Already a world gold medallist at junior level, Holly Dunford’s trophy cabinet got a little more crowded on Thursday night as she was named the SportsAid One-to-Watch.

Tadworth’s Dunford won gold in the women’s double at the World Rowing Junior Championships earlier this year alongside Zoe Adamson - an achievement that followed the 18-year-old breaking the national record for junior women on an indoor rowing machine at the British championships.

Add to that three first places in the single sculls at the GB Rowing Team junior trials at the start of the year and it is easy to see why Dunford’s talent was recognised at the annual SportsAid Sportsball, held at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

In front of a room full of 500 donors, Olympic and Paralympic athletes, Dunford was presented with her trophy by five-time Paralympic champion Eleanor Simmonds.

“This is just the icing on the cake, all my achievements in rowing this year have led to this and it’s great to be recognised,” said the Heathside School pupil.

“SportsAid has been great, paying for petrol, kit, lots of things, I wouldn’t have been where I am this year without GLL and the money they gave me through SportsAid.

“It’s a privilege to be next to the names of former winners like Tom Daley and Morgan Lake, especially seeing what they’ve gone on to do.”

Dunford knew she had made it to the final three, alongside junior BMX world champion Beth Shriever and three-time junior para-athletics world champion Craig Boardman, but attended the Sportsball unaware of what was to come later in the evening.

She has benefited from being funded by the GLL Sports Foundation throughout 2017, an association that was facilitated through British Rowing’s nomination of her as a talented athlete to the SportsAid charity.

Next season Dunford will make the step up into the under-23 ranks, and while she knows it will be a challenge requiring further dedication, she is determined to make the most of her successes while she can.

“It was a special moment winning that gold in Lithuania, it was like the whole season had paid off, all the hard work I’d put in had come together for this gold medal,” she added.

“SportsAid money meant that I could go out to Munich and race earlier in the season, so that meant that when I went out to the worlds I had that international experience and it didn’t take me long to get used to it.

“Without the SportsAid money I wouldn’t have had that experience.

“I’m feeling alright ahead of the step up in age groups, it’s going to be a challenge, no doubt, but you just have to take it how it comes.

“The winter is when all the hard work kicks in, it’s not time for a rest.”

You can help support the next generation of British Olympians and Paralympians by making a regular or one-off donation to SportsAid.

Please visit www.sportsaid.org.uk/get-involved/donate/ for more information.