Making waves

Tuesday 22nd March 2011, 2:29PM GMT.

The Reading University A eights team, from left to right: Lottie Burgess, Rachel Willis, Nikki Bartlett, Georgie Hazell, Erica Bodman, Lucinda Gooderham, Helen Wood, Monica Relph and cox Rhiannon Jones.

ERICA BODMAN enjoyed a record-breaking weekend on the Thames in the Women’s Head of the River Race.

The 23-year-old Sarnian was part of the Reading University A eights team who came third out of more than 300 crews on the Chiswick to Putney course, which is around 7.5km long and the reverse route of the Boat Race.

A time of 18min. 53.69sec. was also good enough to win their Intermediate I category in a new record, over 30 seconds clear of their nearest rivals.

It was an even more notable achievement because the only two boats they trailed were Leander, made up of the full current GB senior squad, and a GB composite boat including current and ex-GB squad members.