kilometre long track, Jessica Silversmith went head to head against Susie Farlan in the third race, and both ladies achieved better times than the four athletes before them. Silversmith took first place with 4:07.74, while Farlan took second with 4:09.31. In the fourth and final race, Uosh was only able to take third overall, with 4:09.51. So far, so good. Ariddia maintains the lead in the womens’ events.

In the men’s 1500m long track pairs, however, matters were looking far less encouraging. Anastasianians Månsson, Dulwich and Svensson all defeated their Ariddian opponents in the first three races, before Jörgen Sundlund took on Jean-Michel Chang. Chang needed not only to win, but to win by a large margin – a seemingly impossible feat against Sundlund. The two champions started out neck and neck, with the Ariddian gradually establishing a very narrow lead, then losing ground little by little until Sundlund finally took the race, cementing his country’s victory in this event. Chang finished third overall all, with John Månsson taking the second spot.

In the one kilometre short track, Chang did somewhat better, winning his heat… while Richard Maraîcher won the other, enabling Ariddia to gain some points at least from the men’s events today.

As for the men’s team pursuit, the Ariddian trio were not as bad as some had feared, although it was a clear victory for Anastasianians Dulwich, Sundlund and Svensson.

Overall, although the PDSRA retains the lead in the women’s events, Anastasiania has forged ahead in the men’s, moving into first place overall… by three points.

“We were hoping for a close competition,” Linda Uosh, who topped the women’s 1500m long track today, said. “This makes it more intense, forces us to give our very best. And it’s more interesting for spectators this way!”

Welcome to coverage of the fourth day of the national speed skating match between Anastasiania and Ariddia. The hosts have almost secured the men's match, but the women's match and the overall are still up for grabs, depending on results from today's events.

5000 metres long track, ladies:

Anastasiania trail by ten points before this event, the last individual event. The allround standings are still open, with Ariddia at present looking likely to take them 22-20; Anastasiania only have one likely gain, with Harrison against Silversmith/Uosh, while Ariddia's Alves should be in with a shout of taking points from Farlan/Kauppistö, maybe earning as much as eight points for the overall standings.

Assuming a two-point win for Anastasiania in the allround, they still need to win by eight in this distance to level the scores. This means they need to have the winner on the distance, as well as three in the top four. A lot thus rests on long-distance specialist Frederica Rickardsson, who starts in the first pair against Marlène Petit - she needs to put up a good time to put pressure on the Ariddians.


(lap times only)
Pair 1: 200 600 1000 1400 1800 2200 2600 3000 3400 3800 4200 4600 5000 Time Samalog
Rickardsson ANS 20.9 34.0 34.3 34.4 34.6 35.3 35.4 35.4 (4:24.2) 35.6 35.6 35.5 35.2 35.3 7:21.46 (1)
Petit ARI 20.9 34.6 35.0 35.2 35.0 35.3 35.2 35.8 (4:26.9) 36.2 35.8 36.4 35.6 35.5 7:26.46 (2)
Distance: Anastasiania 2 - 1 Ariddia
Match: Ariddia 98 - 89 Anastasiania


Rickardsson started quicker, pulling away in the first kilometre, and despite Petit rallying the Anastasianian was stronger throughout, earning a large victory. However, the time looked weak against the Olympic record of 7:03 from Harrison.


Pair 2: 200 600 1000 1400 1800 2200 2600 3000 3400 3800 4200 4600 5000 Time Samalog
Alves ARI 21.0 34.6 34.5 35.2 35.1 34.9 35.3 35.6 (4:26.2) 35.2 35.6 35.8 35.1 35.1 7:23.01 (2) 167.314 (1)
Kauppistö ANS 21.2 35.5 35.6 35.4 35.7 35.8 35.9 35.8 (4:30.8) 36.0 36.0 36.1 36.3 36.3 7:31.62 (4) 167.708 (2)
Distance: Anastasiania 5 - 5 Ariddia
Allround samalog: Ariddia 4 - 2 Anastasiania
Match, running score: Ariddia 106 - 94 Anastasiania


Kauppistö started very slowly, holding on to her 4.57-second advantage in the allround for half the race and relying on Alves to blow up in the latter half of the race. By 3,000 metres, the distance was 4.62 seconds, advantage Alves, and it grew in the final two kilometres as Kauppistö failed to impress. Last place for Kauppistö also meant that, to earn the targeted 22 points, Anastasiania would need to occupy all three top spots on the podium. By gaining two points for the allround ranking, however, Alves had ensured that Ariddia would lead in the overall standings before the team races, and an unassailable ten-point lead was not out of the question if Uosh and Silversmith both beat Farlan.


