Dorothy Gibson (Newcastle) has become the women's 55-59 years one metre springboard World Masters diving champion, writes ERIC WILKINSON.

She won the title in Munich where she was also runner-up in the three-metre and high boards events.

Darlington's Steve Jackson, competing in the men's 30-34 age group, got a hat-trick of silver medals in the one and three-metre and high board competitions.

July Fort (Newcastle) got three medals, one of each colour, when helping England to finish second to Australia at the Millennium Commonwealth Youth (born 1982 or later) Games in Edinburgh.

She was in excellent form to finish first in the 100m backstroke and third in the 200m, Julie was also in the second placed medley team.

Newburn's Tara Johnson scored a hat-trick of national age group titles winning the girls 14 years 400m and 800m freestyle golds at Coventry and then travelled to Holme Pierrepont to win the 1500m outdoor event by 30 seconds beating all the boys in the same age group.

Among the other local medallists at Coventry were Angie Winstanley-Smith (Sedgefield), a junior waterpolo international, who was first in the 15 100m backstroke and second in the 200m. Joanne Jackson (Richmond Dales) clearly showed she is following in the footsteps of her elder sister Nicola, who departed yesterday for Australia to compete in the Olympic Games. Joanne won the 14 200m butterfly and was third in the 100m, both in personal best time.

Stephanie Proud (Chester-le-Street) set a new championship best time for her age group in winning the 12 100m backstroke. Chris Wilson (Wear Valley) was runner-up in the 15 100m and 200m breaststroke. Middlesbrough's Natasha Crawley got silver in the 14 100m butterfly and bronze in the 100m backstroke and Andrew Thirlwell (Newcastle) took the silver medal in the 15 200m individual medley.

Danielle Berry (Newcastle) gained three third places in the 12 200m individual medley, 100m and 400m freestyle. Also third were Thomas Maine (Middlesbrough) 16 100m backstroke; Chris Alderton (Hartlepool) third 13 1500m freestyle and Laura Whing (Gateshead) third 12 100m breaststroke.

The boys 15-16 freestyle team championship was won by Middlesbrough, who were also third in the medley relay.