EXCELLING on the world stage and selection for the British sailing team for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games earned Mersea's Saskia Clark recognition from her home town with a double honour at the Sport Colchester, in association with the Gazette and Colchester Borough Council, 2007 Colchester Sports Personality awards.

Clark collected the Premier Award for sporting excellence as well as the Female Sports Personality award at the gala ceremony at Colchester Town Hall and said she felt honoured to receive the twin accolade.

Since teaming-up with skipper Christina Bassadone after the Athens Olympics in 2004, the 28-year-old from Mersea has picked up silver and bronze medals at the 470 Class Sailing World Championships and the duo are among the favourites for a medal in Beijing in August.

Their consistently strong form, including winning the Skandia Sail for Gold regatta in Weymouth last year, won them their place in the British Olympic team as representatives in the women's 470 Class and Clark and Bassadone have been in intense preparation for the Games in China.

The pair have been testing a new boat and training at the Olympic sailing venue in Qingdao and their latest competitive outing came last week at the 470 Class World Championships.

While that ended with a relatively disappointing seventh-place finish, Clark feels their schedule is still on course and the focus is to do well in China.

However, having her sporting achievements, which also include winning the 1996 Laser Radial Youth European title, win the recognition of her home town was a thrill and an honour for Clark.

"Wow!" said Clark, who learned to sail as a youngster with the Dabchicks Sailing Club on Mersea.

"I really feel honoured that the people who vote on this think I deserve it.

"I've just returned home from a frustrating week at our World Championships and feel that our best is still to come.

"We have a focused program of training and regattas over the next seven months all focused on Beijing and being successful at the Games in August.

"I'm looking forward to working hard and seeing what we can achieve."

Clark added the Colchester honour to the Essex Sports Personality of the Year award that she collected in November.

Sport Colchester, in association with the Gazette and colchester Borough Council, Sports Personality Awards 2007 U14 Male Sports Personality: Joe Skornia (badminton): Commendations: Chris Palmer (swimmiing), Michael Porter (athletics). U14 Female Sports Personality: Imogen Payne (diving): Comendations: Samantha Pharoah (martial arts), Eleanor Clifford (gymnastics) . U14 Team Award: Commendation: Colchester Under-eightss Mini Rugby side. U18 Male Sports Personality: Martin Evans (sailing). Comendations: Jack English (golf), Louis Persent (athletics), Dominic Schills (cycling), Lee Greenan (basketball), Edward Kearse (archery). U18 Female Sports Personality: Kaneesha Johnson athletics). Commendations: Jessica Hill (gymnastics). U18 Team Award: James Bolingbroke & Matt Heathcote (sailing). Team Award: Mersea Island rugby team. Comendations: West End Bowls Ladies, Essex University Football Team. Coach of the year: Steve Haycock (Mersea Rugby Club). Wilkinson Sword Trophy: Colchester & East Essex Cricket Club. Commendations: Colchester School of Gymnastics. Bill Tucker U18: Liam Cooke (Phoenix Swimming club). Bill Tucker Senior: Dean Brown (Phoenix Swimming Club). Eric Chapman Service to Sport Award: Arthur Cade. Commendation: Liz Rowland, Phil Morris. Male Sports Personality: James Orme (rowing). Commendation: Dale Whitnell (golf), David Smith (rugby) . Female Sports Personality and The Premier Award: Saskia Clark (sailing).