Hancox helps Sheffield retain title as many clubs claim first golds of competition

City of Sheffield’s Sophie Mae Hancox excelled in the morning session of day two at the GoCardless Swim England Diving National Age Group Championships to retain a national title for her club.

After an incident at the 2022 competition which saw her ruled out for the remainder of the competition – Hancox showed amazing resilience and determination to come back and clinch silver in the Female Group A Platform event in 2023.

But it didn’t stop there. Returning in 2024, the Sheffield diver went one better. Hancox put on a gold medal-winning display to take the top spot on the podium after scoring a total of 265.65 points.

She retained the Female Group A Platform national title for her club after it was won by Jessica Ireland to make it a Sheffield one-two last year.

In similar fashion, it was another double medal haul for Sheffield this year, as Chloe Strutt also earned a place on the podium after 237.80 points saw her finish in third.

Separating the teammates was Dive London’s Claire Kettler, who was awarded the silver medal following a 250.25 points total.

More Sheffield success

Also competing in the fifth session of the championships were 15 divers in the Female Group D 1m event.

It was an event which brought more success for the City of Sheffield as the club achieved another one-two finish.

Beth Moxon scored a total of 164.25 across her brilliantly performed set of dives to win gold and was joined on the podium by her teammate, Ayla Jackson.

For the first time in this year’s championships, the silver medal was shared after both Jackson and Star Diving Club’s Lily Houzego registered an overall score of 151.65.

Hull tops the podium

In the Open Group D 1m event, Dive London’s Jared Hull won his club’s first gold of the championships after a fantastic set of dives saw him finish with a score of 161.85.

Blake Scroxton added to his medal tally on day two of the competition, picking up a silver medal to add to his gold in the Open Group C/D 1m Synchro with his partner Beau Barry.

Southampton Diving Academy’s Hunter Mapstone took home bronze in the event with a total of 146.65 and guest diver from Edinburgh Diving Club, Zachary Koshovyy, was awarded a commemorative bronze medal.

Cambridge collect gold

Cambridge Dive Team’s first medal of the competition was gold, after Rufus Bord impressed in the Open Group B 3m event.

He registered a total score of 243.60 to finish in first place and was crowned the new national champion.

Dive London’s Luke Raggett was awarded silver (240.55) and Southend Diving’s Hayden Low took home bronze, his team’s second of the day after just two events.

After recording an overall score of 280.60, guest diver from Aberdeen Diving Club, Ben Morrice, was awarded a commemorative gold medal.

Strong performance from Emma

In the Female Group C 1m event, Emma Armstrong won gold after an excellent set of dives meant she scored an overall total of 190.60.

The result also marked another first gold of the competition – this time for Southampton Diving Club.

The battle for the silver medal was highly competitive and it all went down to the final round.

After all the dives had been performed, just 0.45 separated City of Leeds’ Ella Coupland in second and Southend’s Kaycie Illingworth in third.

Story written by Gabby Laurent

Pictures: Will Johnston Photography