Virtue, Moir capture Canadian ice dance crown

Last Updated: Sunday, January 20, 2008 | 12:50 AM ET

CBC Sports

Event favourites Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir did as expected Saturday, winning the ice dance title at the BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships at Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum.

Virtue, from London, Ont., and Moir, from Ilderton, Ont., who held a sizable lead after winning both the compulsory and original dance segments, used a sensual free program Saturday finish with 209.09 points — 34 clear of their their nearest rival.

With five-time champions Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon taking the year off, the door was open for Virtue and Moir, who were sixth at last year's world championships.

"You have to come compete and there's no free passes," said Moir. "We were focused and excited to skate in front of this crowd and hoping to set  the stage for a couple of years from now.

"This was a huge goal of ours. Best in Canada. I don't know if it's sunk in yet."

Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ont., finished second with 175.61 points, while Allie Hann-McCurdy of Orleans, Ont., and Vancouver's Michael Coreno were third with 173.86.

Earlier in the day, 17-year-old Patrick Chan became the youngest men's champion in Canadian history, unseating defending champion Jeffrey Buttle, who finished second.

Anabelle Langlois and Cody Hay captured the pairs crown, edging defending champions Jessica Dubé and Bryce Davison by 0.15 points.

The women's title will be decided with Sunday's free skate (CBC Country Canada, 12 p.m. ET).