Divers from Southampton Diving Academy brought the English Schools' National team trophy back home with them after they took the Division 12 to the top of the league table in Plymouth on 17th November, tying for the title with Division 3 from Yorkshire.
Back row: Georgie Wingrove, Alistair Khakoo, Sam Knapp, Ryan Strudwick, Eleanor Phillips. Front row: Chris Farrow, Fran Godfroy, Charly Tomkys, Beverley Angove
All eight of the places on the Division 12 team, which covers Dorset, East/West Sussex, Hampshire, the Channel Isles and the Isle of Wight, train at the Quays Swimming and Diving Complex. The club also supplied one team member for Division 11.
The most successful member of the team was Georgie Wingrove (11), who repeated her winning performance of last year, which recently gained her a Michael Austin Harlich Young Sportsperson award, taking gold in the Junior Girls' event. The result was particularly creditable as she has now moved up a group and was in the younger year group for the event.
Using two new dives, back 1 ½ somersaults with 1 ½ twists and inward 1 ½ somersaults piked from the 1m springboard to good effect, Georgie took her title with over 25 points above her nearest rival.
Silver medallists in their age groups, Alastair Khakoo (10), Ryan Strudwick (12) and Sam Knapp (13) all dived well to achieve their places on the rostrum.
In his first national final Alastair put in an excellent performance, diving consistently well throughout the meet, taking second place with a comfortable margin.
After a shaky first dive Ryan did well to keep his cool and continue with a strong performance, which allowed him to make up the necessary ground to take the silver medal.
Sam did well to take his medal on the heels of top international, Thomas Daley from Plymouth, who only out-scored him by virtue of the higher tariffs on his dives. His consistent performance throughout the competition brought him a well earned total score of 269.05 points.
In the senior boys' event, going into the competition with a niggling back injury, Chris Farrow (15) did well to overcome his handicap, scooping the bronze medal in a strong field.
Coach, Charly Tomkys, recent winner of the 2007 Sportscoach UK Young Coach of the Year award, was delighted by the outcome. "Overall our divers performed really well, stepping up to the mark and often exceeding expectations. They did us proud."
Full results:
Alastair Khakoo, silver; Danny Appleby, 5th; Eleanor Phillips, 4th; Ryan Strudwick, silver; Georgie Wingrove, gold; Sam Knapp, silver; Beverley Angove, 5th; Chris Farrow, bronze; Fran Godfroy, 5th