Magnificent seven aiming high

At last year’s World Championships, seven of the 11 divers that represented Great Britain in Shanghai were either from the White Rose or train at one of the county’s two leading facilities.

At the FINA World Cup event in London this week, which doubles up as the Olympic test event, Yorkshire again has seven members of the 13-strong team.

All of them will be looking to qualify quota places for Great Britain at London 2012.

Harrogate-born Jack Laugher leads the five-person contingent from the City of Leeds diving club that trains at the John Charles Aquatic Centre.

Laugher, 17, has improved with every passing major event since announcing himself as a genuine contender with four gold medals at the world and European junior championships in 2010.

Since stepping up to senior level he has finished 11th at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi and reached the final at the World Championships in Shanghai last year, both in the 3m springboard.

He was also seventh in the 3m synchro at the Commonwealth Games.

“It’s really exciting to have the opportunity to compete at the World Cup and in front of the home crowd,” said Laugher of a competition that runs all week in the Olympic Aquatics Centre.

“Delhi and Shanghai taught me a lot about dealing with pressure and taking on the world’s best.

“I have already qualified a place for Great Britain in the 3m for the Games and I am looking forward to focusing on my diving.

“The pressure will be off me slightly but I still want to do everything I can to get the best performance in London.”

Fifteen-year-old Alicia Blagg of Wakefield has benefitted greatly from the successful environment of the City of Leeds club and competes alongside club-mate Rebecca Gallantree in the 3m synchro this week.

Gallantree, 27, a finalist in four events at the Commonwealth Games, is also looking to book a place in the 3m springboard final alongside another City of Leeds diver, and regular international junior medalist, Hannah Starling, 16. Both will be out to reach the semi-finals this week and finish in the top 18 overall to seal a quota spot for the Olympics.

Sarah Barrow completes the Leeds quintet. The 23-year-old – who has a fourth-place finish in the all the major competitions – contests the 10m synchro with Tonia Couch, who trains 300 miles away in Plymouth.

The City of Sheffield club, based at Ponds Forge, are represented by Monique Gladding and Nick Robinson-Baker. Gladding and Olympian Stacie Powell will be competing individually for the quota place in the women’s 10m platform and again require a top-18 finish to secure Great Britain its Olympic spot.

Gladding was a European bronze medalist with Barnsley’s Megan Sylvester in the 10m synchro in 2010.

Robinson-Baker is the most experienced of the Yorkshire set competing in London this week. A finalist at all major international meets, including Beijing, he contests the 3m synchro with Chris Mears. Tom Daley competes in the 10m synchro.

As host nation, Great Britain has one allocated place in the Olympic competition of each of the synchronised events.

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