Matthew Dixon reaches milestone to win gold at British Diving Championships

Matthew Dixon reclaimed his platform title at the British Diving Championships, breaking the 500-point barrier for the first time in his career.

The Plymouth diver had the edge over defending champion Noah Williams at his home pool, setting a huge personal best of 503.85.

Matty Lee headed into the final as favourite after dominating the preliminary round with a top score of 460.20 points.

Dixon and Lee laid down early markers, respectively scoring 89.10 and 91.80 in the first round.

But a failed dive from Lee in round two pushed him out of contention, leaving Dixon, Williams and Ben Cutmore as the front runners.

The fourth round changed the complex of the competition, with 2018 champion Dixon scoring 92.50 for his most difficult dive – a forward four-and-a-half somersaults.

Meanwhile, Dive London’s Williams earned the first 10 of the competition, though it didn’t count towards his score of 91.80.

Just six points separated the pair ahead of the penultimate round and Dixon took firm control, adding 90.75 with a back three-and-a-half somersaults.

Williams followed with his own dive of a 3.7 degree of difficulty, but couldn’t quite match his rival.

That allowed Dixon to close out his career best performance, producing a composed back two-and-a-half somersaults with one-and-a-half twists to break new ground.

He said: “That was a crazy event, it was crazy. It’s a big PB for me.

“Hitting the big 500… it is a big score and that’s what every diver wants to do – reach that 500 mark.

“Both of them [Williams and Lee] did extremely well. Noah was insane and following him, I was so nervous.

“But I just kept to myself, stuck to my routine, took it dive by dive and it paid off.

“It gives me massive confidence, it puts me in the right place.”

More joy for Ben

Ben Cutmore won his second medal of the Championships, claiming bronze with 457.05 points.

The Dive London athlete nailed his most difficult dive, scoring 86.70 for a reverse three-and-a-half somersaults.

Cutmore also won silver in the Men’s 10m Synchro, alongside Edinburgh’s Lucas Thomas.

Lee looks ahead

Matty Lee responded with maturity to his failed dive, climbing up to fourth place.

The multiple World Championships medallist had four dives above 83 points as he finished with 399.30 points.

Having qualified an Olympic place for Great Britain in the Men’s 10m Synchro, Lee will turn his attention to securing his place on the team for Tokyo 2020.

Meanwhile, Plymouth’s Euan McCabe rounded out an impressive week with a ninth-place finish in the preliminary round.

The Swim England Talent Diving Pathway athlete was 10th in the 3m Springboard final and he stepped up on the platform.

McCabe scored 301.40 points, diving from the lower platforms due to a wrist injury, which made him ineligible for the final.

Men’s Platform final

1. (1) Matthew Dixon (Plymouth Diving) – 503.85
2. (2) Noah Williams (Dive London Aquatics Club) – 483.00
3. (3) Ben Cutmore (Dive London Aquatics Club) – 457.05
4. Andreas Sargent Larsen (Guest, Italy) – 428.25
5. Constantin Popovici (Guest, Romania) – 411.90
6. (4) Matty Lee (Dive London Aquatics Club) – 399.30
7. (5) Robbie Lee (Southampton Diving Academy) – 344.45
8. (6) Lucas Thomson (Edinburgh Diving Club) – 323.45
9. (7) Harrison Hartley (City of Sheffield Diving Club) -317.15