Barcelona Invitational 2007
The Cambridge Dive Team took international competition in their stride bringing home four medals from the prestigious Barcelona Invitational held in the world famous Olympic pool with the incredible backdrop over the city. Winning three medals in the 1m, 3m springboard and the platform events, Matthew Roberts & Aaron Paul underpinned their talents as truly all round competent divers in the boys group B (15-16 years) category. Their first medal came in the 3m springboard event where Matthew finished 3rd on a total of 359.85 points. Consistent scoring of 6.5s throughout his list of dives meant Matthew achieved his pre-competition goals and now has a solid foundation to build upon for next season's competitions. Matthew's most difficult dive, a reverse two and half somersaults with tuck, gave him his highest points with 50.4 showing his improved ability to hold his nerve under pressure. Aaron wowed both judges and spectators in the 3m event with his forward 2½ somersaults with 1 twist, scoring a massive 66 points for that dive alone. He finished 4th, behind team mate Matthew Roberts with 346.10 for 9 dives.
This was the first competition of the year for Nathaniel Doza due to injury problems so nerves were running high. Diving alongside fellow Cambridge divers, Matthew Roberts and Aaron Paul, helped Nathaniel ease back into competition mode. Some decent required dives saw Nathaniel move in amongst the top 5 places after the first five dives. Stepping up the degree of difficulty with his final four dives Nathaniel lost some form but completed each dive successfully. His back two and half somersaults with tuck score him 30.8 points and pushed his total up to 259.5. This left Nathaniel in sixth place overall but more importantly he was back on the competition stage and looked more motivated than ever before. Aaron shone in the 1m event, scoring 6s and 7s for most of his dives. He narrowly missed first place by 3 points, finishing 2nd with 339.85 for his 9 dives. Taking confidence from his previous days competition, Nathaniel went into the 1m springboard event in high spirits and with high hopes. Nathaniel started well scoring 35.6 points for his opening dive, a forward double somersault with pike. Some inconsistent judging followed leaving Nathaniel with no idea on how well he was doing. An over-rotated reverse one and half somersaults with tuck only gave Nathaniel 18.9 points and left him struggling for places. However, calling on previous experiences Nathaniel managed to finish well and worked his way back up to eighth place with a total score of 246.8. The second day of competition saw Matthew suffer from a small bout of confusion that meant he finished slightly lower down the field in 5th place with 297.20 points. Spurred on by his mistake, Matthew entered the platform event like a man on a mission. Again diving a solid list with consistent scoring of 6s and 6.5s, Matthew was always going to be in with a shout for a medal. Finishing with a photographers dream picture of a back two and half somersaults half twist from the 10m scoring 48.1 points, Matthew won the bronze medal with a total of 297.90 points.
In the first event of the competition, boys group C (12-13 years) 1m springboard, the two young guns from the Cambridge Dive Team set out to prove their worth. Both boys were competing an age group above themselves and showed great confidence and style. Daniel Goodfellow performed superbly to take 5th place with a total of 250.5, justifying his place on the Great Britain Junior Talent Programme, while Sebastian Jaunzens came in 16th with a score of 194.95. Sebastian, who is lacking competition experience, put in a solid list of dives opening with a forward one and half somersaults that scored 30.6 points. Daniel showed his potential and competitive spirit finishing with inward one and half somersaults that scored an impressive 36.3 points. Next came the 3m springboard and following on from his first day performance Daniel was maintaining his exceptional high standard of diving. Finishing in 6th place and setting a new personal best score of 269.2 points Daniel impressed not only his coaches but also the rest of the international field. His competition started well putting in 3 dives scoring over 30 points. A slight loss of body tension on entry meant his fourth dive, a reverse dive with tuck, came in at only 26.1 points. However this didn't faze the young diver who then proceeded to hit 35 points and then 42 points on his next two dives. His final dive of the competition, an inward one and half somersaults with pike, was harshly marked but still scored 38.85 points. A truly impressive finish. On the final day of competition the two Cambridge divers had the platform event. Again, using the previous good performances as momentum Daniel and Sebastian showed excellent form and competitive spirit. Daniel's forward two and half somersaults piked flew through the air and disappeared through the water to score him a massive 44.2 points. This, along with easily the best inward dive piked of the entire competition that scored 7.5 and 7s from all judges helped Daniel finish 4th with a total of 243.4 points. After a lack of competition training, Sebastian showed his potential talent as a top-level diver to finish 8th with a score of 192.75. His armstand somersault highlighted his gymnastics ability and how well he is able to transfer his skills and talents. Ben Sambrook put in a consistent set of dives to finish 15th in the 1m event with 196.50, 17th in the 3m, just 2 points behind fellow Cambridge diver, Harry Kitson, with 209.55 points and 11th in the platform event with 178.55 points. Harry had trained hard prior to the event to relearn some of his more difficult dives. He put in a solid performance against stiff competition to finish 16th with 211.75 points for his 8 dives.
