THE first in the Grand Prix series of races was the South of England Indoor Rowing Championships at Portsmouth's Mountbatten Centre.

Worcestershire rowers were out in force, with some notable successes, especially the women!

World champion Anna Bailey (Old Wrecks) of Hanley Swan shook off a lower back strain to take gold in the women's 50-59 class in 7:07.6, also setting the fastest women's time of the day and a new Grand Prix record, just one second outside her own world record.

Evesham's Helen Barnett (Old Wrecks) also won gold in her first Grand Prix race in the women's 30-39 in 7:25.0. New recruit to the OW's, Megan Brown, was second in a personal best 7:27.7.

The third gold went to Worcester's Janet Parker (Old Wrecks) in a personal best of 8:05.9 in the 50-59 lightweight class, taking her a step closer to re-gaining the British record.

Michelle Parsons (OW) of Evesham took silver in the women's 30-39 lightweight in 7:27.6.

Silver also went to new OW recruit John Brooks in the men's 40-49 lightweight in 6:34.1, pipped by the British record holder.

Duncan Paterson, another OW new boy, also won silver in the men's 30-39 lightweight class in 6:27.9.

Bronze went to Maria Scotland (OW), 7:56.9 in the women's 40-49.

Ted Taylor (OW) was sixth in the men's 50-59 lightweight in 7:14.0, with Worcester's Jim Parker eighth in 7:18.9.

Tommy Gee (OW) was ninth in the men's 50-59 in 7:14.1.

Tim Wright (OW) was 11th in the men's 30-39 in 6:30.1. Worcester's Richard Redfern was 17th in 6:39.3 and Mark Yates (OW) 21st in 6:48.0.

The British Championships are at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena on November 17.