Pair 3: 200 600 1000 1400 1800 2200 2600 3000 3400 3800 4200 4600 5000 Time Samalog
Uosh ARI 20.7 34.0 34.1 34.0 34.7 35.1 34.9 35.1 (4:22.5) 35.4 35.7 35.1 35.7 35.2 7:19.67 (2) 164.222 (1)
Farlan ANS 20.9 34.1 33.9 34.1 34.6 34.6 35.1 34.7 (4:21.9) 34.8 34.8 34.6 34.7 34.8 7:15.69 (1) 165.926 (2)
Distance: Anastasiania 11 - 10 Ariddia
Allround samalog: Ariddia 12 - 8 Anastasiania
Match, running score: Ariddia 119 - 106 Anastasiania


Farlan had two Ariddians to beat - she needed to make 7:29.56 to lead the allround competition, as well as beating Uosh for distance points. After being neck-and-neck with Uosh for the first two kilometres, Farlan took advantage of last inner on the sixth lap to skate away from Uosh, and at that stage both skaters were ahead of Rickardsson's lap times for 7:21.4. Uosh had a poorer finish than Rickardsson, but was 1.8 seconds ahead thanks to a better mid-race, while Farlan kept a sub-35 schedule all the way through for a comfortable lead.


Pair 4: 200 600 1000 1400 1800 2200 2600 3000 3400 3800 4200 4600 5000 Time Samalog
Harrison ANS 20.6 34.2 34.2 34.3 34.4 34.4 34.3 34.7 (4:21.0) 34.7 34.3 35.2 35.1 34.8 7:15.30 (1) 163.528 (1)
Silversmith ARI 21.3 35.4 35.5 35.4 35.9 36.2 36.4 36.4 (4:32.2) 36.2 35.7 35.7 35.9 36.0 7:31.79 (8) 164.732 (2)


Harrison needed to beat her pairmate by 4.45 seconds; in addition there was the theoretical chance that Silversmith could not manage a time of 7:45.72 to beat Farlan in the allround standings. Realistically, however, Silversmith was aiming for Rickardsson's time of 7:21.46 - beating that would give Ariddia at least 16 points on the distance, which, combined with a 24-18 win in allround, would give them an unassailable 12-point lead before the relays.

Silversmith did a weak race - not quite enough to be beaten in the allround samalog, but pretty much on every other count. She started slowly, yet couldn't manage to keep her lap times below 36, and was 1.4 seconds behind last-placed Miia Kauppistö after 3000 metres. Despite a better finish than Kauppistö, she finished in last place, losing plenty of points. Meanwhile Harrison kept a second ahead of Farlan, thus also ahead of Uosh, and steered to the allround victory; she grew tired in the last three laps, but held Farlan behind her for a distance win.


Final ranking:
1. Marie Harrison ANS 7:15.30
2. Susie Farlan ANS 7:15.69
3. Linda Uosh ARI 7:19.67
4. Frederica Rickardsson ANS 7:21.46
5. Patricia Alves ARI 7:23.01
6. Marlène Petit ARI 7:26.46
7. Miia Kauppistö ANS 7:31.62
8. Jessica Silversmith ARI 7:31.79
Distance: Anastasiania 22 - 14 Ariddia

Allround standings:
1. Marie Harrison ANS 163.528
2. Linda Uosh ARI 164.222
3. Jessica Silversmith ARI 164.732
4. Susie Farlan ANS 165.926
5. Patricia Alves ARI 167.314
6. Miia Kauppistö ANS 167.708
Allround: Ariddia 22 - 20 Anastasiania
Women's match overall: Ariddia 133 - 129 Anastasiania


Harrison's final-day efforts, well helped by Farlan and Rickardsson, has left the women's match exciting ahead of the relays. Without disqualifications, wins in both team events would see Anastasiania win by two points; not entirely unlikely given Ariddia's performance at team events.

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3000 m short track relay, ladies:


Filch/Svantesdotter/Wendel/Svensson ANS 4:43.749
Silversmith/Uosh/Alves/Jamba ARI 4:45.572
Distance: Anastasiania 5 - 2 Ariddia
Women's match overall: Ariddia 135 - 134 Anastasiania


Anastasiania's quicker exchanges was the key to victory in the relay event, where the Ariddians looked visibly tired. Svantesdotter's two-lap burst with four laps to go gave them a lead, and despite Ariddians drafting behind, Wendel skated home to victory. The success for Anastasiania means the six laps of women's team pursuit will be a nail-biting affair. The combined match looks decided, with Anastasiania having a 12-point lead before the men's 10,000.


