2009 National Age Group Diving Championships
The Cambridge Dive Team returned home from the 2009 National Age Group Diving Championships with an amazing total of five gold, one silver and two bronze medals plus several other top ten finishes. The Cambridge team of five divers ranged in age from 10 to 16 years but managed to out-dive most of the country to finish in fourth place in the team trophy, and claimed the top spot as the number one 5 metre venue in England.
Sebastian Jaunzens was the star of the Championships, diving to three gold medals. Sebastian took first place on the 1m and 3m springboards as well as showing his bravery in the highboard platform events. His gold medal run started on the platform where he took the title in the Boys 12-13 age group with a total of 162.7 points from five dives. He then moved on to the springboard events, a consistently high-scoring list on the 3m saw him claim his second gold medal of the championships. A forward two and a half somersaults piked scored 42 points and it was Sebastian's style and flexibility that impressed the judges. Sebastian's final gold came on the 1m springboard. He held his nerve in a tightly fought competition to see of the challenges from the other competitors. With two out of his six dives scoring over 7s from the judges, Sebastian dived with a style and flare that put him a class above the rest.
Not to be out done, team mates Ben Sambrook and Martin Christensen also joined in the medal collecting. Ben took to the heights of the 10m platform to take gold in the Boys 14-15 age group whilst Martin took gold in the Boys 10-11 3m springboard event. Between them, these divers summed up a magnificent performance by the Cambridge Dive Team. Ben's platform gold was won convincingly with a total of 239.75 points. Ben opened his list with a forward one and half somersaults piked from the 10m which set the tone for the rest of his list. It was one of the outstanding dives of the whole weekend scoring 8.5s. Ben also dived with grit and determination in the 1m event to take a bronze medal with a total of 240.65. Martin was one of the youngest members of the team but showed a diving maturity above his 11 years to take first place in the 3m springboard event. Using a list of just five dives meant consistency was key and there was no place for nerves for the young diver. A highlight of Martin's winning list was a back one and half somersaults to score 6.5s from the judges. Nobody could match Martin's technique and with praises coming from international judges, Martin Christensen is definitely a name for the future.
Holding their own and doing it for the girls was Vivien Cliff aged 16 and Emma Watson aged 11. Vivien had a hard task in the Girls Group A events but the months of hard training was finally rewarded by her first ever National medal. Vivien took third place in the platform event and showed true courage by diving from the 10m board especially as all of Vivien's training has been limited to a 5m platform at Cambridge. Vivien's clean lines and sound technique also helped her to claim a fourth place in the 1m springboard event. Emma was diving against the new breed of talent within the country in the Girls Group D events but stepped up to the competition and put down some very respectable scores. Emma's forward one and a half somersaults pike from the 5m platform was a clear sign of her potential scoring 7s from the judges. The future for Emma looks exciting and there is no doubt that medals are on the cards for this young potential.
Coach, Sam Buck, was delighted not only with the divers' performances but also with the manner in which they performed. "For a small team to hold their own in the National finals against the bigger teams from pools with a 10m platform was a remarkable achievement and a great way to welcome our new coach, Marc Holdsworth, into the club".
Some of the National Age Group team (left to right):
Sebastian Jaunzens, Martin Christensen, Ben Sambrook.
Posted 27/7/2009