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GBDF Novices
20th/21st September 2003
Those who didn’t go to the GBDF Novice Championships at Manchester missed a real treat this weekend. Despite fewer clubs than we would have liked attending, this event has continued the tradition of our events being good fun for all, and both divers and parents left asking, ’when’s the next one?’
This in many ways was one of the best novice competitions I have attended, the divers felt very welcome, and all enjoyed the company of the other divers, and the competitions themselves. Everyone involved worked together, helping the event run smoothly. In addition, the divers were all novices, and to a fairly consistent standard, so that the competitions were all very close with usually fewer than 5 points between the first two positions.
The diving itself was of a high standard with some excellent dives being performed, but the conditions helped ensure that all divers were performing ‘novice’ dives with a maximum tariff of 1.9 and only 1.5 rotations. This kept diver to forward 1 ½ and back/reverse somersault, with the emphasis being on the execution of the dive, rather than its difficulty.
All in all a very successful event which will return to the calendar next year. Watch this space for the date of the 2004 GBDF Novices, make sure you get there and that your divers don’t miss out on this great, fun, Championship event.
Special thanks are due to the staff at the Manchester Aquatics Centre, who, as usual put themselves out to help us in any way necessary. In addition, we should give grateful thanks to the GB Water Polo squad who had moved out of the diving pit to let us have the pool party there. Our thanks for your help and co operation it’s great when two of the Aquatics disciplines can work together as well at the do in Manchester
So, if you were there, we hope you had a great weekend, if you weren’t there, what kept you away ( yes, I do appreciate that this weekend bought some major clashes) ? See you all next year.
John Whitby