EWAN Russell and Matthew Hurst struck gold for Southend Diving at a regional championship.

Twelve-year-old Russell and Hurst, 16, were on the top step of the podium at the London Region Open Skills Diving Champion-ships at Waltham Forest.

And other members at the Garon Park club contributed to Southend Diving winning the team competition.

“It was a great day for the club,” said coach Adam Hardacre. “We knew it was going to be a close battle in the team competition.

“We had some stiff competition from Crystal Palace Diving Club but our team held it together and we are delighted to have taken home the championship shield.”

Southend Diving took 34 competitors to the event with Sacha Brook taking silver in the 10-11 girls’ event with a personal best score.

Tayler Kallagher pulled off one of her greatest performances to date to secure a silver medal in the 14-18 years event.

Hayden Rayment took bronze in the 8-9 year section, while Sam Mansfield took bronze in the 12-13 category by less than a point.

The skills team were targeting qualification standards to proceed to the ASA National Skills Finals later this year.

“Almost half the team gained their national qualification standards,” added full-time coach Aaron Paul.

“The East Region Skills event is coming next where we hope to gain even more national qualifiers, then we will be in a strong position for the National Championships.”

Southend Diving team: 8-9 girls: Jessie Milham (5th). 8-9 boys: Hayden Reymant (3rd). 10-11 girls: Sasha Brook (2nd), Lily Widdows (8th), Genevieve Booth (12th), Aimee Slowley (13th), Beth Wibrow (14th), Ellie King (17th). 10-11 boys: Liam Ring (6th), Vincent Cook (7th), Ethan King (12th), Faron Roe (14th). 12-13 girls: Tigi Whitehead (5th), Nadia Todor-Ward (9th), Evie Rasch (16th), Marney Easen (17th), Lexie Bushnell (19th), India Joseph-Meddle (20th), Amie Hudson (23rd), Ceri Ewing (25th), Charlotte Nashode-Villiers (26th). 12-13 boys: Ewan Russell (1st), Sam Mansfield (3rd), Colin Longhurst (5th), Josiah Maggs (6th), Indhi O’Hanlon (10th) Sam Spencer (11th). 14-18 Girls: Tayler Kallagher (2nd), Olivia Blower (6th), Angie Clark (11th), Francesca Rogers (11th), Emily Kitchener (18th). 14-18 Boys: Matthew Hurst (1st), Kyran Roe (5th).