Clean sweep for Ben Cutmore as English divers star in Italy

Ben Cutmore won a clean sweep of titles as England’s top junior divers starred at the 2016 Mediterranean Cup in Bolzano, Italy.

The 13-year old from Cambridge Dive Team won the 1m, 3m and platform titles in the Group C age group.

Cutmore’s back 2 ½ somersaults with tuck (205C) from the 7.5m platform was particularly impressive, scoring 74.20 after 8.5s and 9s from the judges.

Cutmore’s hat-trick was the icing on the cake for the English team, who won four more golds as well as eight silvers and three bronze medals.

Benitez and Van Dal claim Group B springboard crowns

City of Sheffield’s Raffa Benitez took gold in the Group B 1m Springboard, while Southend diver Connor Van Dal won the Group B 3m Springboard crown.

Crystal Palace diver Amelia Connolly also topped the podium in the Group B age group, winning the girls’ platform title.

Connolly’s Crystal Palace teammate Callie Eaglestone was the other English gold medallist of the week.

The 11-year old, who won four golds at the 2016 British Elite Junior Championships, claimed top spot in the Group C 3m Springboard. She also reached the podium with bronze medals in the 1m and platform events.

Richelle Houlden, Tyler Humphreys, Cody Powell-Tuckett and Angus Kerr also scooped silver medals while Evangeline Piper impressed with a fourth place and two fifth place finishes.

Piper was eligible to compete in the Group D age group – in which she would have won three golds – but was selected to compete against older divers in the Group C events, having done so at this year’s British Junior Elites to qualify her spot on the team.