Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir set a world record breaking short programme ©Getty Images

Canada's world champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir set a world record in the short programme to dazzled on home ice at the Skate Canada International in Regina.

The three-time world champions showed they are in perfect form as they chase a second Olympic gold medal this season as they posted a score of 82.68 points in the International Skating Union Grand Prix of Figure Skating event at the Brandt Centre.

Virtue and Moir's score was an improvement on their previous record of 82.43 points set at the World Championships in Helsinki in March. 

It proved enough for a comfortable lead heading into the decisive free programme.

Team-mates Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje managed 77.47 for second place and Americans Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue posted 76.08 for third.

"We had a great a summer and fall training and we were very confident, but to come here and execute is a kind of a different story," Moir said. 

"A great off-season and a great start to the season creates some pressure, so it was nice for us to go out and execute very similar to the way we have been training. 

"There are things we’re looking to improve, but for Tessa and I we are all smiles today."

Kaetlyn Osmond of Canada produced a good performance in the ladies singles event ©Getty Images
Kaetlyn Osmond of Canada produced a good performance in the ladies singles event ©Getty Images

Another Canadian, Kaetlyn Osmond, also performed superbly to take a huge lead in the women's singles.

The reigning world silver medallist scored a personal best 76.06 points to comfortably lead Russia's Anna Pogorilaya, who scored 69.05.

Maria Sotskova, also from Russia, lies third with 66.10 points.

A world silver medallist also leads in the men's event as Shoma Uno of Japan finished clear of Canada's three-time world champion Patrick Chan.

Uno scored 103.62 points in comparison with 94.43 for Chan, who performed well, despite missing his flight and losing luggage en route to the competition.

Russia's Alexander Samarin scored 84.02 points for third place.

Germany's Aliona Savchenko and Bruno Massot lead in the pairs competition after scoring 77.34 points.

Canada also feature highly on the leaderboard as Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford posted 73.53 points for second place.

Vanessa James and Morgan Cipres of France are narrowly behind in third after scoring 73.04 points.

Action is due to conclude tomorrow.