On a bitterly cold winter morning, a group of thirty two divers from Southampton Diving Academy travelled to Luton to compete in the Kingfisher Challenge on 26th and 27th November, returning with 24 medals between them.
The team, who all train at the Quays Swimming and Diving Complex, scooped 4 gold, 8 silver and 12 bronze medals in the individual events.
The team was particularly successful on the springboard. Chris Farrow, building on his success in the recent Southampton Invitational competition, took gold in the 1m Senior Men event. Lewys Oakley scored consistently highly against fierce completion in the 1m Boys Group C event to finish first. In the 1m Boys E/D event, the team took all three top positions, with gold for Robbie Brodie, silver for Harrison Williams and bronze for Brandon Foster. In a nail-biting final for the 3m Girls Group B competitions, Sarah White edged ahead of her nearest rival to win gold. Adding to the girls' successes across the age groups were Mollie James (1m, Girls Group B), Abbie Baker (1m, Girls Group C), and Miranda Dibden (1m, Girls Group E/D), who all won silver medals.
There were also considerable achievements in the platform events, with SDA taking silver and bronze positions for the 3m platform event in the Group C Girls (Mollie James and Sarah White), the Girls Group E/D (Abbie Baker and Madeleine Angell, and the Boys Group C (Scott Palmer and Max Cott). Likewise, for the 5m platform, which saw Harrison Williams and William Osborne (Boys Group E/D) and Miranda Dibden and Emily Martin (Girls E/D) in second and third positions respectively on the podium. Diving against a large field in the Girls Group C 5m event, Amy Pritchard won bronze, less than one point behind the silver medallist. The team trophy was taken by storm by Southampton Diving Academy due to these great results and Chris Gravestock took the top coach trophy. This was particularly fitting as Luton is where Chris began his coaching career. Chris said, "I was very pleased to receive the Top Coach of the Competiton, it was a great accolade for me and for the club. It really does show the strength and depth of divers that we have in Southampton and great to see all their hard work come together in competiton".
Full individual results:
1m springboard
Chris Farrow, gold; Alastair Khakoo, bronze; William Rigelsford, 5th; Lewis Coleman-Smith, 6th; Lewys Oakley, gold; Jordan Gregson, 4th; Nick Egg, 5th; Max Cott, 6th; Scott Palmer, 9th; James Nicholson, 11th; Thomas Wrightson, 12th; Thomas Graham 13th; Robbie Brodie, gold; Harrison Williams, silver; Brandon Foster, bronze; William Osborne, 5th; Mollie James, silver; Sarah White, bronze; Eleanor Phillips, 6th; Abbie Baker, silver; Madeleine Angell, bronze; Miranda Dibden, silver; Emily Martin, bronze; Phoebe Cartwright, 4th; Ellen Morrow, 5th; Aimee Coppin, 6th.
3m springboard
Chris Farrow, bronze; Alastair Khakoo, bronze; Lewis Coleman-Smith, 5th; William Rigelsford, 6th; Sarah White, gold; Mollie James, 4th; Eleanor Phillips, 6th.
3m platform
Alastair Khakoo, bronze; William Rigelsford, 4th; Lewis Coleman-Smith, 7th; Lewys Oakley, 8th; Mollie James, silver; Sarah White, bronze; Abbie Baker, silver; Madeleine Angell, bronze; Scott Palmer, silver; Max Cott, bronze.
5m platform
Lewys Oakley, bronze; Nick Egg, 4th; Jordan Gregson, 5th; Max Cott, 6th; Harrison Williams, silver; William Osborne, bronze; Brandon Foster, 4th; Robbie Brodie, 5th; Amy Pritchard, bronze; Madeleine Angell, 4th; Abbie Baker, 5th; Katya Sheath, 10th; Amey Adams, 11th; Robyn Wooldridge, 12th; Miranda Dibden, silver; Emily Martin, bronze; Phoebe Cartright, 4th; Aimee Coppin, 5th.
Or Karin Brindley (Press & Publicity Officer) on 023 80779161 or email: karinb01@tiscali.co.uk
SDA Team at Luton