COMPS & CAMPS

JANUARY - JUNE 2021

Diving Canada & British Diving Virtual Nations Challenge

1st & 2nd April

After a long 14 months since our last competition in Rostock last February, Yona and I were delighted to get the chance to compete again. The Virtual Nations Challenge event was set up by Diving Canada and British Diving to compete head to head in the lead up to the FINA Diving World Cup in Tokyo, Japan (which is now scheduled to be in early May). Aside from the British and Canadian teams we had our very own Yona Knight-Wisdom representing Jamaica and South Africa’s Micaela Bouter (who is based in London), making a total of 36 divers taking part.

The competition took place in three different locations; the Royal Commonwealth Pool, London Aquatics Centre and the Sports Centre at Montreal’s Olympic Park. The majority of the British team took part in this event down in London except for Yona and myself who were joined in Edinburgh by Sheffield Diving’s Yasmin Harper and head coach Tom Owens. The event was run over two days with the individual springboard events, platform synchro events and day 1 of the high dive event on the Thursday, followed by the individual platform events, springboard synchro events and day 2 of the high diving competition. The competition was live streamed for viewers to watch all over the world with the divers being judged by a panel operating from the comfort of their own homes. Each centre brought in an official referee; we were lucky enough to have our very own Vicki Tomlinson in charge of making sure that we dived at the right time with the short delay on the live stream.

There were significant challenges ensuring coordination between the venues, judges, commentator, live stream and scoring system. Jen had arranged for the support of a technical sports analyst from the sportscotland Institute of Sport and he was invaluable in operating the mobile transmitter system and other technical equipment, including a high resolution lens loaned from Sheffield University.

Despite the competition being virtual, both Yona and I agreed that it felt like a real event with all the competition adrenaline. Due to the time difference (Montreal is 5 hours behind the UK), we competed in the prelim at 4pm which was very strange as usually we would compete in a prelim at around 10 or 11am. Both of us were happy with our prelim results. Yona progressed through in 5th with a very consistent performance and I placed 1st. Due to some delays the final started late into the evening at 8pm, this was a real test of our endurance since it had been a long time since we had competed and a long time since we had spent a full day on a hot poolside. A few mistakes left Yona in 6th place but with many more positives than negatives to take away ahead of the World Cup. I finished in 1st place with a few mistakes of my own but managed to hold off the competition. We were both happy with our performances and how we dealt with the pressure.

This competition was a great warm up event for the World Cup and a good opportunity to watch some diving on our screens again. Yona and I will be flying out to Tokyo for the World Cup with our coach Jenny Leeming at the end of April and competitions will take place from the 1st-6th of May. This is the last chance for athletes around the world to qualify quota spots for the Olympics. So we have our fingers crossed for Yona who we all know will get the job done and earn his spot for Jamaica at the Games. It is also one of the final stages for selection for the British team for myself (GB has already earned both spots but is still to select the divers).

We are looking forward to training with the rest of Edinburgh Diving Club on our return back as everyone should be back into the swing of things again at the end of April!

If you want to ‘catch up’;

- Details & results are at: 2021 Virtual Nations Challenge (diving.ca)

- And to watch, follow these links:
James & Yona’s final
Other events

James Heatly

SASA Levels Virtual Dryland

27th february

After another two months of lockdown we were very excited that our divers could finally take part in a competition again. This was the first time our divers had competed in over a year so it was very exciting!

Whilst the competition was done from home, via the ever popular Zoom, it was still a fantastic opportunity for the divers to come together and show how hard they have been working over the past year. The divers were judged on the following skills: fast pike ups, front support & press ups, splits, line up drills (tuck kick out and pike come out), single leg squats and handstand hold.

Our divers looked great and it was clear to see that they have been working super hard at home to stay fit and strong for when we can get back in the pool. Our divers claimed a total of 20 medals with seven gold, eight silver and five bronze. EDC champions were Grace Kennedy, Lawrie Banks, Gemma Dickson, Woody Ashby, Chris Proudler, Libby Duke and Ben Sharman.

Scottish Swimming are hoping to run a second virtual SASA Levels in the coming months, this time from the pool. The details and dates of this are still to be decided and we will let you know as soon as anything is confirmed.

Huge well done to all the divers that took part.