KIDDERMINSTER sailor Alison Young admits the race to the 2012 Olympics is on — but insists Britain’s young stars are not out for themselves.

The 22-year-old underlined her growing potential with a ninth-place finish in the laser radial at the Skandia Sail for Gold regatta in Weymouth with Charlotte Dobson the best Brit in seventh spot.

Young, part of the Skandia Development Squad, and Dobson are among a host of up-and-coming Brits competing for the sole British radial Olympic berth in 2012.

While the former Bewdley High School student knows every outing on the water will count, she is adamant the current squad are helping and not hindering each other’s chances. Young, who enjoyed a best-place finish of third during the week-long regatta, said: “We’ve got a good squad of four girls and train together and work well as a group.

“As we draw closer to the Olympics it will get more tense as we all know that only one of us will be competing in the Olympics.

“But at the moment we are working well together and are all improving as a squad and whoever goes to the games will have a really good chance of a medal.”