SAILOR Merrick Stanley has been named his school's first-ever Sports Personality of the Year.

The British squad member was up against tough competition including Welsh champions in judo and swimming, Wales's fastest sprinter at under-17, a member of the Welsh cricket squad and a promising footballer for the title of Chepstow School's Sports Personality of the Year.

Merrick started sailing when he was seven and was placed in the top 30 at the world championships in Hungary two years ago.

He said: "It's a great honour to win – there are some great sports people in this school and it's a great way to represent the school."

He is hoping to compete in the European and world championships this year and is aiming to become a member of the British squad that will train for the Olympics.

The six hopefuls made videos in which they talked about their achievements, their role models and why people should be involved in sport. Students and staff voted for their favourite.

The others in the running were Welsh 50m breaststroke champion at under 12 level, Grace Miles, Welsh judo champion Morgan Daley, Sarah Gibbs who is Wales's fastest sprinter at under-17, Sam Hope-Bell who plays cricket for Wales and Owen Badham who is a member of Cardiff City's academy and has Welsh gymnastics honours.

Other awards presented during an evening hosted by the school's sports ambassadors were: the Barney Nightingale award for commitment by boys, Keegan Evered-Hall, the Rosie Eccles award for commitment by girls Cerys Barclay and Sophie Clegg while the team of the year was the Year Eight boys' football side.