ELLIE STEEL was one of the stars of Southampton Diving Academy elite team that performed well in the international Pepsi Diving Cup in Gran Canaria.

A 16-strong team joined forces with three elite members of the Luton team to form the British squad and take on teams from Germany, Spain, Holland and Sweden.

The German clubs included the full national junior boys' squad.

Steel, 12, took gold on platform, silver on 3m and, with teammate Emily Alderman, bronze in the 3m synchro event.

Steel dived consistently well, justifying her selection in the prestigious World Class Start programme, which fast-tracks talented divers across the country. She also took silver in the platform event.

Charly Tomkys, 18, the senior member of the ladies' team, put in a spectacular performance with partner Louise Van Hoof, 16, a junior international from Luton.

The pair took gold by a convincing margin against a strong field in the 3m synchro event. Despite having never dived as a pair before, they proved a well co-ordinated team.

Tomkys also took bronze medals in her two individual springboard events.

Anna Bennett-Britton, 15, seems to have particular success in Las Palmas. Moving up an age group from the previous year, when she took the trophy for the highest-scoring dive in her age group, she won individual silver and bronze and a silver in the synchro with partner Melissa Harley, 15.

The gold scooped by Gary Hunt, 19, on platform was well deserved as he was competing outdoors with a significant wind. He didn't allow it to affect his performance, reflected in his score of 287.15.

Chris Mears, 11, and Max Brick, 11, dived in the under-16 age group, where they were by no means out-classed despite being the youngest competitors. Full results:

1m: Ciaran O'Reilly 5th; Chris Mears 8th; Devin Reilly 9th; Jack Clewlow 11th; Stephen Appleby 13th; Max Brick 14th; Ellie Steel 5th; Emily Alderman 4th; Pat O'Reilly 7th; Dayne Mulford 8th; Robert Appleby 9th; Gary Hunt 5th; Tom Owens 11th; Anna Bennett-Britton bronze; Melissa Harley 7th; Charly Tomkys bronze.

3m: Ciaran O'Reilly 5th; Chris Mears 9th; Devin Reilly 12th; Jack Clewlow 11th; Stephen Appleby 13th; Max Brick 14th; Ellie Steel silver; Emily Alderman 4th; Pat O'Reilly 7th; Dayne Mulford 9th; Robert Appleby 8th; Gary Hunt 7th; Anna Bennett-Britton 6th; Melissa Harley 7th; Charly Tomkys bronze.

Platform: Ciaran O'Reilly silver; Chris Mears 12th; Devin Reilly 10th; Jack Clewlow 7th; Max Brick 9th; Ellie Steel gold; Emily Alderman silver; Pat O'Reilly 5th; Dayne Mulford 6th; Gary Hunt gold; Tom Owens 5th; Anna Bennett-Britton silver; Melissa Harley 5th.

Synchro: Devin Reilly/Dayne Mulford 4th; Stephen Appleby/Jack Clewlow 5th; Ellie Steel/Emily Alderman bronze; Anna Bennett-Britton/Melissa Harley silver; Tom Owens/Gary Hunt 4th; Charly Tomkys/Louise Van Hoof gold.

Bethany (8) already in the medals

THE youngest member of the novice team claimed Southampton Diving Academy's sole silver medal at the ASA national competition at Ponds Forge in Sheffield.

Southampton sent 14 divers from their novice and intermediate squads, and returned with two medals.

Eight-year-old Bethany Watts took her silver with 95.9 points, only two points behind the gold medallist.

Her forward line-up was particularly spectacular, earning her marks of eight from two of the judges.

Kate Hicks, 11, took bronze in the intermediate events on the 5m platform.

Coach Maxine Harle said: "These were both inexperienced squads - for most of them it was their first outing to a national event and they performed really well."

Southampton last won the national novice title in 2002 with the squad who now compete at Age Group level (ie elite level).

This group can be seen in action at the Quays at the National Age Group Competition over the half term week (June 2-5). Results:

Intermediate

1m Sam Colmer, 7th; Francesca Godfroy, 4th; Emily Burden, 7th; Alex Cameron, 5th; Ciaran Allen, 9th; Jack Howsham, 13th; Stephen Lingard, 14th; Kate Hicks, 8th; Georgia Wingrove, 7th

3m Sam Colmer, 7th; Francesca Godfroy, 6th; Emily Burden, 9th; Alex Cameron, 15th; Ciaran Allen, 13th; Jack Howsham, 9th; Stephen Lingard, 16th; Kate Hicks, 11th; Georgia Wingrove, 10th

Platform Sam Colmer, 7th; Francesca Godfroy, 4th; Emily Burden, 7th; Alex Cameron, 9th; Jack Howsham, 4th; Stephen Lingard, 6th; Kate Hicks, bronze; Georgia Wingrove, 6th Novice

Andrew Dowling, 19th; Chris Lingard, 20th; Heather Bilsby, 19th; Max Costley, 18th; Bethany Watts, silver