British Diving's stars of the future will get a valuable top-level competition opportunity when 2022's British Elite Junior Diving Championships head to Southend next month.
The Southend Swimming and Diving Centre is the venue for what is always an eagerly-awaited annual event among the country's up-and-coming talent. This year's competition will take place from 13th-16th April, as the athletes involved look to test themselves against their age-group peers, compete for national junior titles and put themselves in contention for selection to the team heading to June's European Junior Championships in Bucharest, Romania.
On the back of unprecedented circumstances and disruption for much of the last two years, April's event will once again provide a showcase for the resilience and drive that every young diver has shown to continue training and following their journey in the sport, as was also witnessed at the recent British National Diving Cup and October's Elite Junior Diving Championships In Memory of David Jenkins.
The Elite Juniors programme will feature individual and synchronised events across the 3m Springboard and Platform categories, as well as individual competitions off the 1m Springboard. The three age-group categories are as follows: Group C - 13 years and under in 2022; Group B - 14-15 years old in 2022; Group A - 16-18 years old in 2022.
Entries for the 2022 Elite Junior Diving Championships are now open here. Entries close on Wednesday 30th March.
Given the current COVID-19 situation and the Government's lifting of restrictions, British Diving are hopeful of opening this event up to spectators. Spectator tickets will be available for purchase, for family and friends of athletes only, following the closure of entries.
Further details around tickets will be communicated in due course - as will any further updates around the COVID picture, with the event planning group continuously reviewing the situation. The safety of all athletes, coaches, staff, officials and volunteers remains of paramount importance, on top of our desire to ensure competition opportunities are not impeded for those involved.
Looking ahead to the competition, British Diving Performance Pathway Lead Julian Bellan said: "It is fantastic that we are again able to provide this crucial competition opportunity for the next generation of British diving talent, as well as giving athletes, coaches and others in the diving community the chance to reunite on deck. Having family and friends of our divers back in the stands will be an added highlight – and we are grateful to our hosts for this event at the Southend Swimming and Diving Centre for their ongoing support.
“The 2022 Elite Junior Diving Championships will play a crucial role in helping us select a team for the European Junior Championships, as we look to follow up on a successful competition in 2021 that brought nine medals and a string of promising performances from our young divers.”