SUCCESS FOR CITY DIVERS

CLUB WINS DAWDON SHIELD FOR COMING FIRST

- MARK JONES

PLYMOUTH Diving were awarded the Dawdon Shield Trophy for top club at the Swim England Diving National Age Group Championships 2023.

As the competition reached the later stages, it looked to be between Plymouth and home club, City of Sheffield. But with a total of 17 medals won overall across the four days, it was Plymouth who got their hands on the trophy.

Plymouth (249.00) and City of Sheffield (217.00) were the only clubs to break the 200-point mark - and Southend Diving were the third-placed club with 162.00.

On winning the trophy, Plymouth coach Fito Gutierrez, said: "It's pretty good. It gives us incentive to keep doing what we're doing.

"I think, since surviving the pandemic as a club, I'm so glad that all those kids were able to come here and compete. We kept them going for so long and it was so difficult, so I'm very pleased.

"As a club, it's like the cherry on the top, it's fantastic! To see the athletes on the podium is great, but to see them doing their best is what counts and that's what we're trying to do - to push them to that level that they might get on the podium or in the top six. That was our target and we achieved that."

The four-day competition saw divers from 10-16 years old competing for medals in the 1m, 3m and Platform categories with divers from across the UK. Plymouth Diving selected a team of 17, who had all qualified through regional events were keen to represent their club and demonstrate their ability.

The youngest divers at the event were the D Group Boys and Girls with Harry Westbury, Isla Applin and Alice Jones looking to secure medals.

Harry had dived at the finals before and showed his experience with a fourth place in the 1m event and some excellent diving to finish with a bronze medal on 3m.