WHITSUNDAY Times and Guardian editor Sharon Smallwood was one of the trophy recipients at last night's Airlie Beach Race Week presentations.

She was awarded the Ian 'Stripey' Grant trophy for media services to Airlie Beach Race Week.

Race Week marketing manager Adrian Bram said the decision was an easy one based on the promotion the newspaper provided for the event.

"The Times contribution and coverage of the event is extensive to say the least," he said.

"To include an eight page pull-out, which became the official program, was an astounding contribution to the success of the event. It meant everyone in the Whitsundays including the visitors had a reference point for everything going on in the week."

Mr Bram said Ms Smallwood's contribution in his two years working with Race Week had only become bigger.

"Sharon's commitment to assisting our event, and all local events for that matter, to success - it's invaluable," he said.

"We've seen a growing commitment to the event coverage that is above and beyond."

The Ian 'Stripey' Grant trophy dates back to the beginning of Race Week and was named after Stripey who was the media person for the event in its early days. Stripey passed away a few years ago and his contribution to the event is now recognised every year with the award.

Ms Smallwood said she was honoured to win the trophy and pleased that it kept the memory of an old colleague alive.

"I spent many a happy day on the water covering one race week or another with Stripey in his time and he once wrote a weekly column for the Whitsunday Times," she said.

"It is an honour to receive the trophy named for him and I feel privileged to help the Whitsunday Sailing Club with their promotion of Airlie Beach Race Week each year."

Ms Smallwood said she would also like to thank Race Week official photographer Andrew Pattinson.

"Andrew was awarded the trophy last year but lost it," she said.

"It's thanks to him that this year I was given a nice bottle of red wine instead.

"I will raise a glass to Stripey and to Race Week and to all who have sailed in the regatta in 2016."