HANLEY Swan athlete Anna Bailey, aged 53, regained her title at the World Indoor Rowing Championships held in Boston, USA.

The gold medallist could not reproduce her standing world record time of 7.06.6 or break the championship record of 7.14.07, but did enough to defeat last year's winner, US Olympic gold and silver sculling medallist 51-year-old Carie Graves in the Women's 50-54 race, in a time of 7.21.8.

Around 2000 competitors representing 22 countries from Mexico to Korea assembled for the championships held at the Reggie Lewis Track and Field Centre in Boston.

Bailey, who rows for the Evesham-based Old Wrecks IRC, was part of a British team reduced to about 60 this year, due to the clash with the last event in the British Grand Prix series held in Manchester the same weekend.

However quality was not diminished, and the GB team returned with eight gold, one silver and three bronze medals.

Evesham's OWIRC's Eddie Fletcher was once again the GB team coach.