Southampton Eyes Were Smiling in Ireland last weekend (14/15 November) when young local divers swept the board in their events at the Irish National Diving Championships. With a tally of 27 medals from only 20 divers, many of our youngsters came home with medals as well as personal best scores.
On a busy sporting weekend in Dublin, many eyes were on the international football and rugby matches. But the National Aquatic Centre was home to the premier Irish diving meet of the year with teams invited over from the UK to compete against the top local divers. For many of the young Southampton Diving Academy competitors, aged between 8 and 13, it was their first club international meet. But that inspired them rather than set them on edge. Their determination was amply rewarded with a medal haul of 8 Golds, 11 Silvers and 8 Bronzes from their 16 events. And many of those who didn't quite make it to the rostrum were still smiling having achieved their highest scores to date.
Southampton's star performer was Annabelle Harris who won two Golds and one Silver in the Girls 12/13 years Age Group events despite nursing a foot injury. The Southampton successes also included as double Gold medallists Aimee Coppin and William Osborne in the 8/9 year old Age Group events. Katya Sheath won Gold in the Girls 10/11 years Skills event and Louise Brown followed her success with Gold in the same event for 12/13 year olds. Miranda Dibden (Girls 8/9 years) and Nick Egg (Boys 10/11 years) both won two Silvers and a Bronze.
Southampton boys took control of the Boys 8/9 years Age Group, winning all the medals in the 1m and 3m events and just missing out on a clean sweep in the Boys 8/11 years Platform, taking Silver and Bronze.
Head coach for the event, Louise Alderman said "Bringing home 27 medals from this club international event is a fantastic achievement. Southampton Diving Academy really made its mark on these championships. For many of the team it was their first meet overseas and they met the challenge head on. It's yet more clear evidence that Southampton has a very strong body of divers coming through and diving as a sport is capturing the imagination and enthusiasm of youngsters in the Southampton region. The commitment of these young athletes, together with the impact of the joint work at The Quays of Southampton City Council and Southampton Diving Academy, is shining through."
Detailed Southampton Diving Academy results:
Girls:
Aimee Coppin - Gold Girls 8/9 Years 1m, Gold Girls 8/9 Years 3m;
Miranda Dibden - Silver Girls 8/9 1m, Silver Girls 8/9 3m; Bronze Girls 8/11 Years Platform;
Katya Sheath - Gold Girls 10/11 Skills;
Louise Brown - Gold Girls 12/13 Skills;
Nicole Woodbridge - Silver Girls 12/13 Skills;
Annabelle Harris - Gold Girls 12/13 Years 3m, Gold Girls 12/13 Platform, Silver Girls 12/13 1m.
Boys:
Harrison Williams - Silver Boys 8/9 Years Skills;
William Osborne - Gold Boys 8/9 Years 1m, Gold Boys 8/9 Years 3m;
Robbie Brodie - Silver Boys 8/9 Years 1m, Silver Boys 8/9 Years 3m;
Brandon Foster - Bronze Boys 8/9 Years 1m, Bronze Boys 8/9 Years 3m;
Nick Egg - Silver Boys 8-11
