WINDSURFER Keith Atkinson beat off the world’s best to win gold at the EuroCup series event in Switzerland.

Atkinson saw off the challenge of more than 120 competitors from 23 countries, including the current world champion, Micah Buzianis, two former world champions and the current European champion to take the honours at Silvaplana.

The UK’s number one finished fifth in the first race of the event, the Swiss Marathon, with Italian champion Andrea Cucchi taking first place.

Atkinson, from Wilmington, near Dartford, then had to sit it out on two cold and windless days, waiting for the thermal winds to return.

On the final day, Atkinson managed to pick up two second places to finish top in the overall standings with 9.0 points.

Cucchi was second, just 0.4 points behind, while Antoine Alebeau took third and Wojtek Brzozowski was fourth.

Atkinson, who competes for Bewl Valley Sailing Club, and his fellow competitors will travel to Oeiras in Portugal to take part in the final event of the European tour.