UKRAINE 3rd May 2010

Four coffee competitions, held in early March and late April, yielded four new national champions ready to represent Ukraine at the World Championships in London, Ukraine National Coordinator Natalia Gavrylenko reports.

At the beginning of March, the chapter held the 6th edition of the Ukrainian Barista Championship, which saw Anastasia Solopikhina, from Summy, achieve a total of 488.5 points to take first place. In the finals, she moved ahead of Ruslan Yakubov (with 462 points, in second place) and third place Alexandr Galicin (with 437 points), both from Kharkov.

The fourth, fifth and sixth placed finalists were all from Kharkov: they were Danil Prishepa (406.5 points), Julia Drozdova (405.5 points) and Julia Parfentieva (385.5 points). (Pictured are (l-r) Natalia Gavrylenko, Cindy Chang, 0 0 0  Julia Drozdova, Julia Parfentieva, Anastasia Solopikhina, Ruslan Yakubov, Alexandr Galicin, Daniil Prishepa and Jon Willassen.)

Alexandr Galicin, who came third in the Barista Championship, took top honours at the 2nd Ukrainian Latte Art Championship, with a total score of 16.5. Alexandr Dvorskiy of Kiev achieved second place with 15 points, while Stanislav Chernikov of Kharkov took third place with 14 points.

Held in late April, the 2nd Ukrainian Cup Tasting Championship was won by Eugeniy Malishko from Kiev, who had a perfect score, correctly identifying the odd cup in eight different triangles.

Also in late April, Dmitry Grekhov of Kharkov won the 3rd Ukrainian Coffee in Good Spirits Championship, ahead of two very closely placed runners-up, second place Ruslan Yakubov from Kharkov and third place Alexandr Lugovsky of Kiev.

Thanks to all those who helped with the organisation and the running of the Championships. Congratulations to all the participants, and to our champions, I wish good luck in the World Championships in London.