SOUTHEND Diving are enjoying a purple patch after recent triumphs at East Region Diving Club Championships and the White Rose Novice Diving Invitational Competition.

The club, which is based at Garon Park, romped to an emphatic victory at the regional championships in Southend, finishing 132 points ahead of their nearest rivals.

The boys senior category was dominated by Southend, with Connor Van Dal, 15, Lewis Irons, 17, and Vincent Cook, 14 completing the 3m platform podium.

Lewis and Connor also won gold and silver respectively in the 1m platform, with Samuel Mansfield taking bronze.

The Junior Boys wowed the judges with Hayden Rayment, 12, taking first place on the 3m springboard, Todd Geggus, 10, in second and 11-year-old John Wylie in fourth. Hayden also won the 1m springboard, Todd winning another silver before taking gold in the platform event. John Wylie claimed bronze. For the senior girls, Marney Essen, 14, took gold medal on 1m springboard, along with Jessie Millham, 12, taking bronze. Marney also won gold in the 3m springboard, with Amie Hudson, 16, winning silver. On platform, Sasha Brook, 13, took the gold medal.

The junior girls won two bronze medals with Keira Jones, 12, succeeding on the 1m springboard and Brooke Cullen, 11, coming third in the 3m springboard.

The junior synchro teams came away with silver and bronze medals thanks to Naomi Ward and Noah Allende, both 12, and Ruby Day, 12, with John Wylie, 11.

The 1m synchronized event gold was taken by Todd Geggus and Hayden Rayment.

Samuel Mansfield, 16, and Nadia Todor-Ward, 14, won the senior synchro platform with Sasha Brook taking second with her partner from Luton Diving.

Amie Hudson and Marney Essen won her third gold on 1m springboard synchro, with Sasha Brook and Grace Connolly in third.

Head Coach Shân Veasey commented: “The fantastic results from this weekend really highlight the achievements of all of the Southend Diving Competitors. The number of divers now capable of attending the event has significantly increased year on year - up to our largest team so far.

"It is also very clear to see the quality of diving is improving. Congratulations to all who contributed to an excellent result."

At the White Rose competition in Leeds, there were gold medals for Earls Hall Primary School lad Connor Lano, 10, from Westcliff, as well as 11-year-old Shoebury diver Tommy Hadjicostas, and Westcliff High School’s Josiah Maggs from Leigh.

Finley Ledger, nine, from Shoebury took silver.

The top six divers in their age groups were Liam Ring, 14, and Noah Allende, 12.

Olivia Capon, 12, took gold, while Leigh’s Lily Maggs and Jess Burt, 14, took silver. Evie Gibson, 12, finished third.

Other finalists included Leigh pair Peggy Jefferson, 13, and Daisy O’Shea, nine, and Shoebury’s Naomi Ward, 12.