Vivien Cliff competed in all three of the category B girls events, 1m springboard, 3m springboard and platform. First for Vivien was the 3m springboard. After some hard training Vivien was still very nervous about one or two of her dives but these nerves soon went after hitting 30 points for her back one and half somersaults with half twist. Her final three dives were all performed to the best of her ability and her hard work paid off by finishing 8th with a total of 210 points. Due to some acclimatization issues Vivien did well just to get through her list in the scorching sunshine of the outdoor pool. Finishing 11th with a total of 186.85 points was a fair result but left Vivien keen to prove she deserved to be diving on this international trip. Vivien's final board of the meet was group B platform. Vivien was quietly confident she could show her skill as a diver best in the platform event. She did just that opening with an inward dive with pike from the 7.5m platform that scored 7.5 from two of the five judges. Renowned for her clean entries Vivien was having an off day but her form in the air and technical skill maintained the high opening standards. Vivien's usually weaker dive came last in her list but with true competitive focus and eagerness to do well she gained 33.6 points for her back one and half somersaults with half twist. This final dive pushed her up the ranks to finish in 4th place overall with a total score of 198.45 points. This was certainly a highlight not only of the trip but also of Vivien's diving career so far. Sharnia Mockford, whose recent training has been disrupted due to illness, persevered and demonstrated her natural form with a lower tariff list to finish 10th in the girls group C 1m with 201.65, 12th in the platform event with 167.35 and 11th in the 3m event with 211.15 points for 7 dives. Sharnia, diving in the platform synchro event with team mate Vivien Cliff, overcame nerves to dive well and secure 6th place with 197.92 for 5 dives. Only 10 points separated them from 3rd place.
Diving in the Boys group A age group category, Edward Hird faced older divers with high tariff dives, but dived consistently in the 1m event to score 5½s for the majority of his dives and finish 8th with 284.35 points for 10 dives. In the 3m event Ed again dived consistently, finishing 8th with 281.70, with only an unfortunate reverse 1½ somersaults dropping his score. Laura Shipsey, competing in the oldest female age group, held her nerve against divers with high tariff dives to finish 9th in the 3m event with 202.15 for 9 dives and 10th in the 1m event with 204.05 points.
Lucy Cliff, who has been identified by British Diving as a very talented young diver, had an excellent but busy meet, competing on all three boards, plus two synchro events with team mate Chloe Webb. She returned with a well-deserved bronze medal in the platform event, only 2 points behind 2nd place. Lucy showed her talent and bravery when performing a difficult armstand back double somersault, scoring an impressive set of 6s. Both springboard events saw Lucy step up to the challenge and finish 7th out of 20 in both events. New to the world of diving and competing at her first elite meet, ex-gymnast Chloe demonstrated her talent and resilience in a tough age-group. Putting in new lists on all three boards Chloe dived well to 12th in the 3m event with 209.2 points - close behind team mate Sharnia Mockford - and 19th in the 1m with 156.15. Lucy and Chloe pulled out some impressive dives in the two synchro events, narrowly missing bronze medal in the platform event, just 3 points behind third place. Up against older group A girls in the springboard synchro, the girls held their nerve to finish 11th with 169.99.
 Aaron Paul, silver medalist |
 Lucy Cliff, bronze medalist |
 Matthew Roberts, bronze medalist |
Vivien Cliff and Sharnia Mockford in action |
Posted 19/07/2007