Armada Cup 2022 Review
A twenty-eight strong team of Plymouth divers have just finished competing in the Armada Cup held
at the Plymouth Life Centre. In its 22 nd year it was a chance for the diving community to come
together and celebrate the beginning of a full calendar of competitions since the pandemic hit.
Thirteen other diving clubs from around the country battled through storm Eunice to make the start
of the four day event on Saturday. The competition was split into two sections – Junior Elite and Age
Group with South West Regional medals also up for grabs for the Age Group divers.
Harry Westbury our youngest Age Group D diver finished in fourth place on the 1m board, which
earned him a gold South West medal.
Girls group C Age Group was tough with the largest number of competitors. The nine South West
medals were shared between Lexi Davies, Eva Lang and Yvie Tucker. Lexi was the most decorated
with an additional bronze medal for her outstanding 1m performance and silver for 3m.
Group C Age Group boys were represented by Oscar Westbury, Will Heath and Alex Whittaker.
Between them they did a sterling job winning twelve individual medals. Alex picked up three South
West medals. Will finished in third on the 3m board to win bronze. On the 1m board Oscar secured
the silver medal. Together Will and Oscar made the platform final. It was going incredibly well for
both boys until Will’s foot slipped on his last dive ending his chance of a medal. Oscar safely reached
the silver podium position. Will and Oscar joined forces for the 1m synchro event where they took
the top spot winning gold. Team mate Noah Underwood sustained an injury prior to the Armada Cup
and was sadly unable to participate.
The Age Group B girls scooped a total of nine South West medals between them. Erin Healey two
silver and one gold, Harlie Stringer two bronze and one gold, Mathilde Tassart a silver and gold. Rose
McCabe was back in action after suffering a serious elbow fracture last year and is gradually returning
to previous form. She won a bronze South West medal on 3m.
The girls in Age Group A all medalled. Moving from skills to her first age group competition Ella
Cornish made a valiant effort on platform to win the South West gold medal. Lucy Gutierrez-Freeman
won the bronze South West medal on 1m. Ellie Pearce and Maia Pearson both made the 1m and 3m
final which resulted in two silver South West medals for Maia. Narrowly missing out on a 1m medal
Ellie won the bronze on 3m plus two South West golds.
In the Age Group A section Ben Hall competed for the first time on platform winning the South West
gold medal. After qualifying in fourth for the 1m final Ben Kearton raised his game. Performing a
confident round of dives he was not going to settle for anything less than glorious gold.
Elite group B diver Scarlett Colbourne just missed out on the 3m final where Amelie Underwood
successfully took the bronze which she later repeated on 1m. Scarlett paired up with Katie Martin to
win the silver 3m synchro medal.
Group B Elite boys Ollie Heath and Theo Stevens won the silver 3m synchro medal. Both boys are part
of the Swim England Talent Z camp. Ollie had further success on the 1m board qualifying for the final
in fourth position. He also made the platform final and just missed out on a medal finishing fourth.
Archie Waines from the same group dived for the first time in the elite section. He dived consistently
across all three boards. On platform he initially led the pack with two technically impressive dives.
Continuing her recent accomplishment at the British National Diving Cup elite group A diver Summer
Radcliffe added a gold and silver medal to her collection. Katie Martin having already won a silver in
synchro collected a bronze on the 1m board.
In group A, elite diver Euan McCabe was untouchable and won 2 gold medals with ease. Fifty clear
points ahead of his nearest rival on the 1m board and a whopping score of 530 points on the 3m
board.
With no competition experience Ava Cowper, Martha Ticehurst and Laura Burrows performed well to
set themselves personal best scores to build upon in the future. They all coped admirably with the
enormity of the occasion.
The Armada Cup in association with Cisco Homes made it possible for Plymouth Diving to host an
event of this size. Their generous sponsorship was invaluable for which we are grateful for.
Plymouth Diving would also like to thank Devonport Royal Dockyard Sport & Social Club who
contributed towards the medals, Everyone Active for the use of the Life Centre facilities and Plymouth
City Council for their continued support. The divers and parents would also like to show their
appreciation to the dedicated coaching staff and volunteers. The club is looking forward to a bright
future with help from Cisco Homes and an exciting sponsorship deal with Pilkington Estates.
