UNIVERSITY of Hertfordshire graduate Dave Bell was part of the winning Great Britain student rowing squad crowned champions of Europe in Amsterdam.

Dave, 23, who has just graduated with a 2:1 economics degree from the university in Hatfield, came away with gold in his single sculls event at the European University Sports Association (EUSA) championship which ran from August 20 to 22.

His win helped the 120-strong GB squad - which represented universities from across the UK - come away with a victorious tally of four gold, nine silver and six bronze medals.

The medal haul was enough for the team to win the EUSA Rowing Salver just ahead of Poland which had been last year’s winners.

Dave secured his place in the GB team on the back of his rowing achievements in the competitive sports events run by the British Universities and College Sport (BUCS) which involves student athletes from 157 different education institutions.

His gold medal at the EUSA championships followed his selection for the World University Rowing Championships earlier in the month where he was part of a GB four-man crew in the coxless fours event.

Dave and his team mates finished their race in eighth place and crossed the finishing line with a five-second personal best time.

Reflecting on his success during the season Dave said: “This has been a fantastic season for me and I have come on a lot, but I still have a long way to go when looking at the bigger picture.”

The sports scholarships he received while a student at Hertfordshire have also helped him achieve rowing success.

He added: “The UH sports scholarship helps athletes achieve their goals in many ways, in particular I benefited from the strength and conditioning coaching and facilities that were made available to me.”

Now Dave hopes to continue his studies at Cambridge University where he would like to study econometrics or management. The move would take his rowing career to new heights as he aims or a place in the boat race team.