Brian Joubert took the lead at the European figure skating championships.   

(Photo: AFP)

Defending champion Brian Joubert of France took the lead at the expense of three-time titleholder Yevgeny Plushenko of Russia after the men's short programme at the European figure skating championships. 

Joubert, 20, achieved a personal best score of 76.98 points for his routine to a music selection by Blue Men Group, with 22-year-old Plushenko, who performed to Moonlight Sonata, just behind on 75.33 after a bad landing in the middle of his opening quadruple-triple combination jump.

The pair are way ahead of the field with Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland next best with 69.97 going into Thursday's free skating final at Turin's Palavela, the venue for the 2006 Winter Olympics figure skating event.

Editor: Guang