Erica Bodman at Boston. (0863304)

After finishing within two places of current world under-23 champion Victoria Thornley on the water at Boston, Lincolnshire, at the weekend, she has high hopes of doing well at next summer’s Under-23 World Rowing Championships in Belarus.

‘I was completely shocked to find myself at the top of the under-23s, and so close to the top five senior women,’ she said afterwards.

‘I almost didn’t believe it when I saw the results, my progress in the sport has come so quickly I’m often surprised at what I’m achieving.

‘Despite this, I know that my training has been going really well recently and I felt like I raced the trial to the best of my ability so I was really chuffed that the results reflected this.’

The trials saw nearly 200 men and women in action ahead of the upcoming 2010 season.

For the converted high-jumper, this was a first appearance at these trials, having taken up the sport only 18 months ago.