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Four of Southampton's top divers were selected to represent Great Britain at the Camo Diving Competition in Montreal, Canada last week. Peter Waterfield (26), Monique McCarroll (26), Blake Aldridge (25) and Stacie Powell (22), who all train at the Quays Swimming and Diving Complex, flew out with the 14 strong British team to train for 5 days before competing against some of the top divers in the world and came back with four medals between them. Returning to the international scene after a long battle with injury, Peter showed that he is now back as a force to contend with, taking bronze in the individual platform event with a confident and convincing performance. Both his back 2 ½ somersaults with 2 ½ twists and his reverse 3 ½ somersaults in the tucked position were awarded over 100 points, scores that put him well on track for making the rostrum in the big international events coming up in 2008. But he and partner Leon Taylor from Sheffield were pipped to the post in the synchronized highboard competition by Southampton's Blake Aldridge, partnered by Plymouth's Thomas Daley (13), recent winner of the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year. Leon has also been dogged by injury since 2005 and the Camo meet was no exception, where a groin strain limited the pair's preparation and was instrumental in them being edged into second place by an inspired performance by the newly formed partnership of Blake and Thomas. Performing for the first time together on the international circuit, Blake and Thomas demonstrated clearly to the world that they are emerging as the pair to be watched in Olympic year as they beat couples ranked 3rd and 4th in the world to take their title. Blake also dived well in the individual events, making personal best international scores on both 3m springboard and 10m platform to make 10th and 5th places respectively. The two women's synchronized platform pairs also dived well, with Monique and partner Sarah Barrow from Plymouth taking the bronze medal and earning the opportunity to represent Great Britain at the World CUP to be held in Beijing in February. It will be their aim to qualify Great Britain for a slot at the Olympics. Stacie and her partner, Tonia Couch from Plymouth also gave a good performance, putting in an inward 2 ½ somersaults piked that was near perfection and a joy to watch. However, one dropped dive was enough to put them out of the medals. Director of Coaching, Lindsey Fraser, who was a member of the coaching team at the meet, was delighted with the outcome. "We are approaching some very important trials in January, which will determine the final make up of the team going out to Beijing for the Worlds," she said. "This gave us some excellent preparation and an indication that our divers have the capability of winning some of the slots in that team." The whole of Southampton's senior squad will be headed up to Sheffield this week to put in some training before Christmas whilst the diving pool at the Quays is closed for repairs. |
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| For further details call Lindsey Fraser on 023 8072 0922 / 07810 300232 or email lindsey.fraser@southampton.gov.uk. |
| Photo opportunities can be arranged. |