Four European medallists lead the 16-strong team into action at the European Junior Championships in Bergen, Norway which kick off 27 June.
The seven-day competition will see the British Team take on the cream of Europe in their age group with the aim of furthering their competition experience.
This year also marks the introduction of 10m and 3m synchro in a development that gives athletes the opportunity to perfect their dives before moving to the senior ranks.
European Champions Ruby Bower and Phoebe Banks will be returning to the 10m Platform for Synchro while Bower will also add the individual event to her competition schedule.
“We were obviously quite shocked with the win in Kiev and when we realised we had won a medal we were so happy,” Bower said. “It’s taken some time to sink in but we had to go back to training for the European Juniors straight away.
“I am mixing training with my A-Level exams at the minute but going into Bergen I’m good. The performance in Kiev has given us a lot of confidence. Hopefully we’ll be able to do a similar performance in Bergen.”
“It was so unexpected to win a medal because we went to Kiev wanting to gain experience so to come away with a medal with amazing,” Banks said. There was no pressure or expectation on us so we just focused on the dives. We knew we’d dive well.
“When the coaches told us we were in a medal position we were shocked and then couldn’t believe it when it was gold. On the podium hearing the national anthem was special and all the team singing along too.
“It’s the shortest turn over I’ve had so I’ve been really conscious with my diet to make sure I stay well ahead of Bergen. I’m feeling really prepared for this competition and feeling more relaxed than normal. I learnt a lot about how to handle myself in competition and how it’s run. It was really good experience and I’m looking forward to using that in Bergen. ”
Matthew Dixon and Noah Williams claimed an impressive bronze medal in Kiev and will do both the synchro and individual in Bergen.
New partnership of Scarlett Mew Jensen and Yasmin Harper will be looking to compete with confidence after winning their first British title in the 3m Synchro in Edinburgh.
For British Diving’s Talent & Development Manager Julian Bellan this event will give athletes the opportunity to feed off the back of recent success at the European Championships in Kiev.
“A number of our team will be competing again off the back of a highly successful championships with in Kiev,” Bellan said. “European medallists Matthew [Dixon], Noah [Williams], Ruby [Bower] and Phoebe [Banks] will re-join the junior ranks and spearhead a 16-strong team of divers competing in 17 events.
“For the first time, the juniors will contest platform synchro so I hope our experienced divers will showcase their skills and take on Europe’s best with confidence.
“With a number of experienced divers no longer available for junior duties the stage is set for a number of debut performances. We have six divers competing at their first European Juniors and I expect them to take this competition in their stride.
“Fresh from successful campaigns earlier this season Anthony Harding will lead the boys’ springboard having claimed all three titles at the Elite Junior Championships in Plymouth. Millie Haffety, fresh from A-levels and a fine 4th place at the Canada Cup, will lead the female charge in Springboard.
“Our new Springboard partnership of Scarlett Mew Jensen and Yasmin Harper are promising while on platform Eden Cheng will take the platform event to the Russian girls.
“This is an exciting competition for this team and with the benchmark being set for us by the senior team last week we are looking forward to kicking off action in Bergen.”
The British Team consists of:
Phoebe Banks 10m Synchro
Louise Bradley 10m Girls B, 1m Girls B
Ruby Bower 10m Synchro, 10m Girls A
Alfie Brown 10m Boys B, 1m Boys B
Eden Cheng 10m Girls B, 3m Girls B
Matthew Dixon 10m Boys B, 10m Boys A
Millie Haffety 1m Girls A
William Hallam 3m Boys A, 1m Boys A, 3m Synchro
Anthony Harding 3m Boys A, 1m Boys A, 3m Synchro
Yasmin Harper 1m Girls A, 3m Synchro
Aiden Heslop10m Boys B, 3m Boys B
Tyler Humphries 3m Boys B
Emily Martin 10m Girls A
Scarlett Mew Jensen 3m Girls A, 3m Synchro
Holly Waxman 3m Girls B, 1m Girls B
Noah Williams 10m Boys B, 10m Boys A