Big win for Dacorum Diving Club

Dacorum Diving Club’s Sam Rudd won the Boys’ Group A 1m Springboard event with a great final dive on day 2 of the Swim England Diving National Age Group Championships.

The 16-year-old put in a solid performance throughout, but his final inward 2 1/2 somersault in tuck stole the show scoring him 54.25 points to take his total to 321.40.

Second place went to Ollie Breach, of Albatross Diving Club Reading, who finished with 282.25 points while City of Sheffield’s Callum Bell took home bronze with 269.80 points.

Guest diver Martin Nielsen, of DuDive Dubai, received a guest silver medal for his score of 291.05.

Rudd’s coach Roger Page, said: “I’m very proud of his achievements. I’ve looked back at the scores from the last 10 years and it seems to be a championship record score.

“He’s a lad who’s had troubles in his diving. He suffered an injury when he was about 12 and has had lots of operations since then. He’s diving with a metal plate in his hip.

“For him to be diving at all is a fantastic achievement so for him to come here and put in a club record performance and a championship record performance I think I fantastic and I couldn’t be more proud.”

One, two for City of Sheffield

Jack Burrows and Nathaniel Greig secured gold and silver respectively for City of Sheffield in the Boys’ Group C Platform event.

Burrows performed the dive of the day. His inward 2 1/2 somersault in tuck scored a whopping 71.55 points allowing him to finish with 256.00 points.

Greig’s inward 2 1/2 somersault in tuck also scored highly receiving 60.75 points. This meant he finished with a score of 246.15. The bronze medal went to Oliver Covell of Southampton Diving Academy who scored 239.05.

Mitson dominates on day two

City of Leeds diver Libby Eliza Mitson finished more than 20 points clear of the rest of the field in the Girls’ Group C Platform event in Sheffield.

Mitson performed consistently to finish with 232.80 points to take the gold. Her closest competition was Crystal Palace’s Saeren Brett, who finished on 219.65 points.

Local diver Katie Garner (City of Sheffield Diving Club) had to settle for bronze with 207.75 points.

Albartoss reach new heights

Lauren Saunders saved her best until last to take the Girls’ Group D 1m gold. Following the club’s success on day one, the Albatross Diving Club Reading diver scored 38.65 with her forward double somersault in tuck to finish with 165.65 points.

Star Diving Club’s Caitlin Maytham finished second with 162.25 points, while Kitty Smith from Crystal Palace Diving Club came third after scoring 159.55.

Image credit: Will Johnston