Hartpury College student Monty Bedwell has been named National Schools Outdoor Champion 2023, after winning at the UK National Schools Outdoor Championships in Swadlincote earlier this month. A scorching second run in a time of 12.11 seconds secured the win, improving on his first run of 12.53 seconds.
It’s been quite a year for the 17-year-old Western Counties skier, who trains at Hartpury College and the Gloucester Ski and Snowboard Centre. In May, Monty became UK National Schools Champion. He also finished 4th in his age group (14th overall) in the GBR dry slope series, and became a Dry Slope Ambassador during the summer.
He combines his busy training and competition schedule with studying for a Level 3 Extended Diploma Sport and Outdoor Activities, supported by Hartpury’s dual career pathway that supports students to combine studying and sport. He’s part of the Athlete Performance Academy, one of 10 academies made up of both Hartpury University and Hartpury College students.
Monty’s love for skiing began during a year 8 school trip to Austria. Despite an inauspicious start, he quickly persuaded his parents to take him along to Gloucester Ski and Snowboard Centre, where he started having lessons.
In a recent interview with the Unique Media Group, he said: “I think the reason I fell in love with skiing was the freedom aspect. When you’re alone on the mountain you just feel free.
“I’ll watch videos of me skiing and analyse where I can go faster and what I can improve. I also keep an eye on my competitors through social media and how I think I can gain a competitive edge to give me the best chance of winning.”
Charlie McAusland, an Outdoor Adventure Lecturer at Hartpury College said: “Monty is a fantastic student academically and during activity practical days, as well as being an outstanding ski racer. His recent National Schools Championship win is a great achievement that falls in line with his outstanding efforts as a student, and we’re so very proud of him. We look forward to following more of his successes in future.”
Sports academies at Hartpury
Hartpury College is dedicated to helping students strike the perfect balance between their academic pursuits and sporting commitments. Their extensive network of partnerships with clubs, national governing bodies, schools and universities ensures students find the optimal equilibrium to attain sporting and academic excellence.
Hartpury’s competitive sports academies provide students with the chance to train and compete in sports including athlete performance, netball, rugby, football, futsal, equine, modern pentathlon, golf, athletics and rowing.
Student athletes train within an elite sporting environment while studying A levels, T Levels, diplomas and degrees as they progress along the much-celebrated dual career pathway that’s produced 250 international athletes over the past 15 years.
