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Students celebrate success at sports awards

Press release issued: 3 March 2006

There were smiles all round at the EDF Energy Bristol Sports Awards gala evening last night, Wednesday, March 1, when Bristol's top sportsmen and women were presented with special Bristol Blue Glass trophies in recognition of their outstanding sporting achievements in 2005.

There were smiles all round at the EDF Energy Bristol Sports Awards gala evening last night, Wednesday, March 1, when Bristol's top sportsmen and women were presented with special Bristol Blue Glass trophies in recognition of their outstanding sporting achievements in 2005.

University of Bristol students, Danny Williams, Hugh Sims Williams and Laura Bechtolsheimer, together with the University’s Sailing First Team had all been nominated in recognition of their sporting achievements, dedication and commitment in 2005.

Bob Reeves, Director of Sport said, “The University's contribution to the sporting life of the city was fully demonstrated. Laura Bechtolsheimer, an Equestrian Athlete, who has won national and European championships in dressage competitions, and is heading for a place in the 2008 Olympic team, won the Sportswoman of the Year title.

"The University Sailing Club, British Universities Champions, came runners-up in the Team of the Year category.  Both Danny Williams, a member of the University's hugely successful water-polo team, and a key player in the England team that recently came 5th in the Commonwealth Games Championships and windsurfer Hugh Sims Williams, who ranks 3rd in the UK and a contender for Beijing 2008, were runners-up for Sportsman of the Year.

“One of our part-time colleagues and Masters student, Karen O' Donohoe, was the organiser of this important and successful event.”

Laura Bechtolsheimer, Winner of the Sportswoman of the Year award said, “I’m delighted and honoured to have been selected for this award and it was inspiring to be among so many other athletes that work hard to perform at an exceptionally high level.

“High performance demands a lot of training which can be difficult to achieve when studying full time but the recognition of my sport, and the effort I put in to it, is very encouraging.”

Ed Hill, member of the University of Bristol First VI Sailing Team added "The team had a fantastically successful year in 2005 and it was unbelievable that after two years of training and coming so close to winning the British University Championships, we finally pulled together and came good.

“We have already been recognised within the University but it was very special to be short listed within the community at Bristol.  All the sports people at the evening were at a fantastically high level and it is a privilege that our team were recognized to be at that same level.”

The winners and runners-up on the night are among Bristol's brightest sporting stars and look certain to continue with their sporting success throughout 2006 and beyond.

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