TONY HUNTER provided a shining reminder that Southampton diving isn't all about the youngsters - winning both gold and silver medals at the European Masters Championships in Innsbruck, Austria.

Barely a week after Blake Aldridge and Peter Waterfield - two of Britain's brightest teenage diving prospects, lured to Southampton by the new Quays set-up - took world junior honours, Hunter won the 10-metre platform title for Europe's 35-39 years age-group - then added silver in the three-metre springboard.

And he almost made it a full set - finishing just one place off a bronze in the one-metre.

Hunter's platform success was particularly sweet as he had finished second in the same event last time around. Coach Susie Bamber believes that "with some more work on his take-offs, Tony could be looking at similar success in the springboard events".

Fellow City of Southampton diver Naomi Hallett survived a daunting introduction to international competition - outdoors in a rainstorm and in gathering darkness. She ended up diving under a spotlight, but still finished a creditable eighth in the three-metre event for the 25-29 age-group, and 13th in the one-metre.

With the training facilities available at the Quays, she now aims to add platform diving to her repertoire.

The pair were part of a British team that collected six gold, 14 silver and eight bronze medals.

Like Aldridge and Waterfield - and both Southampton's div-ing clubs - they now train at the Quays. Anyone interested in learning the sport can call the Quays diving development office on 02380 720900.

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