PLYMOUTH Diving showed they have plenty of young talent coming through their ranks by picking up a number of medals at the Swim England National Age Group Championships, which were held at the Life Centre.

They ended up as fourth overall club out of 14, with only Southampton, Luton and City of Leeds finishing above them.

They won nine medals in total, with Alex Whittaker leading the way with three.

He won the boys’ C platform event by more than 10 points, with his club colleague Will Heath sixth in that final. Whittaker also won a gold in the boys’ C/D one-metre synchro with club team-mate Noah Underwood and picked up a silver in the boys’ C three-metre. Whittaker just missed out on another medal in the one-metre individual event, finishing fourth.

Underwood, as well as his synchro gold, claimed an individual bronze in the boys’ C three-metre event, where Plymouth had four of the top six finishers – Underwood, Whittaker, Will Heath and Oscar Westbury. All four were also in the top 10 of the three-metre competition.

Also in the boys’ events, Harry Westbury picked up a silver in the D age group one-metre and a bronze in the three-metre competition.

Ben Kearton just missed a place on the podium in the boys’ A one-metre, finishing fourth.

Plymouth Diving’s girls were not to be out-done. Yvie Tucker and Eva Lang teamed up to win gold in the C/D one-metre synchro event, with team-mates Martha Ticehurst and Lexi Davies sixth. All four also competed in individual events.

Meanwhile, Maia Pearson claimed two bronze medals at the championship, making the podium in the girls’ A one-metre and three-metre events. Team-mate Ellie Pearce just missed out on a medal in the one-metre, finishing fourth.

Ella Cornish, Erin Healey and Mathilde Tassart also competed in individual events as the championships returned following the covid pandemic.

Lottie Thompson, Swim England diving leadership group chairperson, said: “As there has been such a break, it’s been great to see everyone and how they have progressed and coped with working out at home and pool closures.

“A massive thanks to all the volunteers and the Plymouth Life Centre for hosting.”