Harding retains springboard title in Plymouth

Anthony Harding retained his Group A 3m Springboard title after a thrilling battle with synchro partner William Hallam on day two of the British Junior Elite Diving Championships 2017 in Plymouth.

While Hallam carried a greater tally over from the prelims, it was Harding who took control of the final, scoring 63, 61.5 and 60.45 for his first three dives.

A dropped dive from Harding in the penultimate round opened the door for his City of Leeds teammate to make a comeback, with Hallam closing the gap to just 6.3 points with one round to go.

But 16-year old Harding did enough to secure gold, scoring 60.00 for his 305B (reverse 2 ½ somersaults piked) to finish on 499.55 ahead of Hallam on 496.25.

It was a second medal for both divers, having won 3m Synchro gold on the opening day at Plymouth Life Centre.

Southend’s Connor Van Dal – silver medallist in Group B age group 12 months ago – won bronze with 462.30.

Welsh diver Aidan Heslop defends first of three Group B titles

The Boys’ Group B 3m also saw last year’s champion defend his crown as Wales’ Aidan Heslop took gold.

The Plymouth diver won the clean sweep of 1m, 3m and Platform golds 12 months ago, and retained the first of his titles in impressive style.

While he qualified for the final in fourth from the morning prelim, Heslop saved his best for when it mattered most, improving from a prelim score of 401.95 to 451.65 in the final.

Last year’s Group C 3m champion Tyler Humphreys (Southend) claimed silver on 427.05 while bronze went to Southampton’s Cameron Gammage.

The third boys’ event of day two in Plymouth saw Albatross Diving Club’s James West win Group C 1m Springboard gold.

Improving on his bronze from 12 months ago, West scored 306.55 for victory ahead of Dive London’s Maxwell Spencer (280.40) and Southampton’s Milo French (277.95).

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