BY Herts 24

A Stevenage schoolgirl has upset the odds to become a national diving champion.

Lauren Jones, a 15-year-old from The John Henry Newman School, caused a major upset at the 58th ESSA national diving finals at the Central Park Swimming Pool in Plymouth.

She beat two international divers to win the coveted national title.

In order to qualify for this competition, she won the schools' county girls' title followed by victory at the divisional finals.

Lauren had also previously won the Herts ASA one metre springboard title, again defeating two national age group champions.

The successes are even more remarkable considering that she has only been diving for 16 months, with four of those months out owing to a shoulder injury.

A former gymnast from Marriotts and member of Richard's Trampoline Club, she trains five to six times a week at The Beaumont Diving Academy in Hatfield.

This is under the watchful eye of her coach and mentor, international diving coach Derek Beaumont from Letchworth Garden City.

It is the second year running that Beaumont has produced a national champ after Ashley Franklin from North Hertfordshire College won the senior boys' title in 2006.

And Lauren is the ninth national champ that Beaumont has produced over the years.

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