Summer Successes For Team Derby Athletes
12 July 2011
Kayaker Seth Ashworth receiving his bursary earlier this year
Archer Sarah Smith
The University of Derby is celebrating the recent sporting achievements of two of its student sports stars.
Sarah Smith, 19, came third in the British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS) archery tournament on June 11, while Seth Ashworth, 21, finished eight in the squirt kayaking discipline at the ICF Freestyle Kayaking World Championships on June 22 during his first international competition as part of Team GB.
Sarah and Seth both received bursaries from Team Derby earlier this year to support them in their sports, and have used this money for competition entry, travel and equipment.
Sarah, who is currently studying an HND in Sport and Exercise Science at Derby came third in the Ladies Recurve experienced category of the BUCS archery competition held at Lilleshall national sports centre on June 11. Sarah shot a ladies FITA; which comprises of 12 dozen arrows at targets at four different distances - 70m, 60m, 50m and 30m; and managed to secure third place.
Sarah said "I'd been working on different aspects of my technique prior to the competition, and had shot a personal best prior to the tournament so I went into it feeling very positive.
"I was quite pleased with how I shot and proud that I achieved the highest 50m score within my category. Of course I aim to do even better next year."
In his first international competition, and his first as a member of Team GB, Seth who has recently completed a BA (Hons) in Outdoor Activities Management, competed in the Men's Squirt discipline at the ICF Freestyle Kayaking World Championships held in Isarweile, Plattling, Germany.
Seth said: "I had never competed in sport at this high level before and it was a different ball game to anything I'd tried before.
"The competition still felt as fun as a smaller domestic event but there was a more serious undertone of competitiveness. Everyone who was there wanted to do their best and most of them had goal in mind of where they wanted to finish.
"Everyone paddled really well and the competition was really stiff, and in the end although I thought I had a strong first ride it wasn't enough for me to get through to the finals and I finished in eighth place."
Ollie Shearer, the University of Derby's Sports Development Manager, said: "We are incredibly proud of Sarah and Seth's recent results; and Team Derby is delighted to be able to share in their success.
"We hope that the bursaries and support they received through Team Derby earlier contributed in some way to their excellent performances; and we wish them luck for their next competitions."
For more information on each of these talented athletes, and on sport at the University of Derby, visit www.teamderby.com
