ESSA Division 8 Diving Trials
Cambridge Dive Team's divers dominated the ESSA Division 8 Diving Trials. Out of the eight events being competed Cambridge took six first places meaning they will make up three quarters of the team representing the Region in the National finals later this year.
Lucy Cliff (Parkside Community College) started the day's competitions in the Junior Girls event. Her superior style and advanced ability to produce some of the hardest dives aged only 12 years old placed her in first place almost 50 points above her closet competitor with 174.8 points. Her highest scoring dive, a back 2½ somersaults with tuck from the 3m springboard, scored 39.2 points. Her performance and emphatic win set the standard for her team mates to follow and they didn't disappoint.
In the Primary Girls age group it was a tightly fought battle for first and second between Cambridge team-mates Emma Watson and Anna Sambrook. In the youngest age group, both girls showed a maturity in their diving and their approach to the competition. Emma (Coton primary) took an early lead with a forward 1½ somersaults on the 1m springboard scoring 6.5 average giving a total of 31.2 points. Anna (Meadow School) pushed Emma all the way producing some solid dives but could not quite make up the deficit and finished in second place behind Emma.
Rounding up the girls competitions was Vivien Cliff, representing Hills Road 6th Form College, in the Senior girls age group. In the toughest competition of the day, Vivien dived consistently well and impressed the judges with her effortlessly looking performances. Vivien finished with a total of 215.85 points which placed her 3rd. Unfortunately for Vivien a lack of degree of difficulty was her downfall but she looked every part the confident and stylish diver among a field including Elite National Medalists.
Martin Christensen of Morley Memorial Primary School competed for the first time in this event in the Primary boys age group. Martin is fast becoming 'one to watch' for the future gaining more and more respect from the diving community every time he competes. An impressive performance on the 3m springboard saw Martin take 1st place with a total of 115.25 points. Martin performed a list of dives including 3 different 1½ somersaults which is an impressive achievement for a 10 year old.
In the Junior boys event Daniel Goodfellow (Melbourn Village College) put together a list of dives that not only showed immaculate style but also a step forwards in his degree of difficulty. Out of five dives Daniel scored over 40 points on three of them and finished on a total of 192.05 to take the top spot nearly 35 points ahead of second place. Also in this age group Matthew Goodfellow and Dominic Sutton dived well under pressure and showed they are making the step up from novice competitions well by finishing 4th and 5th respectively.
Carrying on the fine run of form, Ben Sambrook (Linton Village College) dived out of his skin to nail the best list of dives of his life to claim first place. Ben showed massive step ups in his degree of difficulty performing both forward and back 2½ somersaults from the 3m springboard which his rivals could not match. Ben also showed sound technique on his easy dives and was a well deserved winner.
Finishing up the days competitions was Nathaniel Doza of Netherhall School in the Boys Senior Aged Group. A usually nervous Nathaniel held his emotions under control to dive with greater self-assurance than his fellow competitors and take first place with a total of 240.9 points. Nathaniel's performance typified the Cambridge Dive Team's attitude towards the day's competitions and underpinned the strength and depth now being shown amongst the Cambridge team.
All those divers who claimed first place in this Regional Event will now go forward to represent both their schools and Division 8 in the National Finals in November.
ESSA Division 8 Team (left to right): Ben Sambrook, Lucy Cliff, Martin Christensen, Daniel Goodfellow, Emma Watson, Nathaniel Doza.
Posted 02/10/2008