European Masters 3m Springboard success at London 2016

The European Masters Diving events started on 26 May with British women’s 3m Springboard success at London 2016.

There were also a lot of great diving performances in the men’s 1m Springboard and 10m Platform events, taking home a total of 20 medals including eight gold on the opening day.

Cluskey and Sage win 3m golds

Jennifer Cluskey of Southend Diving Club was awarded gold in the 65-69yrs age group after her hardest dive scored her 37.00, giving her a final score of 159.20.

Hayley Sage of Luton Diving dominated the 30-34yrs age group, taking gold with a 36 point lead over her closest rival, Sweden’s Helena Troili. Sage ended the final round with 274.80.

View full start lists, keep up with results and live updates over on the London 2016 website.

Barbara Heathfield of Beaumont Diving added a silver to the GB tally for the competition, receiving 178.15 in the 55-59yrs age group. In the 50-54 yrs. Katie Bell of Dacorum scored 41.00 for her most difficult dive, putting her in contention for gold. Her Russian rival took gold at the end of round five, and Bell took a well-deserved silver with 178.80.

The next Masters 3m springboard success came at the hands of Carolyn Gallery of Cambridge in the 45-49yrs, who also took silver after her sixth round of dives. She finished on 193.25.

Karen Carney of Darlington had a hard group in the 60-64 yrs. Her Italian rival was unmatched in the competition with over 70 points between first and third place. Carney was not fazed however, and put in a great performance to claim bronze with 119.70.

Joan Aldous of Southend diving club also took a bronze medal, this time in the 75-79yrs age group. Her third place finish was completed with a score of 82.00.

Naomi McBane of MAC Dive Team claimed the third bronze for GB after her last dive scored the highest out of any other in her age group, her final score 224.70.

Brits control Men’s 1m Springboard

Dennis Rowe (MAC Dive Team) and Peter Woodhams (Beaumont Diving) won gold and bronze in the 65-69 years category. Rowe took a resounding lead by the third dive, almost 30 points in front, finishing with a score of 239.60 ahead of the Lithuanian, Kestutis Autukas. Woodhams finished with 125.50.

There was also double podium success in the 60-64 years age group, which saw Jim McNally of Highgate Diving club claim gold after a solid three first dives set him up for his final score of 188.60. Michael Kempson of Beaumont Diving Academy took bronze just seven point shy of getting the silver (179.55).

City of Leeds’ Michael Barnes topped the 35-39yrs age group after two terrific dives in rounds four and six, which saw him take the gold with 281.35. Alan Bentham of Maltby was denied silver in the same age group by his German counterpart, but still came away with bronze (259.90).

It was a tight competition in the 55-59yrs age group, with the top three places just 20 points apart at the end of round four. Richard Dear of Waltham Forest dropped a place during round five, but came away with bronze and a total score of 219:00.

Men’s 10m Platform gold

The final event of day one was the Men’s 10m Springboard, which saw Juan Gutierrez of Plymouth Diving take gold in the 45-49yrs, winning with almost a 50 point lead (310.40).

For full results from day one at the London 2016 Masters Diving competiton, visit the London 2016 website.
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