PLYMOUTH’S Aidan Heslop continue his sensational form with another podium finish in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Polignano a Mare, Italy, at the weekend.

Heslop took second place in the penultimate leg of the series behind multi-world champion Gary Hunt in a thrilling contest that went down the wire.

Hunt eventually took victory with 439.95 points, with Heslop just behind with 435.80 points.

It was Heslop’s fifth medal in seven rounds of the series, having won in Boston and last week in Sisikon and claimed third places Oslo and Mostar.

Just 40 points now separate the top three – Hunt, Heslop and Catalin Preda – in the series, which will be decide next month in Sydney.

Heslop looked like he might miss out on medal in Italy, but he produced a sensational final dive – the best out of anyone over the weekend – to put the pressure on veteran Hunt.

Hunt said afterwards: “It was just amazing; all the ups and downs we’ve gone through and then starting off seeing Aidan getting a perfect dive. It just fired me up, I think it fired Catalin up as well. And that’s the kind of cliff diving competition I love. It’s winner takes it all in Sydney.”

Heslop was over the moon with his second place at Polignano, which is where he made his Red Bull Cliff Diving debut as a 16-year-old.

“To jump from fifth place to second and get scored a 10 on the way is not a bad feeling,” he said.

“The atmosphere in Polignano is always great, we love this stop because the crowd is always amazing here.

“I did my first ever Red Bull competition here in 2018, so it’s a special place for me.”

The World Series final will take place in Australia on October 15.