Leicestershire and Rutland Youth Sailing Association were voted club of the year in the annual Hinckley and Bosworth Sporting Alliance awards.

The Association carried away the honour because of their excellence for making sailing available to all sections of the community from schools, to youth groups, the disabled, blind, and those less fortunate in the community.

They also organise advanced training for their youth racing team, which competes all over the country.

Another award for excellence was awarded to young sailor Liam Poxon, from Redmoor High School, for his hard work in raising more than £1,000 for LRYSA , which is a charity, by delivering hand-written letters to local businesses requesting sponsorship.

In addition, the Association's youth racing team have been selected to represent Leicestershire in the 2012 National School Sailing Association Jubilee Regatta, which will take place at the Weymouth Olympic venue in July.

The team comprising 20 youngsters, aged from 12 to 18, will be the only one to represent Leicestershire.