TEENAGE PAIR SHOW TALENT IN WORLD FINAL
British newcomers Claire Blencowe and Tonia Couch overcame
the nerves of their first ever major diving international
to put in the performance of their young lives at the World
Championships in Montreal.
The teenagers looked at home in the final of the Women’s
10m Synchro to post a personal best score and give a glimpse
of what is to come in future years from the talented pair.
Blencowe (15) and Couch (16) were first to dive at the Parc
Jean-Drapeau, after qualifying 12th, but were never phased
by the magnitude of the occasion as they showed real confidence
and ability to finish 10th in the world.
Marks as high as 9.5 for the synchronised aspect of their
dives saw them as high as eighth in the competition but a
mistake on the final execution dropped them to 10th with a
score of 287.19 - the highest posted by a British pair in
this event.
Gold went to Chinese pair Jia Tong and Yuan Pei Lin with
351.60, Australians Loudy Tourky and Chantelle Newbery took
the silver with 334.89, and Canadians Meaghan Benfeito and
Roseline Filion were third with 328.80.
National Performance Director Steve Foley was delighted with
the British performance especially due to the inexperience
of the girls.
“It’s a great result. It’s pleasing to
see two young British divers competing with the best in the
world and acquitting themselves so well. They still have a
lot to learn but it is a great place for them to start.
“They need to learn how to dive better in the mornings,
and that will come with experience, but they handled themselves
well out there tonight.
“The score was excellent. To get that kind of total
at your first World Championships is pretty special. They
handled the pressure well and looked like they were enjoying
themselves and I like that about them.
“As they get older and are able to learn some of the
harder, higher point-scoring dives then you are going to see
them right up there with the best.”
The British Diving World Championship squad comprises:
Claire Blencowe City of Sheffield
Tonia Couch Plymouth Diving
Brooke Graddon Plymouth Diving
Tandi Indergaard City of Leeds
Hayley Sage Beaumont Diving Academy
Louise Van Hoof Luton Kingfishers
Tony Ally City of Sheffield
Mark Shipman City of Sheffield
Ben Swain City of Sheffield
Leon Taylor City of Sheffield
Peter Waterfield Southampton
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