Erica Bodman (second left) stands on the victory podium in Nottingham wearing her first major rowing medal. (0809560)

ERICA BODMAN has landed her first major rowing medal.

As part of the Minerva Bath team the triple former Island Games high-jump champion won the senior quadruple sculls title at the National Rowing Championships at Nottingham.

The Guernsey woman faced a busy time at the three-day regatta and, despite the very wet and windy conditions, managed to make somewhat of a success of it, although she was not at her best in the single sculls.

The Minerva Bath quad was the same crew that had competed at Royal Henley two weeks earlier and their challenge nearly went off course at the outset.

In the heat on the middle day they struggled to keep the craft under control, as the 21-year-old newly qualified teacher explained.

‘There was something wrong with the steering on our boat so it kept pulling into the wind and we had to row 90% of the race pulling on our left arms to ensure we stayed in our lane.’

‘We came third in our heat and had to go through to the repechage to try and get a place in the final.’