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3000 m short track relay, ladies:


Filch/Svantesdotter/Wendel/Svensson ANS 4:43.749
Silversmith/Uosh/Alves/Jamba ARI 4:45.572
Distance: Anastasiania 5 - 2 Ariddia
Women's match overall: Ariddia 135 - 134 Anastasiania


Anastasiania's quicker exchanges was the key to victory in the relay event, where the Ariddians looked visibly tired. Svantesdotter's two-lap burst with four laps to go gave them a lead, and despite Ariddians drafting behind, Wendel skated home to victory. The success for Anastasiania means the six laps of women's team pursuit will be a nail-biting affair. The combined match looks decided, with Anastasiania having a 12-point lead before the men's 10,000.

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5000 m short track relay, men:


Chang/Maraîcher/Riise/Terreau ARI 6:59.549
Pulkkonen/Bråkvik/Bulby/Mäkäräinen ANS 7:00.103
Distance: Ariddia 5 - 2 Anastasiania
Men's match overall: Anastasiania 103 - 93 Ariddia


Ariddia closed the gap with a good race from the relay races, who saved their energy for a final 1 km burst. The Anastasianians were caught up and beaten in the final curve.

10000 m long track, men:

The finish of the allround, with Ariddia needing above-average races from Chang and Maraîcher to stay competitive before the final race. They trail by ten points before the decisive distance, and need Chang to advance one spot and Maraîcher two (or Månsson to fall two) to earn any significant advantage in the allround. If they do, the lead shrinks to eight points; the current standings, however, give Anastasiania an unassailable 20-point lead without counting the 10,000 standings, which can only give a difference of 16 points.


Pair 1: 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 2800 3200 3600 4000 4400 4800 5200 5600 6000 6400 6800 7200 7600 8000 8400 8800 9200 9600 10000 Time Samalog
Farnham ANS 35.5 32.1 32.1 32.0 32.1 31.7 31.9 31.9 31.7 31.7 32.3 31.7 31.9 (6:58.5) 32.5 32.8 32.7 32.7 32.5 32.8 32.4 32.6 32.4 32.6 32.5 32.5 13:29.63 (2)
Kholuoe ARI 34.5 31.5 31.2 31.8 31.7 31.7 31.6 31.7 31.9 31.8 32.0 31.3 31.5 (6:54.1) 31.7 31.4 31.6 31.2 31.0 31.0 31.4 31.8 31.8 32.3 32.0 31.9 13:13.25 (1)
Distance: Ariddia 2 - 1 Anastasiania
Men's match, running score: Anastasiania 104 - 95 Ariddia


Kholuoe registers a very strong time after a measured race, knocking out Farnham just after the halfway stage after a good opening. Ariddia are still in with a shout for three top places, though Farnham avoids the big breakup and stays below 13:30.


Pair 2: 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 2800 3200 3600 4000 4400 4800 5200 5600 6000 6400 6800 7200 7600 8000 8400 8800 9200 9600 10000 Time Samalog
Riise ARI 36.2 32.8 33.0 32.8 32.3 32.6 32.3 32.5 32.6 32.6 33.5 33.2 33.0 (7:09.4) 33.2 32.9 32.5 33.3 33.6 33.7 33.4 33.7 33.7 34.0 34.1 34.1 13.51,63 (4) 158.183 (2)
Månsson ANS 35.5 32.9 33.2 33.4 33.3 33.1 32.8 32.9 32.7 32.6 31.8 32.2 32.5 (7:08.8) 32.6 32.6 32.6 32.8 33.1 32.9 32.7 32.8 33.0 33.0 33.3 33.4 13.43,69 (3) 157.083 (1)
Distance: Ariddia 5 - 5 Anastasiania
Allround: Anastasiania 4 - 2 Ariddia
Men's match, running score: Anastasiania 112 - 100 Ariddia


After a strong starting lap, Månsson loses ground, and the 14-second lead he had over Riise suddenly became relevant. However, his slow opening was a calculated gamble, and by the halfway stage he was in the lead. Riise's poor stamina means he will most likely finish last in the allround standings, which means Ariddia needs Maraîcher to beat Sundlund in the allround standings, as well as taking the three top spots in the distance, and both Dulwich and Sundlund needs to be beaten by Riise on the distance.


