Dubbo's Danielle Bentick has had an exceptional year in baton twirling circles with the Charles Sturt University Sports Council Sports Woman of the Year Award the latest in her list of achievements.

Bentick was recognised for excellence in her sport in January when she was named the Dubbo City Council Australia Day Sportsperson of the Year.

Throughout 2006 the 21-year-old has achieved high results at state, national and world level while juggling her third year studies towards a PE Teaching degree in Bathurst.

Bentick finished second in the individual freestyle and team event at this year's state championships, second in the national team event and eighth with the Australian team at the World Championships in Italy.

Bentick said she felt honoured that both herself and the sport of baton twirling had been rewarded with the prestigious awards this year.

"It's an honour to be recognised against so many other athletes in Dubbo and Bathurst and it's great for the promotion of baton twirling in both towns," Bentick said.

"To be nominated in Bathurst was an achievement in itself but to take home the award is really good.

"I love baton twirling and find it is such a rewarding sport, as a competitor and as a coach, especially to see the younger girls improving and enjoying themselves."

Bentick was presented with a Women in Sport scholarship earlier in the year which she used to obtain her Level 1 and 2 baton twirling coaching accreditation and said she took away a lot of ideas from the workshops.

She was looking forward to completing her studies next year and intends to move back to Dubbo and hopefully introduce baton twirling into the school programs.

"I've been coaching voluntarily for six years and I decided it was time to be properly accredited," she said.

"It has been difficult concentrating on my studies in Bathurst and then returning to Dubbo each weekend to coach the girls, design routines and fit in my own practice."

The official baton twirling season for 2006 has ended in Dubbo but will resume on January 9.

Bentick encouraged any girls interested in finding out information to enquire at the front desk at the PCYC.

Membership for the year is $11 for adults, $5.50 for children and $5 for each training session.

"We had about 30 girls registered this year and will be hoping for even more next year," Bentick said.

"I encourage any girls who join to also participate in gymnastics or ballet as those activities really help with baton twirling.

"There are girls still involved in the sport well into their thirties - as long as you keep up your strength, flexibility and fitness you can always keep going and keep learning."

Bentick said Dubbo always did well at state and national level and was looking forward to a different approach for the national side, in which she hopes to gain selection again, in January.

"Australia has always been a mid-ranked country so we are always learning from the higher countries," she said.

"In January Jean-Michel Ruelle, who choreographs Australia's performances for the World Championships, will visit from France to run the trials for the 2008 team.

"We will skip the 2007 championships in a bid to be more competitive in 2008."