Diving

Diving

A display of diving at Havre des Pas in 1936. Second from top is Jersey's Empire gold medallist Dot Macready. Picture Evening Post

The history of diving in Jersey dates back to the early 1900s, when divers competed at the Havre des Pas pool; and diving stages at St Aubin's Harbour, and just around the corner in Belcroute Bay, were very popular with recreational divers

Diving at St Aubin in the early 20th century

The popular public diving stage in Belcroute Bay

It seems amazing given the illustrious history of the sport in the island that competitive diving stopped in Jersey in 2005 because there were no qualified coaches available.

The earliest island diving star was George Yvon (1887-1957), who represented Britain in the 1912 and 1920 Olympics, although he was born in France. He came third in his group in the 1912 Olympics and did not make the final, which was dominated by Swedish divers, who took all three medals and comprised six of the eight finalists.

Yvon was followed by on the international stage by Dot Macready, winner of the British Empire Ladies High Diving Championships in 1934. She was a contemporary of Jean Gilbert, who won numerous international competitions and, at the age of 17, competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics and reached the highboard final.

There has been further representation by Jersey divers in Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

• Diving at Havre des Pas Pool - an album of 30 old photographs
• More pictures of Havre des Pas Pool

Havre des Pas

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  A diver at Havre des Pas
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  A diver at Havre des Pas
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  The diving stage in 1907 before it was destroyed in a storm
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  Dot Macready
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  George Yvon diving at Havre des Pas
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  George Yvon
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  Kay Le Rossignol
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  Dot Macready
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  Jean Gilbert
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  St Aubin, 1905
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  St Aubin, 1906
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  Stanley Guiton diving at St Aubin in 1907
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  St Aubin, 1907
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  St Aubin, 1907
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  St Aubin, 1907
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  St Aubin, 1907
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  Havre des Pas
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  Havre des Pas
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  Havre des Pas
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  Jean Gilbert (left) with team colleagues at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
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  Jean Gilbert's Olympics identity card
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  Havre des Pas 1935
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  1906 at St Aubin
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  A demonstraton dive by North American champion George Gaidzik in 1931
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  Connie Touzel, a champion diver in the 1920s, picture courtesy of Facebook group Jersey Temps Passe
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  Connie Le Caudey, nee Touzel
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  The Havre des Pas Pool diving stage
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  The old 'black diving stage' opposite the pool in front of the Fort d'Auvergne Hotel. It was removed after storm damage in the early 1960s
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  Diving from the 'black diving stage'
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  Tommy Mather and Dot Macready
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  L J Labey in 1906
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  This diver, competing in an international competition at Kenwood, USA, was described as 'Miss Trouzel, from Jersey' - almost certainly a Miss Touzel
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  Havre des Pas, 1930

Belcroute diving stage in 1905. This is sometimes called the St Aubin diving stage, which is incorrect. Diving at St Aubin's Harbour took place from temporary boards in the harbourmouth