Pair 3: 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 2800 3200 3600 4000 4400 4800 5200 5600 6000 6400 6800 7200 7600 8000 8400 8800 9200 9600 10000 Time Samalog
Maraîcher ARI 35.8 32.8 32.8 33.1 32.6 32.8 33.1 33.1 33.0 33.2 32.6 32.2 32.0 (7:09.2) 32.6 32.3 32.8 33.2 33.4 33.9 33.8 33.4 33.1 32.6 32.7 32.8 13:45.79 (5) 157.500 (3)
Dulwich ANS 34.4 31.6 31.2 31.2 31.1 30.7 31.3 31.5 31.1 31.5 31.8 31.3 31.3 (6:49.9) 31.6 31.6 31.5 31.6 31.7 31.0 31.3 31.7 31.6 31.7 32.0 32.6 13:09.94 (1) 154.902 (1)
Distance: Anastasiania 13 - 8 Ariddia
Allround: Anastasiania 14 - 6 Ariddia
Men's match, running score: Anastasiania 128 - 102 Ariddia


The theoretical calculations were laid to rest for good, as Dulwich sets out in a ferocious pace and keeps it all the way to the finish, though the last two laps were in syrup. He takes a hefty lead both on the distance and the samalog, confirming the win for Anastasiania - even accounting for disqualification, Ariddia could only gain 20 points from the final pair, leaving Anastasiania with the win. The questions that remained were about the individual standings: Could Chang record 13:34.46 to win allround silver - or even beat Sundlund by ten seconds to win the allround competition?


Pair 4: 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400 2800 3200 3600 4000 4400 4800 5200 5600 6000 6400 6800 7200 7600 8000 8400 8800 9200 9600 10000 Time Samalog
Sundlund ANS 34.0 30.9 31.3 31.2 31.4 31.5 31.7 31.7 31.6 31.6 32.1 31.5 31.4 (6:51.8) 31.4 31.8 31.5 32.1 31.6 31.3 32.2 31.9 31.7 31.5 31.2 31.4 13:11.50 (2) 150.280 (1)
Chang ARI 34.5 31.4 31.3 31.0 30.8 31.4 31.7 32.0 31.9 31.7 31.4 31.8 32.4 (6:53.2) 32.4 32.5 32.4 31.8 31.9 31.8 32.2 31.4 31.0 31.9 31.5 31.8 13:15.93 (3) 150.975 (2)


The first 5,000 metres were astonishingly even, putting people to rest about Chang's allround silver. But to catch Sundlund was still a challenge - although Sundlund ran away with it in the sixth kilometre, Chang fought back somewhat, but eventually finished comfortably behind in fourth place.


Final ranking:
1. Ben Dulwich ANS 13:09.94
2. Jörgen Sundlund ANS 13:11.50
3. Sheli Kholuoe ARI 13:13.25
4. Jean-Michel Chang ARI 13:15.93
5. Niall Farnham ANS 13:29.63
6. John Månsson ANS 13:43.69
7. Richard Maraîcher ARI 13:45.79
8. Derek Riise ARI 13:51.63
Distance: Anastasiania 22 - 14 Ariddia

Allround standings:
1. Jörgen Sundlund ANS 150.280 WR
2. Jean-Michel Chang ARI 150.975
3. Ben Dulwich ANS 151.902
4. John Månsson ANS 154.083
5. Richard Maraîcher ARI 154.500
6. Derek Riise ARI 155.183
Allround: Anastasiania 26 - 16 Ariddia


The overwhelming margin of victory - Anastasiania won by 28 points in the men's match - also decides the combined match, but the Anastasianian ladies could make it a clean sweep with victory in the pursuit race.


Team pursuit women 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400
Silversmith/Uosh/Jamba ARI 34.2 30.7 30.9 31.6 31.4 31.3 3:10.14 (1)
Edwards/Harrison/Hietamäki ANS 34.2 31.4 31.1 31.1 31.3 31.5 3:10.58 (2)
Distance: Ariddia 5 - 2 Anastasiania


Despite a late rally on the fourth lap, Jane Edwards tired towards the end, and she could not hang on to the Anastasianian train as Ariddia held on to win the race by 0.4 seconds - a fitting finale to an excellent event. Ariddia win the ladies' match by four points, but the combined match goes to Anastasiania.

Final totals:

MEN: Anastasiania 151 - 123 Ariddia
LADIES: Ariddia 140 - 136 Anastasiania
COMBINED: Anastasiania 287 - 263 Ariddia

The leaders of both nations' skating federations will make a speech at the closing ceremony.