The final leg of the 2026 Syd Boothroyd Grand Prix took place at the John Charles Centre for Sport in Leeds on 17th May, bringing together some of the country’s most promising young divers for a fantastic day of competition.
A total of 68 divers competed across 12 events, with athletes travelling from across the UK and Ireland to take part. The event welcomed guest clubs from as far afield as Sandwell Diving Club in Birmingham and Shamrock Diving Club from Dublin, highlighting the growing reputation of the North East diving competition circuit.
The standard of diving throughout the day was exceptionally high, with these divers achieving qualification for the National Skills Final, which will take place in July. Their performances demonstrated the depth of talent being developed across clubs in the North East and beyond.
Outstanding Performances Across the Age Groups
Several divers delivered standout performances during the competition. Among the event winners were:
- Annabel Hopwood (City of Sheffield Diving Club), winner of Group E Female with 326.05 points.
- Ryan Drinkall (City of Leeds Diving Club), winner of Group E Open with 241.50 points.
- Sasha Wrigley (City of Sheffield Diving Club), Group D Female champion.
- Austin O’Callaghan (City of Sheffield Diving Club), Group D Open champion.
- Felicity Moore (City of Bradford Esprit Diving), Group C Female champion.
- Joseph Lobley (City of Bradford Esprit Diving), Group C Open champion.
- Madeleine Kelly (City of Bradford Esprit Diving), Group B Female champion.
- Filip Sied (City of Bradford Esprit Diving), Group B Open champion.
- Savannah Standish (City of Leeds Diving Club), winner of both Group A Female 1m and 3m events.
- Dylan Irwin (City of Leeds Diving Club), winner of both Group A Open 1m and 3m events.
Full list of result highlights are below, full results will be uploaded to DiveRecorder
Honouring the Legacy of Syd Boothroyd
One of the most special moments of the day came during the presentation of the Syd Boothroyd Grand Prix trophies.
The Grand Prix series, which combines results from the North East Regional Championships, Yorkshire Championships and Northumberland & Durham Championships, is named in honour of Syd Boothroyd, a highly respected coach and Olympic-level judge who dedicated much of his life to developing young divers.
Reflecting Syd’s passion for nurturing the next generation, special presentations were made to the overall Group E Grand Prix winners:
- Ryan Drinkall (City of Leeds Diving Club)
- Annabel Hopwood (City of Sheffield Diving Club)
The trophies were presented by Syd’s wife, Gillian Boothroyd, a long-serving volunteer who continues to play an invaluable role at North East diving competitions.
Looking Ahead
With 33 divers now qualified for the National Age Group Finals, attention turns to June, where athletes will have the opportunity to test themselves against the best young divers in the country.
Congratulations to all competitors, coaches, officials and volunteers who contributed to another successful Syd Boothroyd Grand Prix series, and best wishes to those progressing to the national stage.
