Two young divers from Bradford are celebrating their success in a national competition.

Michael Jones and Sam Thornton joined a selection of the United Kingdom's finest elite level senior divers at the British Gas National Cup 2011 in Southend-on-Sea between 27-29 January.

The young men are both members of Bradford Esprit Diving Club, which is the competitive outlet for Bradford Council’s Sport and Leisure Service’s Coaching and Training scheme.

It has a reputation for producing some of the best up-and-coming divers in the country.

The pair took part in the springboard events, and Sam set a standard for his first senior list, which includes six optional dives from a selection of the five diving groups.

Michael, meanwhile, beat his personal-best score on the one-metre board and raised the level of degree of difficulty in both events.

They were competing against World champions, including Tom Daley, European junior springboard champion Jack Laugher from Harrogate, and one half of the synchronised diving pair that took the silver medal in platform at the 2004 Olympics, Peter Waterfield.

Coun the Rev Paul Flowers, Bradford Council’s executive member responsible for sport and leisure, said: “This is a wonderful achievement for Michael and Sam and a reward for all the hard work they have put in as regular members of Bradford Esprit Diving Club.”

Michael and Sam became eligible for the prestigious event after making the minimum performance standard during the CAMO International Diving Competition in Montreal last December.

Michael has previously attended the British Gas National Cup but Sam was experiencing the senior national circuit for the first time in his career.

In the one-metre event, Sam came 14th with 250.65 points and Michael 15th with 249.60. In the three-metre, Sam came 19th (233.85) and Michael 21st (220.40).

Other notable performances came from Joe Meszaros and Jenny Cowen, who are members of the Bradford Aquatics coaching team.

Joe finished 15th in the three-metre prelim with 263.25 and eighth in the ten-metre final with 235.20.

Jenny finished fourth in the one-metre final (235.80) and took the bronze medal in the women’s ten-metre final (290.85.

The competition was the inaugural event to be held at Southend Swimming and Diving Centre.

The venue encompasses a full compliment of platforms and an extensive range of springboard facilities, including the United Kingdomn's first dry-diving board with a foam landing pit.