Vicky Thornley and double sculls partner Katherine Grainger were content with the performance if not the result after finishing third in the World Cup in Varese.
The British pair were beaten by winners New Zealand and the USA in Italy.
“We’re pleased with the race we executed today and we came away with a bronze from it,” Thornley said. “So in a way we’re pleased but we don’t want to get used to that colour of medal.”
Thornley and Olympic champion Grainger got off to a fast start and led after the first 500m, but had fallen just behind Australia at the halfway mark.
However, the USA boat came steadily through the field to take second while the New Zealand pair produced a brilliant last 500m to come from fourth to win in 6min 53.210sec, with GB taking the bronze in 6:55.679.
“It was really tight racing, it’s the tightest field I’ve been in before,” Thornley added. “So it’s really exciting in a way, but obviously it would be nice to be out front.”
The British pair have switched positions in their scull, with Grainger now in the bow and Thornley taking the stroke role. “We’ve switched the order around. Either way the boat feels good but it was good to have Katherine behind me,” Thornley said.
“I was just focused on doing my job well and trusting that Katherine would know what to say and where to move. I thought we did that really well, and when she called things we both responded to it really well and made the pushes that we needed to.”
A Final Results
Gold New Zealand 6:53.21
Silver USA 06:53.35
Bronze Great Britain 6:55.67
Watch the race on the World Rowing website here.
Article care of BBC Wales
Photo’s care of World Rowing feed