Cambridge Parkside Pools was recently host to the Swim England Cambridgeshire County Senior and Junior Diving Championships. Divers compete on both 1m and 3m springboards and 5m platform to gain individual board honours and a trophy for the overall points score winner.
Starting on 1m it was clear that there would be close battles in most events. James Hughes was out on his own winning with 112.10 points meanwhile a battle between the girls saw Hallie Cave hold off a strong challenge from Karina Baxendale and fast improving Phoebe Carter-Burch. In the senior female event, the lead changed hand throughout the five-dive competition with Tobi Fayomi taking gold with a 3-point lead over Eva Tsang and 5 points over Yuzu Baxendale. There was some fine diving in the senior open event with Finn Macfarlane stamping his authority with high scoring complex dives to win with 258.55 but pressed hard by Rufus Bord and Charles Tibbatts for silver and bronze medals respectively.
Moving onto the 3m springboard it was the same three girls contesting for the medals. Hallie scooped the gold again, but it was Phoebe’s turn to win silver just edging out Karina by 3 points. James Hughes continued his winning run with a gold in the boys event with a total score that also secured him the boys overall points trophy. It was all change in the 3m senior female competition with Sophia Howard showing better form on this board and taking the title with 178.5 points with Tobi in silver and Yuzu in bronze position. The senior men repeated the finish order of the 1m board of Finn, Rufus and Charles but it was a much tighter finish – with all men demonstrating fine twisting and somersaulting skills.
