A COUPLE have been honoured after 30 years involvement with diving in Southampton.

It all started for Jan and Alan Alderman in 1972 when their son, Mark, started a diving career which peaked in 1981 when he became national highboard champion. Now the Aldermans have been presented with the Bill Rowe President's Plate for outstanding services to sport within the Hampshire Amateur Swimming Association.

The couple continued to support the club, Jan as treasurer and recorder at many competitions, Alan in a leading role organising events, judging and training officials. In 1998 Alan was elected ASA county president and this year was appointed to the ASA council.

In 2000 son Mark won the European Masters title on both springboard and highboard and now coaches some of the club's elite divers, including Gary Hunt (junior national highboard champion) and Ciaran O'Reilly (boys group C national champion on one metre board and highboard).

Both his daughters, Kelly (13) and Emily (10), are club members and have achieved their own notable successes.

Hampshire County ASA president Brian Riddler presented the Southampton Diving Academy with the aggregate trophy for the best diving club in the county for 2002.

He also presented the Napier Trophy and the A J Perring Award to Peter Waterfield for the top performance of the year across all ASA disciplines from Hampshire and the Southern Counties.

The award for the most improved beginner went to 12-year-old Ellie Hill who took the gold medal at the regional springboard novice championships in 2002.

Best female junior diver was Natalie Hill (14), who became European junior highboard champion in 2002 and top male junior was Gary Hunt (18).

Ciaran O'Reilly (13) took the trophy for best diver in the 13-and-under category and Charly Tomkys and Pete Waterfield were awarded trophies for the most outstanding female and male divers of the year. Gary Hunt (18) and Jack Clewlow (12) shared the cup for the best dive of the year.

Director of coaching Lindsey Fraser said "We had a brilliant year in 2002 - at all levels of the club our divers did us proud, making an impact both on the national and international scene."