Bryony Shaw wins European windsurfing gold

Bryony Shaw has previously won bronze and silver at the European Championships

British windsurfer and world number one Bryony Shaw has won gold at the RS:X European Championships in Sicily.

The Olympic bronze medallist beat the Polish pair Malgorzata Bialecka and Zofia Noceti-Klepacka to take the gold.

The 32-year-old made the most of ideal conditions at Mondello beach to triumph in the winner-takes-all medal race.

"I am really happy - it is something that has always eluded me," said Shaw, who won bronze at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

"I have finished second a number of times and now all the hard physical and technical work has really paid off."

The RS:X European Championships is the second most important Olympic windsurfing regatta staged by the RS:X class.

Shaw has previously won bronze and silver in the competition.