Youngsters from Southampton Diving Academy proved that the club is the best in England for the under-19s when they won the team event at the Amateur Swimming Association Age Group National Competition held at the Quays .

The squad comprised 15 of the club's top young divers, who came away with five gold, five silver and eleven bronze medals between them.

By far and away the most successful member of the team was the youngest girl, Emily Alderman (11), who set a new national record by taking gold in all of her four events.

Emily, whose father, Mark, coaches with the club and was himself a national diving champion, dived consistently well throughout the weekend. In each of her events she took the gold with a comfortable margin, looking very relaxed and in command of the situation.

Silver medallists were Anna Bennett-Britton (15), Ellie Steel (11), Charly Tomkys (18), Jack Clewlow (13) and Stephen Appleby (13).

Anna Bennett-Britton performed especially well throughout the competition, taking silver and bronze medals in the age group with the highest number of entrants.

Ellie Steel also did particularly well to take the silver on the 1m board, bronze on platform and in partnership with Emily Alderman, gold in synchro, competing in a high achieving group as one of the youngest competitors.

Taking their first ever national age group medals this weekend were Patrick O'Reilly, Charly Tomkys and Jack Clewlow. "I set myself a target to get a national medal this year," said Jack, "but I didn't really think I could do it, because there are some international divers in my age group and I wasn't sure that I could ever beat them."

Mark Alderman, who coaches Patrick, was especially pleased with his success. "Pat's medals were well deserved and I was delighted to see his hard work and commitment pay off," he said. "His diving continues to go from strength to strength."

The club did very well in the synchro events, following in the footsteps of Peter Waterfield, the club's most senior diver, who has taken numerous medals for synchro with partner Leon Taylor from Sheffield, in international competition. Altogether the squad took two gold, three silver and four bronze medals over the weekend.

Director of coaching, Lindsey Fraser, was delighted with the outcome. "I am just thrilled with the results," she said. "To have won the team trophy is a fantastic achievement. As far as I know, no other club has managed to do it after only three years of existence. Emily's triumph was spectacular and well deserved. I am very proud of them all."

Lindsey also acknowledged the role of the whole coaching team in the squad's success. "We have an incredible team of coaches, without whom this wouldn't have been possible," she explained.

FULL RESULTS:

Emily Alderman, 1m gold, 3m gold, platform gold, synchro gold; Chris Farrow, 1m 4th, 3m 7th, platform bronze, synchro bronze; Ellie Steel, 1m silver, 3m 4th, platform bronze, synchro gold; Chloe Hendy, 1m 12th, 3m 8th, platform 7th, synchro 5th; Jack Clewlow, 1m 5th, 3m 5th, platform bronze, synchro silver; Stephen Appleby, 1m 7th, 3m 9th, platform 7th, synchro silver; Adam Purkis, 1m 6th, 3m 8th, synchro bronze; Anna Bennett-Britton, 1m 4th, 3m silver, platform bronze; Melissa Harley, 1m 9th, 3m 13th, platform 11th; Kim Purkis, 1m 14th; Ciaran O'Reilly, 1m 4th, 3m 4th, platform 7th; synchro 5th; Luke De Ste Croix, 1m 6th, 3m 6th, platform 8th, synchro 5th; Dayne Mulford, 1m 11th, platform 13th; Patrick O'Reilly, 1m 5th, 3m 4th, platform bronze, synchro bronze; Robert Appleby, 1m bronze, 3m bronze, synchro bronze; Charly Tomkys, 1m 7th, synchro silver.