Diving for gold

Claire Blencowe, who is a pupil at Fir Vale School, will be travelling to Melbourne, Australia in March to compete in the Commonwealth Games.

Claire, who is a former pupil of Firshill and Pye Bank Trinity Schools started diving at Ponds Forge at the age of 6 and began competitive diving at the age of 8 years old.

Claire is presently the National Champion in her own age group on the 1-and 3-metre springboards, the platform and also the 3-metre synchro. Last year she competed in the world championship final in Montrèal with her partner from Plymouth, Tonia Couch, in the 10-metre platform synchro competition, finishing a creditable tenth. At the recent Senior National Championships in Manchester, Claire and her partner, Katie Hamilton, who is also from Sheffield, qualified in the 3-metre synchro competition for the Commonwealth Games. Both girls have also been selected to represent the country individually in the 1-metre springboard event.

Claire’s ultimate ambition within her sport is to dive at the Olympic Games in London 2012. However, prior to this, we first have the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the 2010 Commonwealth’s which are to be held in India, both of which are within her reach to qualify for.

Other than this, Claire is an ordinary 15-year-old who has two brothers, likes listening to music, spending time with her friends, going to discos and shopping.

She is currently in her final year at Fir Vale, where senior management have always been very supportive of her diving, allowing time off school to travel to competitions. She is hoping to continue her education at Longley College next year. Her parents are very proud of Claire and will keep you informed of her results.

by Deborah Blencowe