GILES Scott claimed top honours at the British Sailing Team’s annual awards after capping his dominant cycle in the Finn class with Rio 2016 gold.

The Olympic Champion and World Sailor of the Year nominee was named as the team’s Olympic Classes Sailor of the Year and the overall Athlete of the Year at a black tie evening held at Portsmouth’s Royal Marines Museum, which celebrated the team’s Rio Games performances as well as achievements by rising talents, coaches and support staff.

Scott himself was unable to attend the evening as he was on America’s Cup duty in Fukuoaka, Japan, but coach Matt Howard collected Scott’s award on his behalf, as well as his own coaching prize.

Howard claimed the team’s ‘Golden Funnel’ award for coaching excellence for a fourth time for his work with Scott and the Finn squad, while Paralympic bronze and World Championship silver medallists Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell, who train at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, were the Paralympic Classes Sailors of the Year.

Laser sailor Michael Beckett was voted by his peers as the Podium Potential Sailor of the Year for 2016, with British Sailing Team members also invited to vote for the colleagues they felt best displayed some of the team’s core values of ‘passion’, ‘committed to excellence’, ‘collaboration’ and ‘gold driven’.

Scott and Laser Radial coach Penny Clark both picked up two core values awards apiece.

“It was a fantastic evening but it was also an opportunity to really recognise those people who have been outstanding in committing to the team and helping the team achieve,” said RYA Olympic manager, Stephen Park.

“We’ve had an incredible year taking us to top nation at Rio 2016, but hopefully one that also provides some inspiration for those sailors who are going to drive on now to Tokyo in 2020 and beyond.”