Daley was competing for the first time since his victory in Rome last summer and the focus in the build-up to the Ponds Forge meet was on the 15-year-old and his new dive, the "Twister".

However, 2004 Olympic silver-medallist Waterfield produced a series of superb dives and earned seven perfect 10s en route to a clear victory with 523.65points - 40 ahead of the Plymouth teenager.

Max Brick finished in third.

Daley was clearly frustrated with himself after over-rotating on his fourth dive when he was awarded sixes by the judge as he failed to win a national competition for the first time since 2006.

Daley said: "Of course I'm disappointed, I'm going to be disappointed with second place but I guess it has to happen some time and I'm glad it's at a nationals rather than an international competition.

"I'm sure the world champion is meant to win the British Championships but that is why diving is an on-the-day sport."

Daley's build-up had also been disrupted by reports that his father Robert was suffering again from brain cancer.

Daley said: "I tried my best, I'm disappointed and I did make some silly mistakes but then that's what happens in diving and hopefully I can correct them.

"I'm sure I am never going to make them again because I don't like feeling like this.

"The main thing going into this competition was to do the new dive well and I did so I am happy with that.''

Describing Waterfield as "an incredible diver", Daley added: '"I'm glad to have the competition.

"I'm going to go home now and work my socks off because I don't want to be in this position again.

"It's given me the kick up the backside I needed."



For Waterfield it was a welcome return to the platform competition, his first since Beijing.

As well as his 2004 Olympic silver with Leon Taylor in the 10m synchro, 28-year-old Waterfield from Southampton has collected world medals and a Commonwealth title.

He said: "I came here to do a job and to do the best I can.

"I was coming here to put in a good performance and I did that.

"I've got a big year with the Commonwealth Games and the World Cup so for me to put in a good performance gives me a big confidence boost for the rest of the year.''

The Twister involves the diver attempting to do two and a half somersaults with two and a half twists during the 1.8 seconds between leaving the platform and hitting the water at 30mph.

Daley was last to dive after witnessing Waterfield open with three perfect 10s, and such is the expectation surrounding the teenager, there was no surprise when he was awarded up to 8.5.

Waterfield was producing consistently top dives and the halfway stage saw him ahead by three points.

Waterfield's back three and a half somersaults earned a series of nines from the judges but Daley over-rotated on his armstand triple somersault and was awarded as low as six.

The penultimate round saw Waterfield awarded four 10s to lead by more than 40 going into the last dive.

Daley's coach Andy Banks was not too unhappy, though.

He said: "Having it happen here is actually quite a good experience for him because in the build-up to it he has just been winning stuff.

"Tom's new dive went better than it has done in training, I'm really pleased with it.

"I'm not that disappointed because I think there is a lot of good that can be taken out of what we are doing and I also know what the next part of the plan is."


Related stories
February 2010: Tom Daley reveals father's brain cancer is back
January 2010: Daley to use new dive at 2010 debut
November 2009: Exclusive - Daley has a "God given talent" but must not waste it says coach
September 2009: Mitcham hoping to be even better by London 2012 to see off Daley
July 2009: Thousands of people line streets to welcome home Daley