SI champs to feature three guest competitors

KAYLA HODGE

THREE Commonwealth Games divers will be making a splash in Dunedin this weekend. Aucklanders Liam Stone, Frazer Tavener and Mikali Dawson will compete as guests at the South Island championships at Moana Pool.

Stone leads the experienced group having competed at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Gold Coast and Birmingham, while Tavener and Dawson made their debuts in Birmingham.

They are among a core group from Diving New Zealand, along with their national junior competitors from North Harbour Diving and Diving Waitakere, competing as guests.

About 40 divers from Diving takou and Invercargill Diving Club, alongside those from Auckland, will be competing from level one to open on all boards including poolside, 1m, 3m and platform.

Diving takou head coach Connie Deighton, who joined the club from England late last year, was excited to see what her divers could produce at the South Island event, which is also a qualifying event for Diving New Zealand squads and international competitions.

‘‘I am really looking forward to [showcasing] the improvements that the divers at Diving takou have made in the six months I have been in Dunedin,’’ Deighton said.

‘‘Competitions, like South Island, are a great opportunity for all divers across the competitive spectrum to compete together and display their skills before nationals in June and July.

‘‘It’s a great way to celebrate the sport of diving and hopefully inspire some future divers.’’ Diving starts tonight and finishes on Sunday.

kayla.hodge@odt.co.nz