WORLD indoor rowing champion Anna Bailey from Hanley Swan was in splendid form at the Cambridge Indoor Rowing Championships last Saturday.

The championships, at the Q-ton Fitness Centre, provided rowers with the only opportunity in the year to compete over the longer distance of 5000m, instead of the standard race distance of 2000m.

For many it was the first time they had ever raced over the longer course, which requires a completely different strategy in terms of pacing and expenditure of energy, but everyone seemed to enjoy it and some good times were set.

Anna Bailey (Old Wrecks club) rowed in the women's 50-59 class and knocked 7.1 seconds off her own British record to win in a time of 18.47.2. The fastest overall women's time of the day.

A week earlier, at the Cornish Indoor Rowing Championships, Anna Bailey continued her recent run of improving times, winning the women's 50-59 class in 7.10.0, also the fastest women's time of the day.

The next race of the season will be South Devon Indoor Championships at Ashburton on Sunday, April 6.

This race coincides with the Boat Race on the Thames.