Kouset holds nerve to land maiden national title

Grace Kouset bagged her maiden ASA national title with victory in the Group B Platform competition on the penultimate day of the 2015 ASA National Age Group Diving Championships in Sheffield.

The 13-year old Luton diver’s result outlined a remarkable 12-month progression, having finished 22nd in the Group C Platform at last year’s NAGs.

I just thought, as long as I land on my head, it doesn’t really matter!

Diving last of the 29 competitors, Kouset racked up 209.80 points, ultimately taking the title by just 0.80 from Crystal Palace’s Annabel Triggs (209.00).

Kouset scored 35.00 for her final dive – a back 2 ½ somersaults with tuck – to see her over the line.

“It feels really good to win,” said Kouset. “Platform is my favourite out of all the events. I’ve added dives I haven’t competed before as well and they went alright today.

“I wasn’t really expecting to win gold but I knew I had a higher tariff than everyone else and I just did it.

“I just thought at the end that I haven’t really got anything to lose. My last dive was the one I hadn’t competed before so I just thought, as long as I land on my head, it doesn’t really matter!”

City of Leeds diver Saffron Butler scored 206.60 to join Kouset and Triggs on the podium with bronze.

Pashley upgrades to gold in Group C 1m

City of Sheffield dive Joseph Pashley upgraded from his 3m silver to claim 1m gold in the Group C age group.

The 12-year old was the only diver to break 200 points for his six dives in the final, taking the title by nearly 20 points on 212.50. Dacorum Diving’s Harrison Mills was next best on 193.10.

Albatross diver Jack Livingstone-Smith completed the podium with bronze on 191.65.

Piper bags first NAG gold in Platform

Plymouth Diving’s Evangeline Piper bagged her first NAG gold in the final event of the day, winning the Group D/E2 Platform event.

Crystal Palace’s Callie Eaglestone has been one of the stars of this year’s Champs, having won the 3m Synchro, 1m and 3m in the lowest age group. And it was Eaglestone who set Piper a score to beat in the final round of dives in the platform, finishing on 177.15.

But Piper, having narrowly missed out on 3m medals with fourth place finishes both last year and this time round, finally captured her first national individual medal and ensured it would be gold as she scored 37.20 for her final effort to secure the title on 181.25.

Southend Diving’s Jessie Millham repeated her result from the 1m Springboard to take bronze on 160.05.

• Click here to view full results from the ASA National Age Group Diving Championships 2015.