The morning started with a march past by all clubs followed by the Lightning Ridge Dive Club divers.

Aboriginal elder Brenda McBride gave “Welcome to Country” and Anna Miglietta sang the National Anthem, Ian Woodcock declared the championships open.

The divers from across NSW and Queensland competed to the best of their ability, many of them qualifying for the 2012 Australian age and elite junior diving championships.

There were outstanding performances by Liam Connelly from Hunter United Diving Academy who took out the best five dives of the meet. The Hunter United Diving Academy also took out the Country Club of the meet, closely followed by Lightning Ridge Diving Club.

NSW Diving president Eric Brooker said the Lightning Ridge divers had improved in leaps and bounds during the past couple of months with the assistance of Diving NSW coaching director Allan Bull and the eager new local coaches, to be ready for the country championships.

“That in itself is an amazing accomplishment and the club should be very proud of its achievements - it has a very bright future,” he said.

“The most outstanding performances by Lightning Ridge divers were that of Rory Cheal in the 12/13, 1m and Sean White in the U/11 1m, who were the first divers from the region to qualify for the Australian Age Diving Championships to be held in Adelaide in April 2012. Some of the other Lightning Ridge divers narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Australian Age titles; however there will be more opportunities for the divers to qualify at the state titles in Newcastle in March,” Mr Brooker adding that the Lightning Ridge Diving Club’s volunteers and members were very well organised and welcoming to ensure the championships ran smoothly.

The country dinner was held at Lightning Ridge Bowling Club championships on Saturday night where the athletes, families and friends enjoyed a delicious meal with music and dancing to top off a most enjoyable evening.

Visiting participants and their families also took great pleasure in experiencing Lightning Ridge and all the wonderful things the town has to offer.

“Thanks to the generous support of the major sponsors Walgett Shire Council and the Lightning Ridge Bowling Club and the many event sponsors. Lightning Ridge ‘rocks’,” Mr Brooker said.