Gold stars in Sheffield (From Daily Echo)

Gold stars in Sheffield

11:44am Saturday 27th June 2009 in

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CHLOE Pook topped Southampton’s medal haul when the academy sent a 16-strong team to Sheffield for the Junior Elite Nationals.

The 11-year-old took gold in both the 1m and 3m events in the girls 9-11 age group.

Portia Angove, also 11, took gold in the 5m event with Chloe runner-up.

Portia stole the show with a British record and a win by over 70 points.

Lewys Oakley, 10, had a lot to prove as he is the top ranked 9/11 boy in England.

He showed his class on 3 metre, using his back 2 and a half somersaults in the tucked position for judges’ scores of 6.7 and 7s.

He also won gold on the 5m platform, his favourite event.

In the girls 12/13 years, Rosie Medlock took silver, beating divers who are on the National Junior Development squad.

Ellie Fleming took bronze in the 1m event.

In the boys 12/13 years Alastair Khakoo collected bronze on both 3 metre and platform, showing he was not over-awed by moving up an age group this year.

In the girls 14/15 years Georgie Wingrove and Rachel Holland finished second and third in the platform.

They have both been selected to represent Great Britain in their debut International at the Junior European Championships in Hungary early next month.

In the boys platform event Ryan Strudwick took bronze, beating the reigning Junior European platform champion in the process, and missing Junior European selection by a mere seven points.

He had been injured prior to the event, making the task more difficult.

In the boys 16/18 event Chris Farrow collected two silver medals on 3m and platform.

In the girls 16/18 Emily Alderman gained bronze on 1m, but as she is still recovering from injury she was not able to compete on her favourite board, platform.

Director of coaching Lindsey Fraser said: “It was brilliant to see Southampton divers on the rostrum in so many events.

“These results bode really well for the future of elite diving in Southampton.”