Synchronised student wins award

Thursday, 25 March 2010

University of Reading student Bethany Dearlove has had an outstanding year of synchronised swimming, recognised recently by being awarded the Player Loyalty Trophy at the Reading Sports Personality of the Year awards. 

The event, rescheduled due to the New Year snow, was held at The Hilton Hotel which welcomed guests with an F1 car in the foyer.  Bethany, who is a member of the Reading Royals Synchronised Swimming Club, was commended for: continuing her sport to a high standard whilst attending University; her commitment to keeping up her fitness when at home in the holiday; and her dedication to catching up on the routines on her return to the Reading Royals.

On completion of her Undergraduate degree here in Reading, in which she was awarded a First in Mathematics and Statistics, Bethany chose to stay in Reading to study for a Masters in Biometry so she could also continue swimming - lending strength and experience to the squad's A Team.

Bethany was delighted to receive this award. She said ‘To achieve recognition outside of my club and sport is always amazing and the Reading Sports personality award, which was awarded to due to me balancing my studies and training, really reiterated what a successful year I had in both areas of my life.'

The year has been the highlight of Bethany's swimming career so far with gold and bronze at the Scottish Open and then two silver medals at the British Championships in December. Her Free solo scored a personal best at both these events and it was a huge privilege to be sharing the podium with swimmers who train full time with the Great Britain squad and former British Champions. 

Bethany also took home the Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire technical and free solo titles for the second year running.  With the British Championships being brought forward to April, Bethany is training hard alongside her studies to see if she can go one better this year.