In July, coaches Jack and Alfie led a team of nine divers from Luton Diving Club to the prestigious National Skills Finals, hosted in Southend. The competition brought together the best young divers from across the country, each having secured their place through qualifying events held between March and May.
Day one began with a strong showing from nine-year-old Seraphine Lee, who opened LDC’s campaign in the D1 Female category, finishing in an impressive 8th place. Ten-year-old Emma Wood followed in the D2 Female group, securing 21st place in a highly competitive field. In the E Open category, nine-year-old Christopher Lleshaj, LDC’s youngest competitor this year, claimed 11th place.
The team’s momentum continued as the day closed with two podium finishes. Dexter McFarlane (aged 14) took 5th place in the B Open, while Aurelia Lee (aged 16) mirrored his success with 5th place in the A Female 1-metre springboard event.
On day two, LDC’s divers kept the energy high. Jayden Burr and Ben Fennemore put in strong performances in the C2 Open, finishing 5th and 7th respectively. The highlight of the weekend came from Lucas Grisaffi, who achieved LDC’s best result with a superb 4th place in the C1 Open. Rounding off the competition, Florence Bale claimed 9th place in the B Female category.
Throughout the two-day event, the LDC divers showcased not only their skill but also their remarkable team spirit, supporting and cheering each other on at every stage.
Coach Jack Tempest said ” For many, this was their first experience competing at National Skills Finals, making their achievements even more impressive. They all worked hard during training which was displayed by the multiple top 6 results all earning certificates marking the incredible results. With the club continuing to expand and develop we hope to see more results in the future from more divers from a variety of competitions.”
The squad now turns its attention to upcoming competitions as preparations begin for the next qualifying season. With such a promising display in Southend, the future looks bright for LDC’s divers.
