As previously reported on these pages, Kingswear rower Bill Lucas was selected for the GB rowing squad in early April.

Last weekend in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, the new-look GB squad was tested under very competitive conditions at the first of this year's three world cup regattas. 

Bill's selection, together with Sam Townsend, was one of several changes made by the GB selectors which would be tested at this world-class event.

The rowing calendar consists of three world cup regattas, in which all of the major rowing countries compete, followed by the Rowing World Championships. In an Olympic year the World Championships are replaced by the Olympic Games, which will take place at Dorney Lake, Eton. 

Bill and Sam, rowing competitively for the first time in the double scull (two rowers with two oars each) got off to an amazing start by winning their heat against strong competition, including the French crew that were bronze medallists at last year's world championships in Bled, Slovenia.

Their semi-final was an even more competitive event, with GB being drawn against five crews including the German double who took a silver medal at the World Championships, where they were beaten by the current world champions, New Zealand, by a margin of just three feet.

The GB double looked steady all the way down the 2,000-metre course, finishing in a very creditable second place just half a second behind the German double.

This left a very challenging line up for the final, which included the German and French crews as well as the much fancied Slovenian double scull.

Bill and Sam had a pretty sluggish start, being left in sixth place at the 500m mark, pulling up to fifth place at 1,000m and fourth place at 1,500m, with only 500m to go.

In a stunning sprint finish, Bill and Sam pulled through the Slovenians and the French to finish in second place – less than a second behind the German crew. 

There is no question this is an amazing result as this newly formed GB crew were up against teams that had been together for years. It will also almost assure the GB crew of a place in the Olympics in July.

Overall, the GB squad got through to 12 of the 15 finals and came away with 12 medals – four gold, six silver and two bronze.

At the next two world cup regattas at Lucerne in May and Munich in June, other major rowing countries will be represented including the USA, New Zealand and Australia, so the pressure steps up.

David Tanner, the GB team's performance director, said 'I'm really pleased with this young men's boat – they are very talented but you didn't know how they would do on their first outing.'

Bill added: 'This event is so exciting and we can take a real positive from today. In an ideal world we would like to have been in a stronger place earlier in the final but sometimes you can't do that against such world-class crews'. 

Bill must be delighted and we all look forward to the next two World Cup Regattas with real anticipation – watch this space!