Armada Cup 2007
Central Park Pool, Plymouth
16th - 18th February 2007
Individual results (PDF).
Team results (PDF).
On the weekend 17th-18th February the Cambridge Dive Team travelled south to warmer waters to compete in the annual Armada Cup invitational. This competition is one of the largest elite club events in the diving calendar with divers travelling from all over England, Scotland and Wales to compete on the 10 platform and the 1m & 3m springboards. The event is used as a tracking competition for all of the British Squad divers on the JTP (Junior Talent Programme), JOP (Junior Olympic Programme) and 2012 Squad.
Competing in his second level 4 elite national event, 10 year old Daniel Goodfellow represented the Cambridge Dive team on all three boards in the boys group D 10-11 years competition. Daniel, who was selected onto the Eastern Regional Talent Programme last year, scored an average of 27 points on his first three dives in the Platform preliminary event. Requiring just 11 points to go into the finals, a disastrous failed dive left Daniel short of the cut off and disappointed at the result. Determined as ever Daniel's second event was the 3m springboard and he was gunning for a medal. After qualifying for the final in 2nd Daniel was up for the competition, putting in two of his dives for 30+ points secured the silver medal. Daniel's final event was the 1m springboard, easily qualifying for the final he was eager to secure another medal. His first two difficult multiple somersault dives scored 30 points each and a steady final dive could have taken first place. Daniel's final dive was not his best though and he had to settle for a second silver medal. In his first level 4 elite competition Sebastian Jaunzens also competed in the boys group D events, Sebastian dived well to finish 9th on platform and 11th on the 3m springboard picking up some valuable team points and competition experience.
Team mate Lucy Cliff had to compete some very complicated multiple somersault dives to make every final on all three boards in the girls group D 10-11 years competition. A steady set of dives scoring 30 points each and a superb reverse 1½ somersaulting dive scoring a massive 38 points put Lucy in fourth place going into the final of the 1m competition. After an unsettling start Lucy fought hard but settled in 6th place in the final. In the 3m final Lucy's competitive edge and a fantastic inward 1½ scoring 40+ points left her just outside the medals in 4th place. It was the highboard platform event where Lucy shone out scoring 35 points on a handstand somersaulting dive and 45 points on an inward 1½ somersaults to finish in 3rd place.
Chloe Webb had a disappointing result finishing 14th & 16th in the girls group C 12-13 years 3m & 1m springboard events. It was Chloe's first level 4 Grand Prix event but her gymnastics background has seen her move up the levels since starting diving early last year. With some strong somersaulting techniques Chloe will be racing up the rankings in the next year. Brothers Ben & Josh Sambrook also gained some valuable experience whilst enjoying the competition at this Armada Cup. Also competing in their first level 4 Grand Prix the boys dived well and coach Sam Buck was pleased with their performance, "Both boys dived up in the competition and set a decent bench mark to work towards for the rest of the year."
Vivien Cliff dived well and picked up team points on all three boards in the girls group B 14-15 years competition. Vivien finished 11th on the 1m springboard, 9th on 3m & 9th on the highboard platform event scoring 36 points on her inward 1½ somersaulting dive.
In the boys group B 14-15 years Matthew Roberts dived for Cambridge and made the final on all three boards. Matthew's first event was the 3m springboard and with tough competition he fought his way into the final in fourth place scoring between 30 & 40 points per dive. Matthew used complicated 2½ somersaulting dives and a steady performance in the final scoring 40+ points on one dive to finish 4th just four points off a medal. In the highboard event Matthew took to the 10 platform and dived into 5th place in the final, an excellent result as the team have to travel to Crystal Palace to train on the nearest 10m. Matthew's best result came on the 1m springboard, after making the final in joint 3rd he performed excellently in the final scoring 40+ points on two dives to take 3rd place and the bronze medal.
Laura Shipsey & Adele Cliff competed on the 1m & 3m springboards for Cambridge in the girls group A & senior 16+ event. After a nerve racking first event both girls dived well on the 3m springboard finishing 11th & 12th adding some more team points to the table.
Head coach James Etherington had this to say, "The competition was very tough but we had some fantastic results. It was a great to see the team perform so well together and the divers deserved the result."
The Cambridge Dive Team finished 5th behind four of the major diving centres in the country: Southampton, Sheffield, Leeds & Plymouth.
The medalists (left to right): Lucy Cliff, Daniel Goodfellow, Matthew Roberts.
Posted 22/02/2007; updated 09/03/2007