SASKIA Clark has sailed away with the Sport Colchester Sport Personality 2015 premier award.

She was honoured at a prestigious ceremony held at Colchester United’s Weston Homes Community Stadium on Monday night.

Olympic silver medallist Clark, from West Mersea, was unable to attend the event but has had an excellent year so far.

Clark has been selected to represent Great Britain at the Rio Olympic Games next year, along with helm Hannah Mills, in the women’s 470 sailing class.

The pair won the ISAF World Cup final in Abu Dhabi last month, picked up silver in the 470 World Championships and took second place in the Rio test event in August.

Back in June they took first place on home waters in the ISAF Sailing World Cup 470 event at Weymouth and Portland.

The awards salute the borough’s most talented sporting individuals, teams, coaches and volunteers.

Halstead Gazette: Male and Female Sport Personalities Dominic King and Melissa DowellMale and Female Sport Personalities Dominic King and Melissa Dowell

The men’s Sports Personality award went to race walker Dominic King.

King is waiting to see if his race walking heroics in Germany will be enough to see him on the plane to Rio next year as part of Great Britain’s Olympic team.

The Colchester Harriers ace became the third quickest British man ever over the 50 kilometre race walking distance when setting a time of three hours 59 minutes 22 seconds at the German National Championships in Andenach.

It was enough for him to claim seventh spot in the event and was a big personal best (PB) for the 32- year-old former St Helena School pupil.

But it was well within the 4h 2m time set by British Athletics for racers to qualify for the Rio Olympics next summer.

The Female Sports Personality winner was Melissa Dowell.

She claimed gold for Great Britain at the European Championships Middle Distance Triathlon, in Italy.

She took a step down from her usual long distance racing to stride to victory in the 50-54 age group at the prestigious European Triathlon Union event in Rimini.

The 1,900 metres swim, 93 km bike ride and 21.1 km run, together with transitions, were completed in a winning total time of 5 hours, 20 minutes and 18 seconds.

She followed that up with a win at the Wasdale Lake District Ironman event.

Melissa finished 15th overall and was first lady out of 133 starters, after clocking an overall time of 15 hours, 11 seconds.

Colchester Rugby Club picked up three awards - team of the year, Community Club of the year and coach of the year.

It was a great season for Colchester seeing them gain automatic promotion to the National Leagues, for the first time in their history, on the final day of the 2014-15 season.

The awards, first made over 30 years ago, are sponsored by the Daily Gazette, Colchester Institute and The University of Essex.

The judging panel consisted of representatives from Sport Colchester and the Daily Gazette.

The trophies on the night were sponsored by CSH Environmental, GS Contracts, Colchester Trophies, Larking Gowen, Livia Simon’s, Sportsafe Hur UK, University of Essex, SAS Property Services, North Essex Signs, Colchester Institute, ABC Training Academy, Branded and NES.

Halstead Gazette: Bill Tucker Senior Award winner Daniel McGauleyBill Tucker Senior Award winner Daniel McGauley

Sport Colchester Sport Personality Awards 2015 Male Sports Personality: Winner: Dominic King (Athletics).

Commended: James Baker (Volleyball), Tom Gifford (Athletics), Rahim Lake (Boxing).

Female Sports Personality Winner: Melissa Dowell (Triathlon).

Commended: Elspeth Knott (Duathlon), Anna Muir (Cycling).

Under-18 Male Sports Personality: Winner: Callum McKay (Athletics).

Commended: Jamie Hercus (Boxing), Bob Longstaff (Cycling), Emmanuel Ogunleye (Athletics).

Under-18 Female Sports Personality: Winner: Laura Stephens (Swimming).

Commended: Philippa Davenall (Athletics), Martha Duley (Swimming), Maia Henderson-Rowe (Fencing), Rebecca Jeggo (Athletics), Joy Ogunleye (Athletics).

Under-14 Male Sports Personality: Winner: Myles Ashforth (Fencing).

Under-14 Female Sports Personality: Winner: Georgia Tombs (Biathlete).

Team of the Year: Winner: Colchester Rugby Club First XV.

Commended: Essex Blades Ladies’ Volleyball Team, Essex Blades Men’s Volleyball Team, Essex Blades Women’s Lacrosse Team.

Under-18 Team of the Year: Winner: Stanway Villa FC Under-18s.

Commended: Stanway School U16 Boys’ Football Team.

Bill Tucker (Senior) Award: Winner: Daniel McGauley (Powerlifting).

Bill Tucker (U18) Award: Winner: Natesha Riddiough (Swimming).

Commended: Samuel Whearty (Swimming).

Community Club of the Year: Winner: Colchester Rugby Club The Eric Chapman Award: Winner: Paul and Sandra Meadows (Colchester Rovers Cycling Club).

Commended: Jon Roberts (Colchester Rugby Club), Lee Verney (Tiptree Jobserve Youth Football Club).

Coach of the Year: Winner: Anthony O’Riordan (Colchester Rugby Club).

Development of PE and sport for young people by a School or College: Winner: Heathlands C of E Primary School.

Premier Award: Winner: Saskia Clark