ROWING University of Bath-based Vicky Thornley and Erica Bodman both produced impressive performances at the first GB Rowing team trials for the 2010 season.

Thornley finished fourth overall, two places higher than at last year's trials, and her time of 21mins 21.7secs for the 5,000m water time trial was only seven seconds, or less than two per cent, behind that of winner and double Olympic silver medallist Debbie Flood.

Bodman's time of 21:34.6 at her first GB trial was the sixth highest overall and made her the highest placed under-23 rower. She has only been rowing for 18 months and has been training in Bath since July.

The trial consisted of a 2k ergo test on an indoor rowing machine and a 5,000m time trial on the water at Boston, Lincolnshire.

Both Thornley and Bodman are members of the Minerva Bath Rowing Club and are on GB Rowing's World Class Start programme, which is sponsored by Siemens and supported by UK Sport with National Lottery money. They are coached by Paul Stannard, GB Rowing's World Class Start performance development coach.

There were also strong performances in the men's trials by university students Rob Good and Nick McMullan, who finished 44th and 54th respectively. The pair are new to rowing and both achieved personal best times in the ergos.

Good, who is studying pharmacology, has been on the GB Rowing's World Class Start Programme for a year. McMullan is studying aerospace engineering.

For further information about GB Rowing's World Class Start programme, email Paul.Stannard@ gbrowingteam.org.uk.