English youngsters overcome adversity to impress at National Diving Cup

Youngsters on the Swim England pathway have overcome adversity to impress at the British National Diving Cup which recently took place at the Plymouth Life Centre.

The event took place from 11-13 February and marked an exciting return of senior domestic national competition for Britain’s diving community.

A host of junior divers recorded stellar performances including Euan McCabe, Amy Rollinson, Leon Baker and Desharne Bent Ashmeil.

McCabe faced a particularly challenging time during lockdown periods in England as a result of the temporary closure of the Plymouth Life Centre.

Southampton Diving Academy supported him and his coach during this time and travelled roughly three and a half hours to get to training, further showing his commitment to the sport.

His best result from the weekend came in the form of a fourth-place finish overall in the Men’s Platform event where he also recorded a second-place finish in the prelims.

Rollinson and Bent Ashmeil’s main highlight of the competition came when they won gold in the Women’s 3m Synchro event.

Luton Diving’s Rollinson also took silver in the Women’s 3m Platform and finished just outside the podium in fourth in the Women’s 1m Platform.

Dive London’s Bent Ashmeil recorded an individual fourth-place finish in the Women’s 3m Springboard.

Baker, who trains at the Southampton Diving Academy, finished eighth overall in the Men’s 3m Platform and fifth in the Men’s 1m Platform.

‘Exciting future prospects of diving’

Suzie Collins, Swim England diving talent development officer, said: “The juniors did a fantastic job at the weekend and have continued their strong form from the Junior Europeans and Junior Elites in 2021.

“It was great to see so many juniors pushing for medals and places in the final and it was a real testament to their hard work over lockdown and since clubs have reopened.

“We haven’t seen the junior divers compete alongside the senior athletes since January 2020 so this event gave us great insight into the exciting future prospects of diving in Britain.

“It was also great to see all the volunteers in action as, without them, these events wouldn’t be able to take place.”

Other highlights from the weekend included Noah Williams taking the title in the Men’s 10m Platform, and Jack Laugher and Anthony Harding cementing their new partnership with a gold in the Men’s 3m Synchro.

Main picture: Georgie Kerr / British Swimming