DORSET windsurfing star Bryony Shaw has capped off an impressive 2013 season by claiming the British Sailing Team’s Athlete of the Year prize.

The 30-year-old was handed the British Olympic Association (BOA) Athlete of the Year trophy for Sailing at a team presentation at Hayling Island Sailing Club last Friday.

She scooped the accolade for achieving an impressive seven podium finishes from the nine events she’s contested this year, including her first ever RS:X World Championship medal – a silver – from the event at Buzios, Brazil, in March.

After a tough 2012 season, with illness having hampered her Olympic hopes, Shaw bounced back with consistency and success in 2013.

The former Weymouth star, who is now based in Poole, was presented her award by Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Olympic manager Stephen Park.

She said: “It’s a complete surprise as I thought Nick (Demp-sey) would win this award, but it’s fantastic.

“2012 was obviously a really difficult year for me, but I’m really grateful to my coach Dom (Tidey), the sports science guys, Izzy (Hamilton) and my little training group.

“We’ve got a good team there all pushing each other on and it’s really paying off with results on the water.”

Shaw’s World Championship silver kick-started her season’s medal-winning streak, which encompassed golds at the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Hyeres, the Brest Open Europeans and the Sail for Gold Regatta, with silver medals also at the Palma World Cup, the EUROSAF Champions Sailing Cup event in Garda, the European Championships and the Santander Test Event.

Shaw’s coach Dom Tidey also picked up the British Sailing Team’s ‘Golden Funnel’ award for coaching excellence, while the Skud-18 keelboat duo of Alexandra Rickham and Portland’s Niki Birrell were handed the RYA Paralympic Classes Athlete of the Year trophy for the second consecutive year for their podium-topping performances at the Skud World and European Championships.

Two of the British Sailing Team’s rising stars – Finn sailor Peter McCoy and Laser sailor Alex Mills Barton – were named joint winners of the Podium Potential Sailor of the Year Award.

Follow the British Sailing Team at britishsailingteam.com n Sir Ben Ainslie, the most decorated sailor in Olympic history, is on the shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality Award following America’s Cup success with Team Oracle USA.