DALEY FINISHES COMPETITION ON A HIGH
Plymouth Diving's Thomas Daley claimed his second National
title of the ASA Senior National Diving Championships in Sheffield
this weekend with an impressive performance in the 10m Platform
Individual event.
The 13-year-old qualified easily for the semi-final in which
he claimed the first ten of the competition with his reverse,
two and a half somersaults in the tucked position. Daley continued
to pull out some excellent dives and took the top spot with
456.45 points.
The final saw Southampton's Blake Aldridge and Gareth Jones
take an early lead over Daley. But going into the third round
Daley hit his reverse, two and a half somersaults hard and
secured two top scores to take the lead.
He continued and gained good scores in his final two dives
and took the National title with 444.20 points.
"I am so pleased with today," Daley said. "I
am just over-the-moon. I was really happy with my scores in
the pre-lims and the semis. I performed really well in the
pre-lims I was pleased to have got 465.65 for a final score.
"My preparation has been good for this event, my coach
Andy Banks has been great in the lead up.
"I am very pleased with my tens, I got four throughout
the event. It is brilliant to be National champion, I have
had a great weekend. This has definitely been the best National
competition that I have competed in."
Securing silver was Aldridge with 424.75 points and taking
bronze was Jones with 412.85 points.
"I am happy with the way I performed this weekend,"
Aldridge said. "I was happier in the pre-lims and semis
but it has been a long weekend and to have claimed a medal
in this event after competing all weekend has been great."
The 3m womens springboard event saw Southampton's Louise
Van Hoof bring out impressive dives in the pre-lims and semis
to finish top above Tandi Gerrard (City of Leeds).
In the final Gerrard worked hard and took the lead with her
first two dives gaining some excellent scores. Her top scores
came in the backwards, two and a half somersaults in the tuck
position.
Van Hoof was close behind Gerrard but she dropped her reverse,
two and a half somersaults tuck position to give Gerrard the
victory.
Gerrard claimed gold with 260.05 points, with Van Hoof taking
silver with 240.85 points and claiming bronze was Lottie Thompson
(Southend-on-Sea Diving) with 215 points.
"I am very happy with my win," Gerrard said. "I
was very happy with my front three and a half tuck, I got
good scores for it and it felt good. I wasn't as consistent
as I wanted to be, but this is something I can work on and
I know what is needed.
"I am going to work on my reverse two and a half tuck
as my scores weren't great for that one. I will also be trying
to improve my consistency, as that is what will bring medal
in international competitions. I am looking forward to the
FINA diving series in Sheffield in September, I will be looking
to get a medal there."
|
