BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Javier Fernandez of Spain successfully defended his European figure skating title ahead of two Russian rivals despite several small mistakes in the free skate on Saturday. Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006. Sergei Voronov was second with 252.55 points and Konstantin Menshov had 237.24 in third as neither could challenge the Spaniards lead from the short program. Coming two weeks before the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, the championships offered competitors a chance to assess their preparation. Fernandez, who had an awkward landing after a quad salchow and managed only a double lutz when a triple was planned, said it was essential to eliminate errors to be able to contend for a first Olympic medal. "There are mistakes where you lose points and points and points," said Fernandez, who skated to Henry Mancinis "Peter Gunn" and "Harlem Nocture," a jazz standard. "In a competition like the Olympics, every single point matters." At last years Europeans, Fernandez became the first Spaniard to win a major figure skating title. Plushenko, the Olympic champ in 2006 and a two-time silver medallist, skipped the Europeans but his absence nearly overshadowed the Russian mens trio. One of the biggest figure skating stars of the past 15 years, Plushenko is scheduled to perform a short and a free program behind closed doors for Russian skating officials on Tuesday for a chance to claim the countrys only mens slot at Sochi. Leading up to the Europeans, Voronov and Menshov were mentioned behind Russian champion Maxim Kovtun as contenders for the title and the position of Plushenkos main challenger. But Kovtun finished fifth here and afterward seemed resigned to his fate. "After the third quad attempt, I understood this wasnt going to happen," Kovtun said. "I dont really know what happened because it was all fine in the warmup and I had a great practice on (Friday)." Voronovs silver was his best result in international competition. Though he won the Russian nationals twice, in 2008 and 2009, his career had stagnated. He refused to speculate about Plushenkos tryout, but made it clear that if he were to be selected by Russia, he was ready for the Olympic challenge. "Of course I want to go, who doesnt want to go to the Olympics?" Voronov said. "Plushenko is an authority in figure skating but we all want to go and there is only one spot. Its not us who decides." Adding to the intrigue, International Skating Union President Ottavio Cinquanta was showered with questions by reporters in Budapest and had to explain at length the ISUs policy allowing countries to replace injured or ill skaters at the Olympics between the team event and the individual events. The team event makes its Olympic debut on Feb. 6, a day before the opening ceremony. With a solid free skate which included two quad jumps, Menshov managed to climb to third overall after finishing 11th place in the short program. "It seems like I always have to overcome some difficulties," Menshov said. The risk of a second quadruple jump in the short program, which he failed to complete both here and at the Russian nationals, made him fall so far behind. "Im not confident on it yet," he said. The Europeans end on Sunday with the pairs free skate. Cheap Nike Seattle Seahawks Jerseys. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed veteran offensive tackle Guy Whimper to a two-year contract. Cheap Nike Green Bay Packers Jerseys. Was it a point gained, or a point lost? For Jets head coach Claude Noel and a number of players the thought was it was a point lost because after a very good start to the game, they could not maintain it for a full 60 minutes. http://www.jerseyscheapwholesale.us.com/. Humphries, from Calgary, and Valouis, from Wakaw, Sask., finished with a two-run time of one minute 56.53 seconds. "We were close to pushing a start record for this track so it was a really good day for us," said Humphries, following her fourth national title. Cheap Nike New England Patriots Jerseys. The club and defenceman Chris Phillips have agreed to a three year deal worth approximately $9.25 million. He is making $3. Jerseys Cheap Authentic. According to the Hosuton Chronicle, Ching has decided to report to the Impact, the team that selected him first overall in the MLS expansion draft.BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Top-seeded David Ferrer of Spain began his defence of the Copa Claro title with a comfortable 6-4, 6-1 victory over Argentine wild card Agustin Velotti on Wednesday. Ferrer, ranked No. 4, is a strong favourite to win his second tournament of the young season. He won in Auckland, New Zealand, last month. "I was ready to get going, and get going with a victory," Ferrer said. "There are no easy matches, although our rankings were not very even." Ferrer got off to a 4-1 lead, only to have Velotti win three straight games to level. Ferrer won the last two and swept through the second set. In another first-round match postponed from Tuesday because of rain in the Argentine capittal, sixth-seeded Fabio Fognini defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 7-5.dddddddddddd 6-3. Ferrer is coming off his best season with seven tournament victories in 2012. The first few days of the tournament in Buenos Aires have been poorly attended, hurt by bad weather and the absence of a top-name player like Rafael Nadal. Making a comeback after nearly eight months away, Nadal played in the first two of four Latin American clay-court events -- in Chile and Brazil -- but skipped Argentina. He will play next week in Acapulco, Mexico. 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