White Rose & ESSA Division 8 Trials
On the weekend of the 14th & 15th October the Cambridge Dive Team split in half to attend two completely separate competitions. The Junior Novice Team travelled north to Leeds to compete in the annual White Rose Novice Championships. The Age Group & Elite Team travelled south to Hornchurch in London to compete in the English Schools Swimming Association division 8 trials. These divers were competing for a chance to represent their school and division at the National Schools Championships later in the year.
English Schools Swimming Association National Trials
Hornchurch, London.
Saturday 14th October was the date, and a chance to represent the region at the National Schools Final was at stake. Tough competitions saw the Cambridge Dive Team perform to a remarkably high standard winning three out of the six age groups entered.
In the first event Sharnia Mockford represented Bottisham Village College, she showed an outstanding ability and stylish lines to win the junior girls event scoring 162.50 points. Being the first event of the day the judges were still finding their feet when Sharnia executed a technically perfect inward one and half somersault with tuck which was harshly scored at a 6 average. Hinchingbrook Schools Dania Lindop showed maturity above her age and competitive experience to finish fourth scoring 102.05 points in her first ever regional competition.
Following suit in the second event, Lucy Cliff of Newnham Croft Primary stayed cool calm and collected to breeze through a list that blew the rest of the competition away. Her back one and half somersaults with tuck from the 3m springboard typified her natural talent and boosted her final score to 125.85. Although competing in the Primary Girls age group Lucy would have given some of the older competitors a run for the money and is definitely one to watch for the future.
The Cambridge Dive Team dominated the Intermediate Boys event with four divers finishing in the top five. Aaron Paul (Bottisham Village College) not only performed the most difficult list of the whole day but also did it with style to hit the top score of 258.60 points. A forward two and half somersaults with pike is not an easy dive but Aaron, the ever disciplined perfectionist, delighted the crowed by ripping the entry. Following a close second was Nathaniel Doza who scored 206.30. His back two and half somersaults with tuck off the 3m springboard landed a little short but instead of crashing out, Nathaniel from Netherhall School, was only spurred on to finish strong with his 1m dives. Johnny Lindop & Edward Hird both finished with respectable placings for Hinchingbrook School. Johnny finished in an impressive fourth place having recently transferred his skills from high level gymnastics to diving. His air-awareness and body conditioning hold him in good stead for the future. Edward Hird was again not far behind finishing in fifth place with a score of 142.25 points.
In the Senior Girls event Adele Cliff finished second scoring 158.45. Adele competing for Hills Road Sixth Form College had the hardest job of the day being required to perform more dives than any other age group. With this in mind, Adele showed a wide range of abilities performing both somersaults and dives in all directions.
In the Junior Boys event Harry Kitson represented Parkside School and Ben Sambrook represented Linton Village College. Harry & Ben finished second and third respectively, scoring 147.60 and 140.55 points. There was clearly a fierce rivalry between the two Cambridge competitors with the battle being between a very stylish Harry and a more competent and difficult list performed by Ben. Both divers again showed a very admirable competitive spirit that finished in a nail biting last dive stand off for second place.
In the final event of the day, Vivien Cliff represented Parkside School in the Junior Girls event. She went into this competition with a newly constructed list comprising of several previously un-competed dives. Vivien showed confidence and courage to complete all of her dives in a highly competitive line up. Vivien was pleased to finish with a final score of 164.00 putting her in fifth place.
Sam Buck, newly appointed assistant diving development officer and team manager for this event, said, "I am delighted with the results. The divers have been training extremely hard over the last few months and having this result in the bag sets them up well for the competitions in the near future. Watch out for some more good result!"
WHITE ROSE NOVICE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2006
Leeds International Pool
The first event of the White Rose Competition fell to the Group E girls 8-9 years competition. Emma Watson dived brilliantly scoring two almost perfect 9 out 10's on both her forward dive from the poolside and tuck roll from the 3 metre springboard. Anna Sambrook put in some fantastic ripping line up dives from the 3 metre springboard scoring between 7 & 8 for both forward and backward skills. Anna scored a massive 255.35 which put her 7th just outside of the top 6 who qualified for the finals. Emma Watson finished with an impressive 303.65 to put her in second place at the end of the preliminary competition. The pressure was on young Watson to hold her nerve in her first ever National Final but she put in some splendid dives to retain her position and take home the silver medal.
In the second event Sebastian Jaunzens and Josh Sambrook both completed their lists to an incredibly high standard scoring 7s on most dives to finish second and third respectively in the preliminary competition. In the final both divers finished their lists impressively but were unable to hold on to their dominant positions. Scoring 6's on his one metre dives the pressure was on Josh going into the final round but an impressive backward ripping entry from his final dive scored 7.5s, Josh finished in fourth scoring a very credible 288.90 points. Team mate Sebastian scored between 25 and 30 points per dive piling on the pressure for the other competitors, a beautiful final dive secured the bronze medal for Jaunzens with 295.35 points.
On the second day of competition William Wilson represented Cambridge in the Group C boys 12-13 years competition. William wowed the crowd with a spectacular display of dives from the poolside, 1 metre and 3 metre springboard. Not to be out done by his team mates William also scored two almost perfect 9 out of 10's for one of his 3 metre dives to finish the prelims in second place. William went into the finals with confidence to retain his place and take home the silver medal in second place with 283.75 points.
Head Coach James Etherington had this to say about the weekends results, "It's a fantastic set of results for the divers showing the depth of commitment and hard work that they have put in over the past few months. Our two assistant coaches Sam Buck & Amy Renton have worked very hard since their appointment earlier in the year and these results are a reflection of that. The divers and coaches should be very pleased with themselves and I'm looking forward to some more excellent results next weekend at the Southampton Invitational."
Posted 18/10/2006