BEWDLEY sailor Alison Young has been buoyed by a call up for the Royal Olympic Development Squad as she continues to enjoy success on and off the water.

The 18-year-old Trimpley Sailing Club member had double cause for celebration after achieving the A-level grades needed to study civil engineering at Southampton University.

Young will now focus her attention on training towards the 2012 Olympics where the sailing will take place in Weymouth.

She has been described by her youth team manager as "dedicated" and "focused" and told if she continues to develop and maintain her fitness, she has a great chance of qualifying for the Games.

Young will be taking part in a series of regattas over the summer and training with the Olympic Development Squad before taking part in the World Sailing Championships in Brazil in December. Young was placed in the top 42 out of 84 sailors at the European Women's Open Championships in Croatia, a performance which earned her the position of second youth female.

Her most recent success came in the World Youth Sailing Championships in Korea where she clinched a bronze medal for Great Britain in the Laser Radial Class and helped the team finish second overall behind the French.