Bronze for windsurfer Shaw

(REUTERS/Peter Andrews)

In a performance full of character and determination, Bryony Shaw took the bronze medal in the women's windsurfer, boosting Britain's sailing medal tally to five, equalling the five won in both Sydney and Athens.

Total count in Qingdao on the Yellow Sea coast is three golds, a silver and this latest bronze and there were hopes of another medal as Nick Dempsey led the charge in the men's division medal race which followed. But it was not to be and, in a very short race, he finished seventh, which pushed him out of the medals to fourth overall.

Shaw was at times in the lead, at times in the silver medal position and, for a brief time, in the gold position.

The race was won by Italy's 38-year old Alessandra Sensini, gold medallist in Sydney and bronze winner in Athens, but that was not enough. She now has a full set of each colour. Shaw was second, just one place ahead of Jian Yin of China, the pre-event favourite and leading for nearly all of the 11-race series.

Conditions were ideal, with about 10 knots of breeze, clear sunshine, and a big crowd watching from the nearby breakwater. They were also demanding, but Shaw, 25 and from Portland and Weymouth, fought from beginning to end to record a thoroughly deserved and satisfying medal reward.