Huge personal best secures British title for Cleckheaton diver Toulson

Toulson, 15, defeated Olympians Sarah Barrow and Tonia Couch and set a massive personal best on her way to glory in the 10m platform final.

The City of Leeds diver refused to buckle under the pressure as Couch, who finished fourth in the World Cup, led going into the final.

But Toulson saved her best dive until last and took the lead with a back two-and-a-half somersaults, one-and-a-half twists piked, that scored 88.00 and gave her a gold medal winning score of 366.85.

That total smashed her previous best of 304.9 and a delighted Toulson said: “It feels fantastic to be British Champion.

“I never expected it so it’s great. The last dive is my favourite dive so I was expecting it to be good but I wasn’t expecting it to be that good.”