PERSHORE'S Rob Buckley claimed a bronze medal at the World Indoor Rowing Champio-nship in America last weekend.

The 50-year-old raced to third spot in the 50-54 lightweight category in a time of six minutes and 49.4 seconds, less than a second away from the silver taken by another British competitor.

The event, celebrating its 25th year, is one of the world's most unusual sporting occasions, with more than 2,500 athletes of all ages coming together to compete in an event originally designed to test the competitiveness of rowers during the winter months in Boston when the River Charles freezes and prevents competition on the water.

Buckley was part of a 91-strong British team that returned home with 19 medals.