Enniskillen oarswoman Holly Nixon was in sparkling form last weekend at the GB Rowing Team Assessment in Boston.

The former Portora rower, who is now with the Leander Club, was second on the ergometer on the Saturday before coming home third, one place behind returning Olympic champion Katherine Grainger, in the water on the Sunday. Nixon was the fastest finishing U23 competitor, finishing the 5Km course in 19.30.23.

“It went pretty well. On the Saturday we did a rowing machine test on the ergometer and then on the Sunday we were on the water and I was quite happy with how it went,” she said.

With the exception of some senior rowers, last weekend was mostly concerning U23s while the next trial in December will see the return of the those rowers who competed in the World Championships as they battle to secure places at the next senior World Championships.

“I’ll have to keep my head down now for the one in December because it will be a lot harder and there will be stronger competition again with all the seniors coming in. That’s when you are competing against the best, against the Olympic medallists,” said Holly.

“The realistic aim for me is to go to the U23 World Championships in the summer again and then try for the senior worlds, which will be the Olympic qualifiers, but there is no guarantee on that one. I have a much better chance with the U23s but I am going to give the seniors a go and see what happens.” Last Sunday gave Holly the opportunity to compete against one of her idols, Katherine Grainger, and the Enniskillen competitor says that the experienced Olympic champion has offered her great support.

“She wrote a book after 2012 and I read it this time last year, and it feels odd now that I’m training alongside her considering she was an inspiration before I joined the squad. Now to know her in real life, just her as a person, it is completely different.

“She is very wise, very supportive and she was very good to me at the weekend. She has become a good friend and she is very experienced and has given me good tips which is great.” And Holly believes that while there is a huge commitment required, the decision to go full time was the right one. “It is a long winter, there is a lot of miles on the rowing machine and on the water but I’m enjoying it. I think making the decision to go full time was definitely worthwhile.”