Rebecca Gallantree, from the Bramston Diving Club in Witham, is the new junior one metre springboard diving national champion.

Rebecca pushed the current European champion into second place at the Junior National Championships in Sheffield.

The one metre event is run over three rounds, with round one being a preliminary from which the top 12 placed divers go through to one of two semi-finals.

The top three from each semi-final went on to make up the final.

Rebecca came fourth in the preliminary round, and second in her semi-final.

Also competing from the Bramston Club was Lisa Maguire, who came eighth in the preliminary and sixth in her semi-final, which meant that the Bramston club had two divers in the final.

In the final, Rebecca, 14, gave a superb performance to come away with the Junior National title and gold medal.

Rebecca, from Great Baddow, attends Great Baddow High School, and trains five days a week at the Bramston Diving Club.

She said: "I was delighted to have beaten the European Champion, Sarah Soo, who is a member of the Crystal Palace team."

Rebecca, who has been diving for seven years, added: "Before the final, I would have been pleased to have finished in second or third place, but when it was announced that I was the new champion, I was surprised but it was a very pleasant surprise!"

Bramston Diving Club's Head Coach, Carol Rushen, said: "Rebecca is, as are all our divers, dedicated to the sport, and all at the club are proud of her achievements."

Following on from her success in the Junior event, Rebecca gave a good performance in the senior event, but was just beaten into the silver medal position.

The three metre springboard and 10 metre platform events were run over two rounds with the top 12 from the preliminary round going on to the final.

Rebecca and Lisa again won through to the final.

By now, the pressure of this high class event was beginning to tell and Rebecca finished 12th in the three metre springboard with Lisa in a similar position in the 10 metre platform.

Rebecca, who is pictured with the medals she won for becoming the new National Junior Champion and for finishing second in the senior event, is hoping to one day represent Great Britain at an Olympic Games.

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