Syd Campbell, Shelby O'Keefe, Abby Rowley and Xavier Bartolo.
Three Bendigo YMCA Divers are eyeing national glory after success at the Victorian Age Championships.
Young gun Abby Rowley’s brilliant form continued after she pushed to a higher age group.
The 11-year-old won individual gold medals on the 1m, 3m and platform in the 12-13 age division and is hoping to bring home another swag of medals from the national titles.
Rowley also combined with Shelby O’Keefe to capture first place in the synchronised dives.
“It was just fabulous for Shelby, she’s just a quiet worker,” Bendigo coach Heather Tyter said.
“It was particularly exciting for Abby because it’s her first year in the age group.”
Syd Campbell, 72, is off to his first national titles after winning two gold and a silver medal in Melbourne.
Campbell claimed gold in the 3m and platform, before narrowly missing adding a third gold in the 1m by just 0.7 of a point.
“It was his first states, he’s over the moon and he’s going to nationals now in Perth,” Tyter said.
Xavier Bartolo, 10, has extra motivation to perform at the Australian Age Championships in Perth beginning April 1 after some near-misses in Melbourne.
Bartolo has achieved great success in his fledgling career, but had to settle for three silvers.
“There’s a little boy who dived particularly well and deserved to win. Xavier is now motivated to go ahead and improve,” Tyter said.
Anna Purtill, 14, just missed qualifying for the nationals by seven points after finishing eighth on the 1m board.
Tyter praised her team, which is currently ranked the number one country club in Australia.
“Basically everybody did personal bests.
“It’s good when country kids can do so well,” she said.
