PLYMOUTH'S national champion Sarah Barrow will be determined to make the most of her opportunities at next week's European Diving Championships in Hungary.

Leeds-based student Barrow is in a 12-strong Great Britain squad, which includes her former Plymouth Diving club-mate Tom Daley. City-based coach Andy Banks will also be part of the Great Britain set-up.

Barrow and Daley will help spearhead GB's challenge for honours at the prestigious tournament which runs from August 4-15 in Budapest.

Both Barrow and Daley are competing in their respective individual 10m platform events, and each will be up against a formidable array of opposition, all jostling for a podium position.

Barrow staged a dramatic comeback and grabbed her European qualifying place with a last-gasp victory over her friend and former Plymouth Diving team-mate Tonia Couch at the British Championships in June.

The 21-year-old Barrow scored heavily in the final session of the women's platform competition at Sheffield's Ponds Forge to edge out Olympian Couch and take gold with a 325.95 points total.

And the Leeds Metropolitan University undergraduate said she will be 'very disappointed' if a medal does not accompany her back to the UK.

"Having qualified for the chance to go to the Europeans and, hopefully, the Commonwealth Games, I don't intend to let the chance go by me," said Barrow.

"Now that I'm free of injury worries, having spent with nearly all of 2009 out with a back problem, I feel confident of competing with anyone.

"I proved that I can compete under pressure — the British champs when I was in a tough event with Tonia showed that, as it was nip-and-tuck all the way until the end.

"I'm also at the top of my dive tariff and a lot more consistent with my (dive) list in my performances, having competed in events in the US, China and also Russia.

"So, if I don't get somewhere in the region of 340 points and come back with a medal from the Europeans then I'm going to be pretty disappointed."

Barrow, whose parents Kevin and Susan and sister Emma all live in Plymouth, admitted she missed her family and home town.

Her achievements have been largely ignored in Leeds, she said, and has found life hard juggling an international career with the needs of gaining a degree.

And any public sector cuts, would seriously hack into her already stretched finances.

She said: "I'm enjoying my time up in Leeds but, of course, I do miss Plymouth and my family.

"I've been trying to get some sponsorship but it's difficult up here as my diving success doesn't receive much attention in Yorkshire.

"I want to get to the Olympics in London in two years' time and also go to the Commonwealths.

"And next year there are a number of big competitions coming up ahead of the Olympics and I'll be in the final year of my degree.

"Nobody said it would be easy, but I just hope it doesn't get any harder for me."

Great Britain: Tom Daley, Max Brick, Blake aldridge, Chris Mears, Nick Robinson Baker, Sarah Barrow, Monique Gladding, Rebecca Gallantree, Alicia Blagg, Grace Reid, Megan Sylvester.