GBDF Winter Masters 2006
Mote Park, Maidstone
Last weekend Cambridge took a strong team of Masters divers to Maidstone to compete in the Great Britain Diving Federation Masters Championships. The competitions were spread over two days with the age group championships being held on the Saturday and the more informal, relaxed 'raw score' and 'synchro' on the Sunday.
The competition was fierce but Cambridge stepped up to the challenge. In the mens 30-39 age group Richard Bowers and Huw Griffiths faced stiff opposition, which included a squad of divers visiting from Italy. Huw finished 8th with a score of 154.35 for his 6 dives and Richard followed in 9th with 133.15 points.
In the mens 25-29 Age group Tom Lyons, an ex-international competitor, dived impressively to win the event, scoring over 100 points more than second place with 250.30. Patrick Philips, a relative newcomer to the Cambridge club, came 4th with 136.50.
Cambridge dominated in the ladies 16-24 age group, taking two of the three medals. Emily Manktelow did not drop a dive and was placed in well-deserved first position with a score of 238.25. Amy Renton took bronze with 216.65.
The Sunday saw two more relaxed events - the "raw score" and the synchro competition. Again Cambridge put in a first-rate performance with Amy taking gold in the 16-24 raw score with Emily half a point behind to take silver. Patrick contined Cambridge's excellent performance to take gold in the mens 25-29 category. Huw was placed fifth in the mens 30-39 raw score event.
The "synchro" competition, where divers are in partners and are judged not only on execution of dives but also on synchronisation, saw our two previous gold medallists - Emily and Tom - beat over twenty pairs to take gold. Huw, diving with Emily's twin sister Sophie, came 21st scoring 104.50.
Posted 14/11/2006