HELEN Glover promised that Britain’s women’s four will step on from European silver.
The double Olympic champion combined with Rebecca Shorten, Rowan McKellar and Heidi Long to reach the European Championship podium at Lake Bled, Slovenia.
Having won Thursday’s heat, the British quartet stamped their authority on the race and took the lead from the 250-metre mark, leading by clear water at halfway.
But the boat that went unbeaten through 2022 were reeled in by Romania, who unleashed a fearsome sprint to take victory by just over a second.
“It’s gutting to come out on the wrong side of that fight for the line,” said Long. “It was a fantastic race from Romania and we gave our all. This is just the start.”
Glover replaced Sam Redgrave from the four that swept all before them last season, taking gold at the World and European Championships.
It was the first time that the 36-year-old has ever been beaten at the European Championships, having won four titles in the pair.
“It’s a quick learning curve, I learned a lot from the heat,” said Glover.
“The final was such a fast race and the thinking time you have in the pair, it’s not there in the four. I love that and there’s a lot more to come.”
Glover is aiming to become the first British mum-of-three to win an Olympic medal at next year’s Games in Paris.
Eldest son Logan and twins Kit and Willow watched their mum race internationally together for the first time on the banks of the stunning Lake Bled.
“I’ve had four good night’s sleep which is amazing, it feels like a spa trip!” joked Glover.
“I’m the only one coming out of this feeling fresher than I started.”
The first focus for Glover and crew will be to qualify the boat at September’s World Championships in Belgrade.
She said: “No crew is safe until you’re at the start line of the Worlds, so we’ll assess where we need to strengthen and what we need to do, but there’s a lot we can do which is exciting.”
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