Interview with Bryony - The Guardian

Introduction

20.06.09 - Bryony Shaw plays it cool to take European bronze

Byrony Shaw (L) & Marina Alabau (R) © Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images

Windsurfer Bryony Shaw plays it cool to take European bronze

• Shaw overcomes stifling heat to finish third in Tel Aviv
• Briton's display is good preparation for world championships

Kent windsurfer Bryony Shaw, left, finished seventh in the final race of the European Championships in Tel Aviv, Israel, today to secure a bronze medal behind winnner Marina Alabau, right, of Spain. Photograph: Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images

The Olympic bronze medallist Bryony Shaw kept a cool head in the stifling Israeli heat to take bronze at the windsurfing European Championships in Tel Aviv today. A bad day on Thursday saw the 26-year-old Briton slip out of the podium positions, but she showed her trademark resilience today to finish seventh in the medal race, which was enough to secure bronze behind the Spanish pair Marina Alabau and Blanca Manchón.

"I'm really pleased, even though I didn't race very well in the medal race today," said the Tunbridge Wells surfer. "My muscles tightened and I let the Italian girl go on the second upwind leg, but I managed to come out of it fine."

Shaw, who was using the event as preparation for September's World Championship in Weymouth, added: "For me I'm happy that it's job done here, but it has also shown that I have a lot still to work on in preparation for the worlds. It's been a lot hotter, a lot wavier and just different conditions to what we will be focusing on for Weymouth. It's also been a lot more of a physical event than at the Olympic Games."

Elsewhere in the women's fleet, youth sailors Izzy Hamilton and Sophie Bailey finished 23rd and 25th respectively, with Kirsten O'Callaghan in 29th. In the men's fleet, Skandia Team GBR development squad duo Elliot Carney and Richard Hamilton finished 30th and 33rd, with youth sailor Ali Masters - making his international debut on the 9.5sqm men's rig - finishing in a respectable 31st.

Published by guardian.co.uk, Saturday 20 June 2009 19.42 BST