Dream year for Get Berkshire Active Sports Personality Shelayna Oskan-Clarke

Sporting stars from across the county were heralded at the fourth annual awards at the Hilton Hotel in Reading on Friday evening.

Oskan-Clarke – a member of WSEH Athletics Club – beat hockey star Kate Richardson-Walsh and boxing ace Charles Frankham to the accolade following a year she describes as ‘a dream come true’.

Despite suffering the loss of her coach and supporter, the Brit competed in the European Indoor Championships, IAAF Grand Prix, London Anniversary Games and most notably the World Champs.

The 800m runner won silver at the British Indoor Championship in February before qualifying for the World Athletics Championships, held in Beijing, China.

Outstanding in the heats, Oskan-Clarke reached the final and finished in fifth, recording a time of 1:58.86. It is the ninth fastest time ever run by a GB female athlete for 800m.

“I’ve always believed that I could perform at that level,” she told the Observer. “For my coach, who has supported me so much through this journey, and I it’s a dream come true.

“It’s all good believing in it, but actually doing it is a different thing and it’s just an amazing feeling.

“All sports people have to put in a hell of a lot of work, the hours, finances and other commitments, and sometimes you don’t get what you want out if it.

“This is my dream and hopefully I am continuing on a journey to be even better.

“It has been a personal journey for us both, so for us to achieve what we believed we could is amazing, and it’s just going to get better from now.”

Oskan-Clarke added: “This is a really nice trophy but I didn’t expect it. It was a big year and I’m really happy with my achievements.

“It’s amazing because there is so much support from the community. It’s so nice to feel like I’m supported and everyone is behind me.

“People are following me, kind of. I’ve got a backing and that is really nice, it’s a great feeling.”