A twenty-two strong team of Plymouth divers sponsored by Pilkington Estates and Wollens Solicitors, spent three days of the Easter weekend competing in the Sandwell Showdown Regional Diving Competition held at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre. In its first year it was a chance for the twelve contending teams to showcase the talent each club has on offer. The event attracted teams from throughout the UK looking to win medals, hit personal bests and gain qualification for the National Age Group Finals in June.
Plymouth’s youngest divers were competing in the Group D events with Theo Wills and Bobby Cole diving all three boards for the boys. Both divers produced some amazing dives in only their second competition at this level. Theo achieved National scores on 3m and Platform and won a well-deserved bronze on Platform in a very close competition with teammate Bobby who achieved National scores on 1m, 3m and Platform scooping a silver medal on 1m and Platform plus a bronze on 3m.
In the girls Group D events Phoebe-Mae Evans, Lyra Johnson and Myia Lilley were all gaining valuable experience at this level and looking to test out their new dives. Phoebe-Mae and Lyra dived excellently on 1m and 3m with both divers achieving one qualification score. Myia had a successful event gaining qualification scores on 1m, 3m and Platform and winning a brilliant bronze on Platform with two superb final dives.
Libby Edelson, Emily Williams, Alice Jones and Teagan Mousley represented the girls Group C Age Group divers. Libby dived consistently in all events and gained qualifying scores on 1m and Platform winning a silver medal on Platform in an all-Plymouth podium with Alice and Teagan. Emily dived well in all events and gained valuable experience at this level. However, it was Teagan and Alice that battled each other on all 3 boards for the medals, with Teagan diving several new more challenging dives for the first time in competition. Both divers hit qualification scores on all 3 boards with Teagan wining gold on 1m and bronze on Platform. Alice had a weekend to remember winning gold on Platform, silver on 1m and bronze on 3m with some brilliant diving throughout.
The Group C Age Group boys included Seth Greentree and Daniel Robinson. Daniel was competing in his first full event at this level and dived well on all boards gaining loads of experience and picking up a lustrous bronze on 1m and Platform. Seth was pushed hard by several divers from other clubs but dived superbly on his way to gold on 1m and silver on 3m and Platform.
Poppy Jones was the only Age Group B girl from Plymouth. Producing a string of outstanding dives including the events highest scoring dive, a front two and half somersaults off 7m, saw Poppy win a glorious gold. Her performances on 1m and 3m were equally as impressive winning gold in both to make it a clean sweep at the event.
The Age Group B boys also did themselves proud. Charlie Clinick once again showing improvement on all three boards and gaining experience at this level against some excellent divers. However, it was his two teammates that traded positions on all three boards with some demanding dives. Oscar Westbury and Lincoln Stephens shared the podium on all three boards. Lincoln dived consistently well all weekend and ended the event with bonze on 1m, silver on 3m and gold on Platform with his final dive securing the gold. Oscar showed his class on all three boards with excellent dives finishing with silver on 1m and Platform with a gold on 3m after a sensational twisting dive which scored him over 50 points.
In a relatively small field of divers Louie McCue was the standout diver in the boys Age Group A events. He dived well all weekend and produced some high scoring dives on his way to winning silver on 1m and two well deserved golds on 3m and Platform.
The Age Group A girls events were the busiest category at the event with thirteen divers competing. Plymouth divers faired very well with Martha Ticehurst, Erin Healey and Evie Royal all producing solid dives to secure top 10 finishes. Eva Lang and Rose McCabe dived very well on all boards with both divers securing excellent bronze medals on 1m and 3m respectively. However, it was their teammate Maddie Elliott that produced some of the best diving of the event. With scores close to 50 points for her last two dives on Platform Maddie proved unbeatable. She was also ahead of the pack on 1m and 3m to win a full set of gold medals, equalling Poppy’s success.
With so many amazing performances with over 30 medals and well over 20 personal bests, the icing on the cake for Plymouth Diving was winning the overall team trophy for the best performing team at the event.
The divers and parents would also like to show their appreciation to the dedicated coaching staff and volunteers that made the weekend possible.
