HANLEY Swan's world record holder Anna Bailey took the gold medal in the women's 50+ event at the European Indoor Rowing Championships in Amsterdam.

She recorded a season's best time of seven minutes 18.6 seconds -- 30 seconds quicker than her nearest rival.

Bailey was one of more than 1,400 competitors representing 17 countries who took part in the championships at the Sportshalle Zuid.

The British contingent was over 90 strong and came away with a medal collection of 12 gold, five silver and nine bronze.

A number of Worcestershire-based rowers entered, members of the Old Wrecks Club, while Evesham's Eddie Fletcher was present in his capacity as Great Britain team coach.

Roger Prowse was the county's other gold medallist, in the men's 60+ lightweight class, finishing in 6:52.7.

There was bronze for Megan Brown in the women's 30+ event, in a steady time of 7:21.0, while bronze also went to Alex Brown (6:35.6). Terry Aston managed 14th in the same heat in 7:07.0.

British record holder Sue Little just missed out on a medal in the women's 50+ lightweight race, pulling 7:45.9, a season's best, while Anne Yates set the only personal best time of the day in 7:57.3 for fifth place in the same race.

Phil Parsons (Worcester Tri-athlon Club) was fifth in a hotly-contested men's 30+ lightweight event with a fine time of 6:46.9.

Three Worcestershire rowers also competed against one another in the men's 50+ lightweight competition. John Ferdinando came out on top, coming sixth in 7:07.1, Neil Little achieved a season's best time with eighth place in 7:12.7 and Brian Garner finished ninth in 7:23.9.

Two Grand Prix races remain in the series, the Scottish in Motherwell on January 23 and the North of England in Manchester on February 13.