ALBATROSS diver James West took gold and the national title in the Boys C 1m event at the British Junior Elite Diving Championships in Plymouth, accumulating a PB score of 306.55.

Junior Elites is the pinnacle of the British junior diving calendar, where the top junior competitors to battle for glory in their respective age groups, and this is the first time Albatross have won a gold at the competition.

Consistency and close attention to form in all his dives set West apart from his competitors, and entering the final he knew there could be no room for error and he rose to the challenge.

His final three dives were outstanding: 47.5 points for his back one-and-a-half somersault one-and-a-half twist; 44.40 points for inward one-and-a-half somersault pike; and 49.40 points for two-and-a-half somersault pike.

West also qualified for the finals in the 3m event where he finished fourth with 304.55, a mere 6.6 points behind the bronze medal winner. In platform West finished 11th with a preliminary score of 264.05.

West, who is coached by Albatross head coach Malcolm Green, has had a hugely successful season.

After winning a bronze 1m medal at Junior Elites in 2016 (279.70), he won two further 1m gold medals at club Grand Prix events. This was alongside three silvers and two bronzes in 3m and platform. He is also the 2016 English Schools’ National Junior champion on 1m.