Media release for Southampton Diving Academy

ARMADA CUP

A team of 27 divers from Southampton Diving Academy travelled to Plymouth to compete in the Armada Cup and came back with 2 gold, 3 silver and 5 bronze medals. Top of the medal table on the Southampton team was ten year old Chloe Pook, who took gold on 1m and silver on 3m springboard. She also made the final on highboard, finishing in 6th position overall. Her performance was all the more remarkable for the fact that she used a new dive to her repertoire, forward 2 ½ somersaults tucked on the 3m board, attracting scores of 7 from some of the judges. Team mate Sarah White, also ten, took gold on highboard and was just 3 points away from a medal on 3m springboard, where she came 4th. Her consistency on highboard was the secret of her success, with every dive being made to count. Lewys Oakley (9), competing in the youngest age group for boys, picked up silver on highboard, bronze on 1m and 4th on 3m springboard. He rose to the occasion and nailed his forward 2 ½ somersaults with tuck off the 5m board, his best performance of the dive to date. At the other end of the age spectrum Chris Farrow (16) made finals in all three of his events, picking up a well deserved silver medal on highboard and 4th and 6th places respectively on 3m and 1m springboards. Georgie Wingrove (12), Sam McSevich (11), William Rigelsford (10) and Ryan Strudwick (13) all did well to take a bronze medal apiece in challenging competitions. Head Coach for the meet, Charly Tomkys, was very impressed with the divers' successes. "This is always a very demanding meet," she explained. "It attracts divers from all the top clubs in the country and even to make a final is quite a feat. I am delighted that our divers picked up these medals and am looking forward to seeing how those of them who have qualified for National Age Groups fare at the end of March." The ASA National Age Group Championships will be held at the Quays Swimming and Diving Complex on 28th – 30th March. Spectators are welcomed and entry is free. For further information please call Annie Clewlow on 023 8072 0922 or email annie.clewlow@southampton.gov.uk Full results: 1m springboard Chloe Pook, gold; Eleanor Phillips, 5th; Portia Angove, 11th; Alexandra Thorne, 15th; Chelsey Stewart, 18th; Ellie Fleming, 4th; Rachel Holland, 5th; Bethany Watts, 6th; Georgie Wingrove, 7th; Jessica Barnes, 10th; Rosie Medlock, 11th; Annabelle Harris, 16th; Elizabeth Osborne, 19th; Moyra Ferrier, 8th; Beverley, 13th; Fran Godfroy, 12th; Lewys Oakley, bronze; Jamie Munday, 14th; Sam Bass-Cooper, 18th; Ryan Strudwick, 6th; Stephen Lingard, 13th; Luke Jakes, 17th; Charlie Rigelsford, 20th; Chris Farrow, 6th 3m springboard Chloe Pook, silver; Eleanor Phillips, 6th; Portia Angove, 9th; Alexandra Thorne, 20th; Chelsey Stewart, 21st; Sarah White, 4th; Ellie Fleming, 8th; Rachel Holland, 7th; Bethany Watts, 10th; Georgie Wingrove, bronze; Jessica Barnes, 19th; Rosie Medlock, 6th; Annabelle Harris, 12th; Elizabeth Osborne, 16th; Moyra Ferrier, 8th; Beverley Angove, 11th; Fran Godfroy, 14th; Lewys Oakley, 4th; Sam McSevich, bronze; William Rigelsford, 5th; Jamie Munday, 17th; Sam Bass-Cooper, 20th; Ryan Strudwick, 5th; Stephen Lingard, 8th; Luke Jakes, 16th; Charlie Rigelsford, 19th; Chris Farrow, 4th Highboard Chloe Pook, 6th; Eleanor Phillips, 4th; Portia Angove, 5th; Alexandra Thorne, 12th; Chelsey Stewart, 18th; Sarah White, gold; Rachel Holland, 5th; Bethany Watts, 6th; Georgie Wingrove, 4th; Rosie Medlock, 9th; Elizabeth Osborne, 14th; Moyra Ferrier, 8th; Beverley Angove, 9th; Lewys Oakley, silver; Sam McSevich, 5th; William Rigelsford, bronze; Jamie Munday, 11th; Sam Bass-Cooper, 15th; Ryan Strudwick, bronze; Stephen Lingard, 9th; Luke Jakes, 15th; Charlie Rigelsford, 16th; Chris Farrow, silver

ENDS

For further details call Lindsey Fraser on 023 8072 0922 / 07810 305355 or email lindsey.fraser@southampton.gov.uk.