National Age Groups, May 2005
City of Cambridge diver Sophie Clark celebrated her fourteenth birthday by winning a bronze medal on the 3 metre board at the National Diving Age Group competition at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield. More importantly, the Linton Village College pupil scored the necessary points to secure her place on the British Diving Junior Olympic Programme.
Needing 308.65 from her eight 3 metre dives to take her place on the Junior Olympic Programme, Sophie held her nerve on her final dive and secured an overall total of 314.80. Later events saw Sophie finish 4th in the 1 metre competition and a creditable 9th in the platform competition, despite only having previously dived four times from the 7.5 metre board.
Sophie, sponsored by Cambridgeshire County Council and second in the 2004 Cambridge Evening News Junior Sportswoman of the Year, joins just fourteen other young people on the programme which will give her access to the very best facilities, coaches and services that British Diving has to offer.
Having only secured a place on the World Class Start programme in January, Sophie has continued to develop under the guidance of coach, former elite diver James Etherington, at Parkside Pools. She will now be making weekly trips to Sheffield as she strives to achieve her ultimate aim - representing Great Britain in International competitions.
Competing in the 14-15 year old category, Sophie spearheaded a team of four City of Cambridge divers at Ponds Forge.
In the 12-13 year old category, Nathaniel Doza finished 13th in both the 3 metre and 5 metre platform competitions, showing both courage and composure to score 179.80 and 124.45 respectively. His best finish came on the 1 metre board where a total of 160.10 secured 12th position.
Sharnia Mockford, appearing at her second successive National Age Groups competition, produced another impressive showing, finishing 4th in the 10-11 year old category 1 metre event with a score of 152.55, less than 1 point behind third place and a bronze medal. Further sixth placed finishes in the 3 metre competition, scoring 163.00 and 5 metre platform competition, with a total of 143.25 completed a satisfactory week.
Harry Kitson, in his first National Age Group Event and also competing in the 10-11 year old category, scored 128.10 in the boys 1 metre event achieving a creditable 10th position. Harry then went one better in his 3 metre competition, finishing ninth in a strong 3 metre field, scoring 154.30.
Head Coach Etherington said: "It was an excellent display from all of the Cambridge Divers. The standard has been raised significantly this year with divers finishing in 5th and 6th position with scores that would have won last years events. In particular it was a fantastic achievement for Sophie to achieve the selection points for the Junior Olympic Programme. This is a huge stepping stone for both her and the Dive Centre."
Posted 23/06/2005.