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Divers from Southampton Diving Academy competed in their home pool for the National titles in Springboard and Highboard Diving at Age Group level, coming out the top team with over double the points of their nearest rivals and a haul of 27 medals between them. The 28-strong squad, who comprised the biggest team at the meet, ranged in age from 8 to 16 years. They all train at the Quays Swimming and Diving Complex, home to Olympic medalist, Peter Waterfield. Together they scooped 10 gold, 7 silver and 10 bronze medals, putting on an exciting show for the home crowd and making a good start to the local club's bid to remain the top junior club in the country. Topping the medal table for Southampton were Rosie Medlock (11) and Lewys Oakley (9) who won 3 gold medals apiece. Rosie took the title in each of her 3 individual events and bronze in the 1m synchro alongside partner, Jessica Barnes (13). Diving with partner, Alastair Khakoo (10), Lewys took gold on 1m springboard and in his individual events on both 1m springboard and highboard. Taking the 1m event on his final dive with an inward 1 ½ somersaults with tuck he pushed his synchro partner into second by less than a point. On 5m platform he gave the most outstanding performance of any diver at the meet, with his inward 1 ½ somersaults piked scoring 7 ½ 's and 8's from the judges, to give the dive a final total of 55.2, a personal best. Alastair also did well, adding to his gold in synchro with gold on 3m springboard, silver on 1m and bronze on highboard. A beautiful back dive piked from the 3m springboard helped to give him his gold with a comfortable margin ahead of the rest of the field. Portia Angove (10) and Stephen Lingard (13) both did well to come out top in their highboard events. For Portia it was the result her supporters had been waiting for throughout the weekend. Putting in a steady list she included scores of 7's on her inward 1 ½ somersaults piked from the 5m board. Stephen used his new back 2 ½ somersaults with ½ twist from the 10m to good effect, ensuring he finished his event comfortably ahead of the other contenders. Director of Coaching for the Academy, Lindsey Fraser, was delighted with the outcome. "We have some very promising youngsters coming through and they demonstrated this over the weekend," she said. "All of those who shone at this event will now be moving up to the next level and competing at the National Junior Elites in May – the top event for Junior divers. I have high hopes for their futures." Full results:
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| For further details call Lindsey Fraser on 023 8072 0922 / 07810 300355 or email lindsey.fraser@southampton.gov.uk. |