Bethany McDougal and Sydney Etherington are both year 7 pupils at Woodham Academy. As well as facing the transition from Primary to Secondary school, the two students have become valued members of the Sports Academy. Whilst they are working hard in school completing work to a very high standard, they both train 13 – 14 hours a week at their Gymnastics Club, DNS Gymnastics Academy.
On Friday 13th November, the two pupils will be competing in a prestigious competition linking closely to world trials. The PAT Wade Gymnastics competition, in Stoke-on-Trent, will host extremely talented, committed and determined gymnasts in a series of different categorised competitions. Sydney will be competing in the Balance and Dynamic categories and Bethany will be competing in Acro, Balance, Dynamic and Combined. Both of the students will be competing in groups as Sydney competes under Women’s pairs, ages 11-16, and Bethany competes under Women’s Trio, 12-18.
The PAT Wade competition is extremely important for both of the girls as performing to a high enough standard could secure them a place in World Trials. During the World Trials, the GB Gymnastics coaches hand pick gymnasts who they know can compete at a high enough standard to allow them to compete as part of Team GB.
In previous competitions, both girls have worked extremely hard, which has paid off! At the British Gymnastics competition, in Liverpool, the girls competed in the different categories where their outstanding scores were combined; resulting in Sydney placing 5th and Bethany placing 3rd. This is an amazing achievement as they competed with all of the best gymnasts in their categories.
When asked what it is that makes them so successful, Sydney replied with “I never give up, I always try my hardest and I enjoy it!” Bethany puts her success to “Training hard, staying determined and having team mates as close as family”.
Bethany and Sydney are both extremely kind, hardworking and humble girls who are an asset to Woodham Academy and Woodham Sports Academy, who have a very promising future.
