SOUTHAMPTON’S Gary Hunt made it back-to-back wins from 27m with a stunning and comprehensive victory in the Azores, powering past American Andy Jones, who had a personal-best second place, and Mexico’s Jonathan Paredes in third.

The 32-year-old Brit came fresh from his win in Copenhagen three weeks ago and stepped up to another level at the pure Portuguese cliffs, especially impressive considering the tough diving conditions.

As his rivals struggled to perfect their entries, the five-time World Series champion produced a precise and clinical display, manoeuvring magically through the air and disappearing beneath the waves with barely a splash three seconds later to make it three wins in this location after 2013 and 2015.

Flying into second-place, the highest position of his career, USA’s Jones was a model of consistency throughout the weekend, gliding gracefully and piercing the water at 85km/h when many of his competitors where thumping it hard.

With a third-placed finish Jonathan Paredes from Mexico City makes it his third podium in a row following his win in Texas and second in Copenhagen.

After three of nine competitions, Hunt climbs to the top spot in the overall standings of the 2016 World Series season ahead of Paredes and Colombia’s Orlando Duque, who played the experience card to only miss the podium by a mere margin.

Hunt said: “I got dealt the right cards today and obviously there’s skill involved.

“I wanted to finish my dives early, so that I could get a look at the water as quick as possible.

“If you’re doing big dives and you hit the top of a wave, there’s not much you can do about it, so I tried to get everything moving as quick as possible. I took a twist off my front twist and just played it safe. It was the right thing to do.”

Results:

1. Gary Hunt, GBR – 540.40pts

2. Andy Jones, USA – 469.10

3. Jonathan Paredes, MEX – 464.00

4. Orlando Duque, COL – 462.25

5. Artem Silchenko, RUS – 450.50

6. David Colturi, USA – 441.20

7. Blake Aldridge, GBR – 438.90

8. Steven LoBue, USA – 412.85

9. Kyle Mitrione (W), USA – 296.00

10. Michal Navratil, CZE – 295.10

11. Sergio Guzman, MEX – 279.15

12. Kris Kolanus (W), POL – 263.50

13. Todor Spasov (W), BUL - 258.40

14. Miguel Garcia (W), COL - 214.20

Standings (after 3 of 9 stops):

1. Gary Hunt, GBR – 510pts

2. Jonathan Paredes, MEX – 460

3. Orlando Duque, COL – 270

4. Blake Aldridge, GBR – 240

4. David Colturi, USA – 240

6. Andy Jones, USA – 230