Fivemembers of Southend-on-Sea Swimming Club's diving division had an extremely successful day at the Southern Counties Age Group Diving Competitions, held at Crystal Palace.

Golden wonders - Faye Ratcliff (left) and Victoria Stoneham Picture: RON POULTER

Lottie Thompson, 12; Victoria Stoneham, 13; Faye Ratcliff, 15; and Danny Osborne, 16, all competed in the three-metre springboard competitions in their relevant age groups, with Lottie and Victoria also taking part in the five-metre highboard events.

Faye, using a new and more difficultlist of optional dives this season, showed how much she has improved in the last year.

The teenager used her back two-and-a-half somersaults dive with great effect, helping her to take the gold medal on the three-metre springboard.

She wonby the narrowest of margins from Hayley Sage, the pre-event favourite from the Beaumont Diving Academy in Hatfield.

Victoria scored 220.65with a great display of consistency and much improved line-up and entries on her dives. The well-earned silver medalwas improved upon with a sparkling performance to take the gold for thefive metre highboard event.

Lottieshowed great determination and courageafterhaving misjudged a dive in trainingand "wiping out" immediately before her event.

Lottie dived really well andachieved a personal best score of 157.63points-- including good marksfor her forward one-and-a-half somersaults with one twist that she had the mishap with.

She was rewarded with a silver medal in second spot.Lottie went on to compete in the five-metre highboard event and won a bronze medal in third place.

Normally preferring the highboard events, Dannyis recovering from a wrist injury that currently prevents entries from the higher boards.

He showed that he still has a lot to offer on the three-metre springboard by scoring a creditable 289.50 points and winning the silver medal.

Published Friday April 9, 2004

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