Plymouth Diving Club awarded Dawdon Shield Trophy for top club

Plymouth Diving Club were awarded the Dawdon Shield Trophy for top club at the Swim England Diving National Age Group Championships 2023.

As the competition reached the later stages, it looked to be between Plymouth and home club, City of Sheffield.

But with a total of 17 medals won overall across the four days, it was Plymouth who got their hands on the trophy.

They take over from Southampton Diving Academy, who were crowned the top club at the 2022 championships.

Plymouth (249.00) and City of Sheffield (217.00) were the only clubs to break the 200 point mark – and Southend Diving were the third placed club with 162.00.

On winning the trophy, Plymouth coach Fito Gutierrez, said: “It’s pretty good. It gives us incentive to keep doing what we’re doing.

Cherry on top for the club

“I think since surviving the pandemic as a club, I’m so glad that all those kids were able to come here and compete. We kept them going for so long and it was so difficult, so I’m very pleased.

“As a club, it’s like the cherry on the top, it’s fantastic!

“To see the athletes on the podium is great, but to see them doing their best is what counts and that’s what we’re trying to do – to push them to that level that they might get on the podium or in the top six.

“That was our target and we achieved that.”

Fito was also awarded the Margaret Davies Trophy as the top coach of the competition.

On winning the award, he added: “You don’t expect it, it’s just something that when it happens, it happens.

“I’m very pleased and happy that it was me for this competition.”

Pictures: Morgan Harlow