British Army Soldier Nominated For Sailing Award

A British Army soldier and his partner have been nominated for the 2020 Sailor of the Year award.

Corporal Simon Horsfield and Katie Burridge are up against Olympic athletes such as Sir Ben Ainslie for the award.

Their partnership has gone from strength to strength since working together for the first time in 2018.

In that year, they won National Dinghy 2000 Class title, while in 2019 they finished 7th in the Endeavour Trophy which is filled with professional competitors.

They also dominated in the winter sailjuice season and the award nomination has came as a shock to the duo. 

Cpl Horsfield said: "Amazing really to be put alongside Sir Ben Ainslie who is the number one sailor in the world and won the Olympics more times than anybody else.

"He’s flying the flag for Great Britain at the America’s Cup.

"We wish him every success. We’re rooting for him which we do all the time.

"Just to be put on the same page is amazing. We were sort of like speechless to be honest."

The experienced sailor also had praise for the other nominees.

He said: "Also, for the other nominees in there. There’s some Olympians and people with some fantastic yachting achievements.

"We’re representing the dinghy community as two amateurs.

"We were amazed really and very proud."

Meanwhile, Burridge is hoping the nomination will show what amateur sailing is all about.

She said: "I guess we just really hope this shows what amateur sailing can do.

"There is no limit to it and we have an amazing amateur sailing community in the UK unlike any other country.

"Hopefully, this shows what it can do."

The award will be decided by public vote which ends in November with the winner being announced in February.