TONIA COUCH failed to double her gold medal tally while Plymouth Diving team-mate Brooke Graddon was pipped to bronze at the British Championships in Southend.

Defending champion Couch had to settle for silver in the women's 10m platform competition won by Southampton's Stacie Powell.

Couch, diving in tandem with fellow Plymothian Sarah Barrow, had topped the podium for the second successive year in the women's 10m synchro on Friday night.

Barrow and Couch (313.14pts) had pipped Powell and Rebecca Gallantree (305.76pts) to first place at the Southend Aquatic Centre.

However, the individual gold was denied Couch (333.65) by an inspired Powell, who amassed 368.20 points with Monique Gladding (310.45) edging out comeback kid Graddon by less than a point for third place.

Graddon, whose career had hung in the balance less than a month ago through a shoulder injury, gave the Great Britain selectors plenty to think about after claiming 309.85 points, while Barrow (294.05) finished fifth in the nine-strong final.

Fast improving city youngsters Shanice Lobb and Kayleigh Sinclair proved the Plymouth club's conveyor belt of diving talent is still producing the goods by bagging bronze in the women's 3m synchro.

The Plymouth Diving pair are both just 13-years-old and had gone to Southend, primarily, to gain experience, so the third-place prize was a magnificent achievement and a great bonus.

So, it was girls on top for the Plymouth Diving squad with Tom Daley being withdrawn with an injured thumb last Thursday – a day ahead of the Essex event.

Great Britain and Plymouth Diving coach Andy Banks said the decision to err on the side of safety with Daley so close to next month's World Cup in London, was a 'no brainer'.

Banks admitted it was disappointing for everyone, divers, coaches and fans alike, that the 17-year-old wonderkid could not take part, but said the form and commitment of his other athletes had made the pill easier to swallow.

He said: "I was really pleased with Tonia – she dived really well and was in the mix for first place right up until the end.

"And I was really proud of Brooke. She fought like a tiger for a podium place and given what she's been through with injury and hardly any competitions to speak of, it was an exceptional effort by her.

"Brooke should be very pleased with herself, as should Tonia and also young Shanice and Kayleigh – what a result it was for them.

"To win a bronze medal at a major national championships with all the attention on them, speaks volumes for them.

"So, with Tom on the mend and with our Life Centre set to open up in March, Plymouth Diving is in good shape."